The story of a flower: the secrets of the incomparable orchid. Orchids and their homeland Orchids: cultivation and care

Many will agree that the orchid is a flower that always causes delight. But few people know that they began to be bred by accident, and in the West they were not appreciated until recently. Now these plants in our lives are not only an excellent solution when choosing a gift, more - many people buy them to decorate the interior of a home or office.

Origin story

In the early 19th century, a European importer of tropical plants received interesting bulbous stems in a shipment that were used as packaging material. Out of simple curiosity, he planted them. A very beautiful pale lilac flower has grown. Gradually, their cultivation was brought to a commercial level. Soon they began to visit the tropical jungle in order to search for new species of these exotic plants. Many of them were not transported to their destination, since not all specimens survived the long sea voyage. But those plants that were brought to Europe were very expensive. Later, artificial hybrids began to be grown, and orchids dropped significantly in price. But even now there are rare varieties of these flowers, the price of which reaches $25,000.

Nowadays flower shops have special departments where they sell these plants of any color and size. Also, experienced sales specialists will provide the necessary advice on care after purchase.

Main types of orchids

Features of flower culture

The unique feature of orchids is their endless variety of colors and shapes. Most likely, this is what attracts gardeners to these flowers, because they can be quite inconspicuous; there are even varieties whose flowers are 2 millimeters in size. Orchids also differ in their methods of reproduction. Their seed capsules contain about 2 million seeds, which are easily dispersed by the wind. But for them to grow, they need a special mushroom to supply them with nutrients.

Although not unusually beautiful, the flower does not have pollen to attract pollinating insects, and not all species even have nectar. Therefore, the main advantage of these flowers is considered to be beauty, camouflage and aroma.

Today, more than 75,000 species of orchids are known.

Flower cultivation

Many of us know that in their homeland these flowers can grow freely on other plants, for example, in the crowns of large trees, but this does not mean that they cannot be grown at home, in ordinary pots. Therefore, today we are looking at the features of growing orchids and learning how to propagate them at home.

In what containers should I grow orchids at home?

Most often, at home, flowers are planted in pots, plastic or clay. Which option should I choose?

Growing orchids in clay pots often leads to their disease and wilting. This happens for many reasons, including minimal space for roots, moisture absorption and roots sticking to the surface of the vessel, as well as poor water drainage, due to which the rhizomes can rot.

With plastic pots, everything is a little different, and that is why floristry experts recommend using exclusively plastic containers for growing orchids.

In such cube-shaped containers there are no places where the root system will be pinched and suffer from a lack of free space for development. Most often, plastic containers are equipped with good water drainage and stands, due to which not only excess moisture is removed from the container, but also the root system has the opportunity to be ventilated. These factors create the most convenient conditions for development for the orchid.

Orchids: cultivation and care

Growing temperature

Orchids feel quite good at home, even of the standard type. For a comfortable life, they need a temperature of +25+30°C, but in winter they should ensure a temperature of +20°C. But you should not take flowers out onto balconies and terraces, where the air temperature can drop below +13+14°C, as in such conditions they will quickly die or begin to get seriously ill.

Orchids: rules for growing and caring (video)

Accommodation

Orchids are very demanding of lighting, and therefore, if you provide the brightest day possible and a little additional light in winter, you will systematically receive pleasant plant growth and abundant flowering. But be careful, because the hot summer rays can seriously burn the leaves.

It would be most correct to place a flower pot on the east window, but if this is not possible, then windows on the south or west side will do. Soon the plant itself will tell you whether it has enough light in the place where you installed it. If the leaves begin to lighten, then you will need to shade the plant a little; if they take on deep green tones, then, on the contrary, install it in a more illuminated place.

Watering the plant

Orchids love moisture, however, watering should be moderate so that the soil is not flooded and water stagnation does not form in it. The ideal would be to systematically moisten the soil, without excessive amounts of water.

