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GROWING MODES |
The
orchid family is one of the largest among the plants with more than 35
000 botanical species disseminated throughout our planet. Their height
vary from 5 millimeters to five meters. They are characterized by two
growing modes. Firstly, the sympodial mode which allows the plant to
grow from a horizontal rhizome;the plant can be divided when cutting the
rhizome. Sometimes, a dumpy stem can be seen , it is a pseudobulb. Its
function is to accumulate food and water. Secondly, the monopodial mode
which has a vertical rhizome beginning at the lower leaves. The
monopodial plants are very difficult to propagate by cutting the rhizome
due to an almost impossible division. |
| EPIPHYTIC PLANTS |
Orchids
can be epiphytes (they grow on other vegetals), litophytes (on rocks),
terrestrials or semi-terrestrials. They are certainly not parasite
plants: their roots are perfectly adapted to use their natural
environment resources in an optimal manner.
Most orchids are grown in
pots with bark, tree fern roots, osmund fiber, sphagnum moss, or a mix
of these materials. Some species are grown as epiphytes,
simply
mounted on a bark slab or tree fern roots plaque. Each genus has
different needs when it comes to light. Fertilizer dosage must be
changed
in accordance of the growth, the dormancy state or to
stimulate the blooming. The growing medium must be kept wet and contain
the proper elements so as to allow
a good air circulation within the
pot; but the bulb and the new growth are always at risk of rotting and
thus may be taken care of. In order to prevent any parasites
infestation,
the environment must be kept clean as well as the growing pots and tutors should be steririlized. |
| FLOWERING |
Most
orchids types bloom once the year, with flowers of a good longevity.
The triggering of the floraison is often linked to variations of
lightning and temperature.
The flowers use the most ingenious means
to delude the pollinators, by imitation, chemical or visual enticement,
or by provocation. The flowers of the orchid are composed
from three
sepales and three petals, of which the one is modified in lip (labelle).
This one is often curled and colored to attract the pollinisatuers
towards the stamens
and the pistil, soldered in an organ called column. It is this structure that characterizes the orchids. |
| BUYING |
When
buying orchids, choose only sane, well potted, and well identified
specimens. Some disease could appear later, so it would be wiser to put
your new acquisitions
in quarantine during a six weeks or months
period. Buying plant sold by well-known producers and artificially
propagated contributes to orchids preservation in their natural habitat.
Collecting
orchids in nature - even in small number and for well intended
collectors purposes - leads directly to the extinction of species in
some areas.
Moreover, as in their habitats these plants grow in
perfect symbiosis with microscopic fungi they do not survive
transplantation. | |
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