the wonderful world of orchids
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The Wonderful World of Orchids. And how to grow just one of the 35,000 known species. Orchid Fun Facts. One of the largest plant families on earth Over 35,000 species: more than 2X the number of bird species, and about 4X the number of mammal species - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Wonderful World of Orchids
And how to grow just one of the 35,000 known species
Orchid Fun Facts
• One of the largest plant families on earth• Over 35,000 species: more than 2X the number
of bird species, and about 4X the number of mammal species
• On all continents except for Antarctica• May have arisen 76–84 million years ago and
coexisted with dinosaurs• Earliest human evidence in Chinese and Japanese
drawings and literature, ca. 700 BC
Expert Adapters
Uniquely designed to survive in various climates and conditions• Live on trees, rocks, in the ground or under it,
in tropical rainforests, grasslands, high mountains, and bogs
• A majority are perennial epiphytes, which grow anchored to trees or shrubs in the tropics and subtropics
Amazing Pollinators
• Very specific• Moths, insects, bees, ants, butterflies,
hummingbirds, wind• Lures, color, smells, mimicry, tricks, stealth• Ensures purity of the species – only one
pollinator can successfully gain sustenance from its chosen specie host
“Darwin’s Orchid”
Angreacum Sesquipidales• Waxy white star-like flowers• Heavy perfume at night• Spur ~12 inches long at the back of the flower, with
nectar at the bottom
Darwin reasoned that the pollinator must be a moth and have a tongue (proboscis) at least 18 inches longAfter his death, the Predicta Moth was discovered
“Darwin’s Orchid”
Lady Slippers
• Lure the insect: Drink from its pouch? Scent?• Pouch is very slippery and polished• Pollinator gets stuck at the bottom, either too
wet to fly, or the shape of the pouch stops it• Only one way out, which the insect eventually
finds, is to crawl through a tight doorway so that it rubs against the pollen
Michigan Lady Slippers
Bee Orchids• A small, pretty orchid that mimics a receptive
female bumblebee visiting a flower• The dark brown "bee" is also hairy• During a frustrating attempt to mate, the male
bee becomes an unwitting carrier of pollen
Bee Orchids
Vanilla Orchid
Growing Orchids
THEN• Hobby of the rich—very expensive• Very difficult to breed—most were harvested
from the wild• Seeds: millions, microscopic, no reservoir of
food in the seeds, dependent on fungus to survive
• Environments difficult to maintain
Growing Orchids
NOW• Affordable: $10 at Kroger• Tissue propagation/cloning• Hybridization: bigger, better,• longer-lasting blooms
Moth Orchid
Moth Orchid
Phalaenopsis• Over 75% of all orchids sold are Phalaenopsis• Epiphyte• Long-lasting blooms, up to 4 months• Hardy, adaptable, easy to grow in our homes• Temperatures common to our homes: 50-95 °F • High humidity (60-70%)• Low light (south- and east-facing windows)
Planting Mediums
• Sand-peat• Bark mixture• Moss (from Chile)
• Pots that allow air flow• Larger drainage holes
Humidity/Watering
Humidity• Moisture trays• Pebbles• Mist/showerWatering• Once a week• Let the plant dry out a bit between waterings
Fertilizer
• Weakly, weekly• 20-10-12 February-August (green)• 6-30-30 August-February (bloom)• Nitrogen: green• Phosphorus: roots and flowers• Potassium: overall health
Repotting• Once a year• When a lot of roots are outside the pot• Clean up the roots
Healthy roots: whiteCut off the black,dead roots
• Use clippers you’ve• dipped in a water/bleach mixture (~9:1)
Problems
Problems
• Over/under watering• Humidity• Bud blast• Exhaustion• Viruses (hence, the bleach)• Light—not enough or too much• Temperature extremes (air conditioning and
heating vents nearby)