Humidity

How to fertilize

Plants need nutritious soil and actively consume nutrients necessary for growth and flowering. It would be most correct to provide the flower with fertilizing during every second or third watering. Azofoska (1 g per 1 liter of water) is best suited for such frequent feeding. You can also fertilize with magnesium sulfate (2 g per 1 liter of water), but it is better to spray the plant with this solution (only once every 25-30 days).

Orchid propagation

Transplantation and propagation of a crop can occur in several ways, and therefore you have an excellent opportunity to choose the most convenient one for yourself.

Propagation by dividing rhizomes

A fairly simple method that, as they say, can be used to propagate almost any type of orchid. You need to select an adult and large enough plant, carefully remove it from the pot or container and separate the rhizome from its walls and earthen ball. The rhizome should be divided with a very sharp knife, cutting it into any number of parts, the main thing is that each of them has at least 3 developed false bulbs. Next, the roots are sprinkled with charcoal for disinfection, the orchid is planted in separate containers and provided with standard care.

This method can only be practiced in the spring.

Propagation by seeds

Many florists, and just flower lovers, are wondering whether it is possible to grow orchids from seeds. Answering the specific question asked, we will say yes... but not at home, but in the laboratory.

Why is that? Everything is very simple, because in nature, very small plant seeds develop due to the root sponge or mycorrhizal fungus root, from where they receive all the nutrients. The orchids that we grow at home do not have nutrient tissue at all, and therefore they need to create a nutrient medium artificially. You could try to grow flowers using hydroponics or a similar method, but using it will develop not only the seed itself, but also mold fungi. This is where a paradox arises, because by killing mushrooms, we will also kill the flora... In general, to put it briefly, in artificially created conditions, an orchid can only be propagated by seeds in a sterile laboratory, and even then it will take from 1.5 to 5 years to grow it, and some varieties will bloom only by 10 years.

Reproduction by shoots

Some species of our wonderful flowers may have side shoots, or, as people say, “babies”. These are separate shoots from the mother specimen that develop next to it, and therefore, if you want to propagate an orchid in a similar way, then pay attention to their cultivation. At a certain point, after care and constant spraying, the side shoot is separated and planted in a separate container, as an independent plant.

If you want to grow “babies” faster, try to provide individual shoots with increased attention - spraying with fertilizers with a high nitrogen content, increased temperature in the flower growing room, adding special components (meristems), which are the educational tissue of plants. When separating and replanting a shoot, do not forget to treat the roots with charcoal.

Propagation by cuttings

A few varieties of orchids, for example, Vanda, can be propagated by apical cuttings, but only if there are certain distances between the developed nodes of the shoots.

To do this, use a sterile knife, with which the shoot is cut at an angle along approximately half of its entire growth. The cuts are disinfected with charcoal, and the cutting is planted in a separate pot. Further, only constant and stable care for the new plant, and the expectation that the cutting will grow quickly, because this method should be used only for fast-growing species.

Pests and elimination methods

Thrips

You can recognize thrips on a plant only by noticing silvery and bluish inclusions on the leaves. The cause of the spread of this scourge is considered to be elevated temperature, and thrips can only be controlled by treating them with insecticides.

Spider mite

Pests can be detected by the small silver-white cobwebs that cover the lower part of the leaves. At the same time, the upper part of the leaves becomes covered with yellow and white spots. The cause of the pest is too dry air, and you can fight it with soap and alkaline washes.

Aphid

Shchitovka

Small lice form growths on orchid leaves, under which they live. The reason is high indoor temperature. Scale insects can be eliminated by washing with a soap-alkaline solution.

How to grow an orchid (video)

Overseas beauty orchid (20 photos)

Reviews and comments

06.09.2015

This is not the first time I’ve tried to grow orchids, but for some reason it doesn’t work. The plant immediately grows and blooms perfectly, but after the flowering period has passed, it no longer blooms. Please tell me why this could be happening?

