Where did orchids originate? One may as well ask where man originated, for like man, the ubiquitous orchid is found on nearly every continent in nearly every climate. Also like man, the orchid has a myriad varieties and forms – so many that one botanist has stated, "There is no such thing as a typical orchid."
There are over 30,000 varieties of orchid not including manmade hybrids. Most people think of orchids as tropical plants, but there are mentions of orchids in Chinese writings as early as 500 B.C. In the Western world, the Greek botanist Theophrastus mentioned Orchis in manuscripts around 300 B.C. An Aztec herbal dating from the 1600s mentions vanilla, a type of orchid. From Egypt to the Americas, from the South Seas to the mountains of Switzerland, there are native varieties of orchids that grow in the woods, the rain forests, the mountains and even the seashore.
The modern day history of orchid cultivation, however, begins in the 1880s when William Cattley of England received a shipment of ornamental plants from the Brazilian jungles. The plants were packed in bulbs of another plant for protection, and out of curiosity, Cattley placed one of those plants into his glass house (what we now call a greenhouse). That plant was the Cattleya labiata orchid – the plant that most people think of as the 'orchid'.
Some of the most enchanting members of the orchid family are far less showy. The delicate lady slipper and brightly colored Calypso fairy slipper are found in the Northern woods from New England through Canada, and the Thai spider (bulbophyllum medusae) with its mane of 'hair' grows in the lowlands of Thailand. To learn more about orchids and other plants please visit www.orchidgeeks.com
How To Water Orchids - What You Need To Know When an orchid grower needs to water orchids, he or she must always be careful not to water the plant too much. Over watering is a surefire way to kill an orchid plant. But there are other ways of improperly watering the plant that will also hinder its gr......
Orchid Lights For Different Plant Types Using orchid lights is an orchid grower's way of controlling the plant environment where an orchid plant lives. With correct use, these lights can create healthier plant growth and encourage your precious orchid plants to bloom splendidly. In their origin......
Only Two Orchid Types Exist Only two orchid types are known to exist despite the fact that a whole host of species and orchid hybrids exist. The terrestrial orchid is one of the two types of orchids and as it names says it grows on the ground. Epiphytes represent the second orchid t......
Tips to Water Orchids Right There is a correct and an incorrect way to water orchids and you must be aware of this in order to properly take care of them. As with all plants, orchids need a proper growing environment to achieve their potential. Maintaining the correct moisture level......
What's Best For Your Orchid? The orchid flower is a nice, if somewhat delicate flower. The orchid flower, with a little care, can make a nice addition to your place. Once you realize what they require, orchids can become hardy plants that add beauty to any room in your house.
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