Ground Work Concord

There is such a vast regalia of orchids to choose from, they come in many colors, sizes, species and hybrids. They thrive in many different geographic regions  that range from the equatorial rainforests  of Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia, to the cooler temperate regions of Europe and the United States.No matter where you live, you will always be able to find an orchid type that is most suitable for cultivating in your environment either indoors or outdoors; as you have a choice of over 25,000 available species of orchids and over 100,000 hybridised varieties. Basically there are only two different orchid types of these  amazing  plants; Terrestrials and Epiphytes. The terminology used does not refer to any particular species or hybrid of orchid but rather to their particular root systems, Terrestrials have a below ground root system while Epiphytes have an aerial root system; whereby, they attach themselves to trees, rocks or poles.

The most common type of epiphyte is the Phalaenopsis orchid, in it’s natural environment it attaches itself to trees and thrives within the hot, humid, damp conditions of the equatorial rainforest They are very graceful looking plants and although they more often than not flower only once or twice a year, their brilliant, delicate blooms will last for up to three months the most common colors are white and purplish-pink, although they also  come in yellow and striped varieties and are easily grown and maintained in the home .

 Another very popular and common type of Epiphytic orchid plant is the Dendrobium hybrid variety, The Dendrobium is acknowledged as  one of the largest orchid genera; and as such, their natural habitat ranges across the whole of Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Polynesia.  It is impossible to generalise about the ideal growing environment for this hybridised variety, but they are very hardy and adaptable plants and therefore, fairly easy to grow.  Dendrobium orchids  will lose their leaves if exposed to temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, they do not like temperature extremes . Although, having said that, there are of course several varieties of this particular hybrid that prefer cooler night time temperatures; furthermore, they need the temperature variation in order to bloom  they are available in such a wide range of colors  including white, green, purple, pink and yellow. With this type of orchid it is necessary to research thoroughly the environmental needs of the specific variety of Dendrobium that you are considering, as if it is to thrive, it will be necessary to fully understand and recreate it’s natural environment within your home.

Probably the most common and easy to grow variety of Terrestrial orchid is the Cymbidium which encompasses  up to forty different species and quite literally thousands of hybrids. Their popularity stems from their fairly large, bold, flowers with up to thirty blooms on each spike that come in a whole range of colors from yellow, pink, brown, red, peach and green. Generally the Cymbidium prefers a cooler climate with bright light and a little shade, as they originated in high altitude areas of the Himalayas and China. These plants also come in a miniature form; growing to a maximum height of three feet, making them ideal for those that live in a small apartment and perfect for the novice horticulturalist.

If you like a challenge and you have considerable space, then the Miltonia or “pansy orchid” is for you, The Miltonia is a native of  Brazil, although, they can be found in other regions of South America. These exceedingly fragrant orchids, propagate in high altitude areas with high levels of precipitation and mist. Therefore, the best potting medium is New Zealand Spaghnum moss with a little perlite, bark and charcoal mixed in, to promote effectual drainage. Although Miltonia orchids prefer to be moist at all times you must never over water them or the roots will rot, the potting medium is specifically designed to retain moisture; so even if the surface appears dry, there is usually plenty of moisture present a couple of inches below the surface. These plants thrive in conditions of up to 85% humidity, it will therefore, be necessary to install a fan in the growing area so as to keep the air circulating, or your plants will be exposed to possible diseases as this type of hot damp climate is contributive to fungal growth. Never let the plant dry out or the humidity level fall, or you may find that the leaves on your orchid will become pleated and remain so. They grow best in an east facing window with a little shade. Miltonia orchids grow like vines and climb, making it impossible to grow them in a pot, the best method is to cultivate them in baskets, but they will need repotting at least once every year or so. If you are feeling adventurous you can mount them on tree fern or bark and let them grow and creep  up the wall or tree with total freedom .