Olga 03/17/2016

I didn’t see any bulbs on the phalaenopsis either :) I have two of them, and somehow we managed to make friends, although I’m not a very ardent gardener. Instinctively, I placed pots with these plants on the east window, it is located in the kitchen, so that I could admire my beauties as often as possible. It turns out that this was the right decision! And yes, orchids really don’t like stagnant water in their roots; I almost ruined mine by overwatering.

Goshia 04/08/2016

We had phalaenopsis orchids growing for several years on the windowsill of a window facing north-west, and the window overlooked a glazed balcony and the plant was in the shade. Now we have moved the flowers to the window facing southeast. From morning to mid-day, the flowers are illuminated by bright sunlight. Now I noticed that the petals of the flower are completely unfolded and almost flat. The orchid grows in a plastic pot, with holes in the walls, and it is filled with tree bark. Judging by the fact that phalaenopsis has three leaves, we do not water the flower enough.

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130 million years ago. This is exactly the figure that scientists confirm when talking about the appearance of orchids on our planet.

In a piece of amber about 20 years old and found in the Dominican Republic, a bee was found with a pollinarium stuck to its chest. Let us recall that pollinaria is a special formation in a plant that ensures the formation of pollen.

Much later, just a few thousand years ago, Japanese and Chinese artists and thinkers mentioned these beautiful flowers in their works.

In the 300th century BC, the work “Knowledge of Plants” was created. The author of this work is the ancient Greek writer Theofast. In it, the word “orchis” was used to designate specific types of orchids, which in the future formed the basis for the name of the entire family - Orchidaceae.

In addition to the real history, the origin of orchids is also surrounded by a huge number of interesting legends. We offer some of them to the reader on our website. This is both a story about the fragments of a broken rainbow and a story about “Venus’s slippers.” By the way, it is worth noting that the name of the genus of slipper orchids comes from the name of the island of Cyprus (Cypripedium - Cyprus). What is known from Greek mythology about this island? That's right, dear readers. Cyprus is the birthplace of the goddess Venus.

The German scientist and botanist Ernst Pfitzer also supported the idea of ​​this legend, which makes you wonder: maybe there is some truth in it?

There is also an interesting story connected with the leopard orchid Ansellia – africana. Zulu guys at the show glued its leaves to their shoulders. Vopshem the tribe always had a solid supply of the roots of this plant. Almost magical effects were attributed to him, including stimulation of sexual activity, getting rid of bad dreams and even evil spirits! A special paste was made from orchid pseudobulbs, known as a powerful contraceptive. There was a belief that thanks to this paste a woman becomes infertile for one night. As far as is known, orchids are no longer used in the manufacture of modern contraceptives.

Not only Africans and Chinese admired and described the wonderful properties of orchids. Likewise, Greek scientists, for example, the pharmacologist and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides, described orchids in their writings as having anomalous abilities to combat dark forces.

In those distant times, there was also an opinion that witches made a potion from orchid leaves. This potion attracted true, pure love and drove away false artificial passion.

A broom was made from the leaves of some species of dendrobium, which was used to sweep the home after the death of one of the family members. People believed that if this was done at the right time and especially carefully, then death would not come to this house in the near future.

Residents of the Solomon Islands have come up with another way to use some types of orchids. They attached leaves to their heads when entering unknown territory. This guaranteed them safety and good luck.

In India, dried orchid pseudobulbs were used to make necklaces and belts. This was a surefire way to avoid a fatal snake bite, which was very common in India and was always considered a huge problem.

The vanilla orchid in Mexico protected travelers and guaranteed them interesting adventures.

Stories about the wonderful treasures of Europe are also not complete without the participation of orchids. Seekers of adventures and notorious treasures carried orchid tubers in their pockets for good luck. In Scotland, for example, amulets were made from Orchis mascula.

Before hunting, dogs were given dendrobium flowers, which resembled dog heads, in their food. It was believed that this contributed to the aggravation of the dog's sense of smell.

In Norway, tubers of one of the orchid species were hidden under the threshold of the house. This had to be done on a specific, “magical” day - the eve of St. John's Day. At this time, flower tubers have special power and are able to reliably protect the house from the evil eye.

The perfume industry also could not do without the participation of orchids in its development. Moreover, perfumes made from orchid tubers were able to attract love. At least, that’s what the manufacturer sincerely believed.

African-American peoples are big fans of Wooddism, as is known. It was in these circles that there was a widespread belief that a bag of dry tubers of one of the types of orchids brings amazing luck! He also had the power to remove curses and protected his master from all harm. What is this belief connected with? Probably because this root is a bit reminiscent of a human hand, which caused funny associations among people from ancient times. The root was dried and placed in a special bag, which had to be worn around the neck, closer to the heart and away from prying eyes. Men also practiced wearing a pouch on their belts, and women under their bra or skirt. This is a magical talisman. This bag is called mojo and since that time has been found in Europe, as well as other continents, except African.

To this day, flowers are used in religious rituals. Orchids have found their place here too. In Ancient Greece they were even considered sacred plants! Long, voluminous garlands were woven from orchids, which were carried in a procession to the sacred temple of the fertility goddess Demeter. Divine services were performed there.

Confucianism in China also paid great attention to orchids and their special properties. Buddhists, from ancient times to the present day, decorate statues of the Enlightened One with beautiful bouquets of orchids.

The same thing happened in North America. The statues of folk idols were decorated with the most beautiful flowers. This tradition was eventually adopted by the Catholic Church. This custom is also common in modern churches. Altars are especially richly decorated.

The use of orchids in religious rituals is reflected in their names. Specifically, Epidendrum ibaguense - the crucifix orchid - gets its name due to its scarlet color and flowers, which are shaped like a cross.

Oncidium tigrinum, which blooms in autumn, is also known as the flower of the dead. Used to decorate graves and altars on All Saints' Day - November 1st.

In Papua New Guinea, there is a rite of passage that symbolizes the entry of adolescents into the adult world. To participate in this ritual, they decorate themselves with orchid flowers.

Indian tribes use Cymbidium flowers to move the soul during sleep to a higher kingdom, where souls meet the gods.

During their existence, orchids have gone through a huge history. They are deservedly considered the most beautiful flowers in the world and aristocrats among plants. That is why many countries use orchids in their symbolism. For example, Peristeria talla is the national flower of Panama. Spanish monks use this flower during worship because they consider it the embodiment of the holy spirit.

The cattleya orchid is the national flower of Costa Rica and Venezuela, and the lycasta orchid is the national flower of Guatemala.

A colorful history and beautiful appearance - isn’t that why you should love these amazing flowers?

We tell you what the origin story of the orchid is, its species diversity, how the orchid is protected and why this plant is unique.

We have collected some amazing and interesting facts that not every experienced gardener knows.

The history of the origin of the orchid: from the tropics to the windowsill!

The origin story of the orchid is somewhat similar to other plants. After all, she followed the classic path from wild nature to floricultural culture.

Nevertheless, the orchid also has original moments in its history. In ancient times, beautiful orchids with bizarre and bright inflorescences with thin stems grew exclusively on tree branches in mysterious tropical forests.

And today the orchid has become very popular and one of the most desirable indoor flowers in many countries. More recently, they were considered very capricious and unpredictable when grown at home.

But now flowers decorate homes and delight millions of people, and even novice flower growers can now care for them.

• About 400-450 years ago, orchids from tropical forests were first brought to Europe.

At that time, few people guessed or could have imagined that the orchid would become incredibly popular and one of the most common indoor flowers in Europe.

After all, the first plant specimens brought did not please the eyes of Europeans for long and soon disappeared. The flower growers of that time did not have the knowledge and experience in caring for orchids.

• This is how the orchid’s origin story could end without really beginning.

Beautiful phalaenopsis orchid!

Endless variety of orchids

Orchids are represented by a huge number of varieties, which is the primary merit of thousands of breeders from different parts of the planet.

• To date, breeders have been able to develop more than 15 thousand hybrid varieties from 25 thousand natural orchid species.

New hybrid varieties have a variety of shapes and colors, among which everyone can find a favorite specimen.

Now every gardener can decorate his home with an original and easy-to-care plant.

As a rule, the history of gardeners’ acquaintance with orchids begins with phalaenopsis.

Phalaenopsis is the most common species among orchid lovers. This species has perfectly adapted to indoor growing conditions and feels good in modern homes.

In addition to phalaenopsis, we can distinguish: angrecum and paphioledilum, which resemble a shoe in their shape.

• With proper care and conditions for their development, angrecum and paphioledilum bloom regularly for many years.

Sometimes you get the feeling that an orchid will remain a mystery to people for a long time and will surprise people again and again.

Indeed, even now researchers are finding new species of orchids in tropical forests.

• For example, not so long ago, in 1982, a unique red orchid, the Lady’s slipper (Phragmipediumbesseae), was found in the mysterious forests of South America.

Orchid: practical information on flower protection

In Washington in 1973, a very important document was signed - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

• According to the signed document, orchids are under the protection of international organizations.

An exception to protection was left only for artificially bred new plant species.

The CITES Convention stipulates that legal trade in orchids can only take place if the plant is permitted to be exported from the country of origin, and a special permit must be obtained to bring the plant into the importing country.

Since the bred hybrid varieties of orchids are practically indistinguishable from their natural species, they are also fully protected by CITES.

• Thanks to this convention, it is possible to preserve the maximum possible number of orchid species in the wild.

This is the orchid’s history of origin, the species diversity of the flower and the protection of the plant in the modern world.

ADDENDUM TO THE ARTICLE:

We wish you to grow a magnificent orchid at home!

The orchid is an amazingly beautiful flower, so there is nothing strange in the fact that this plant has an unusual, beautiful history. More than 3000 years ago, people noticed an orchid, and since then many legends and traditions have been formed about it, reflecting a more than simple attitude towards this plant.

The first artifact indicating the age of the orchid family is a piece of amber with a bee inside. On the thorax of this insect, the pollinarium, the pollen-forming organ of the orchid, is clearly visible. The age of the amber found in the Dominican Republic is 15-20 million years. This artifact allows us to confidently assert that the ancestors of modern orchids appeared in the Late Cretaceous era and are alive in their numerous descendants to this day, inspiring breeders to create more and more new varieties of these spectacular flowers.

Orchids in the ancient world

The first documentary evidence in the form of hieroglyphs and drawings about orchids was found in China and dates back to 500 BC. Drawings by Chinese artists depict Cegolins and Cymbidiums. Around the same time, the ancient Chinese thinker Confucius mentioned this plant in his treatises: “The words of dear friends are the most delicate scent of orchids”.

For more than 2500 years, the Chinese language has had characters dedicated to the orchid - these are "LAN"(orchid), "Tin Lang"(heavenly orchid), "Lan Fong"(smell of orchid) and "Yeuk Lan"(looks like an orchid). A thousand years later, a Chinese manuscript dating from around 700 tells of a poet and artist named Wang Wei who made his home in a small pot. Why aren't you the first gardener and orchid collector?

Ancient Chinese, Roman, Greek, Japanese, American (Aztec and Mayan) healers wrote about healing properties of orchids. After all, this flower found its first use as medicinal potions to combat various inflammatory processes on the skin, fever, rheumatism, neuralgia, etc.

Our ancestors also used orchids for food. Orchis pseudobulbs were used to prepare a nutritious stew. Zaporozhye Cossacks made necklaces from dried pseudobulbs and used them as dry rations for a rainy day. Moreover, one “bead” helped a person last a whole day without food!

Young men of Papua and New Guinea decorated themselves with orchids during their initiation rites. In order to achieve success in competitions, in the old days Zulu boys glued yellow orchid flower petals covered with red spots to their shoulders. Ansellia-africana. In a matter of love The Zulus used almost all parts of this plant:

• orchid root was used in a potion to increase sexual potency;
• pseudobulb was used to prepare contraceptive paste,
• the smoke of burnt roots drove away nightmares.

In the video you can see for yourself how rich and beautiful the world of orchids is:

The magical properties of the orchid

However, not only the Zulus paid attention to magical properties this plant. In the Middle Ages, Orchis tubers helped European witches of that time cast love spells. But long before them, in the middle of the 1st century AD. Pedanius Dioscorides, a Greek pharmacologist, biologist and physician, described in his writings how to get rid of evil spirits with the help of tubers. The work of the Chinese scientist Pen Ts`ao Kang Mu, which appeared at the end of the 16th century, is devoted to the same topic, only in the Chinese interpretation our evil spirits are usually called negative energies or forces.

In ancient times, our ancestors made special brooms from pseudobulbs and dendrobium foliage, which they used to sweep into the room from which the deceased had just been taken out. It was believed that in this case death would be swept out of the home, and for a long time it would not be able to cross the threshold of the family’s house.

Dendrobiums were used as a talisman by the natives of the Solomon Islands; they were attached to the heads of travelers and scouts so that the plant guaranteed them safety in unexplored or potentially dangerous places. Before the hunt, the islanders fed their dogs Dendrobiums, the flowers of which resembled a dog's head, in order to give them strength, excitement and courage in the upcoming pursuit of prey.

But the Indians used the Eulophia orchid to protect themselves from snake bites. Dried pseudobulbs of the plant were used for protective amulets, necklaces and belts.

The Mexicans used the magical properties of the Vanilla planifolia orchid: it was used as amulets to protect explorers of new territories or ordinary travelers. Mexican sorcerers, in addition to peyote, sometimes used Cymbidium flowers to travel in dreams to the other world and communicate with Higher powers.

Tubers of various orchids were especially popular among European treasure and adventure seekers: the Scots took Orchis mascula for this, the Norwegians took Dactylorhiza majalis. Moreover, they believed that if on St. John’s Day the finger-shaped tubers of this orchid are thrust under the threshold of a house, then its residents will not be afraid of any evil eye.

By the way, Dactylorhiza tubers smell quite pleasant, so they have long been used by perfumers to make aromatic candles, perfumes, oils, shampoos, incense, etc.

But fans of the teachings of Voodoo believe that if you carry a bag with a root-hand with you all the time, then happiness and good luck will never leave its owner. Voodoo sorcerers wear the Dactylorhiza (mojo) root around their necks in order to be able to remove spells and protect themselves from evil spirits.

The modern industry of witches and shamans sells these roots in bags called "Lucky Mojo". Moreover, they recommend that men wear Mojo around their neck or belt, but women can wear it either around their neck, or under a skirt or bra. At the same time, no one should see the female Mojo.

Orchids in religion

Orchid flowers inspired religious awe in the ancient Greeks. Garlands woven from orchids were used in rituals dedicated to the goddess of fertility Demeter. In China, it is customary to decorate Buddha statues with these plants.

Orchids came to Christian temples in Latin America along with the conquistadors, who, in turn, adopted the manner of decorating them with flowers of religious idols from the Mayan and Aztec Indians. However, there are many varieties of orchids named after Catholic saints and ritual holidays.

Flower Epidendrum ibaguense(or Epidendrum radicans) in its shape resembles the cross with which Christ was crucified. The Epidendrum radicans orchid has a second name Espiritu Santo (Holy Spirit), the orchid received this name because of its flower, shaped like a dove.

It is customary for Catholics to decorate graves with mourning Oncidium tigrinum in late autumn, on All Saints' Day.

Orchids in heraldry

In the world of flowers, orchids belong to the class of aristocrats. Therefore, it is not surprising that some of their representatives are reflected in the symbols of more than one country:

• Peristeria high - national pride Panama;
• Cattleya - symbol Venezuela and Costa Rica,
• Lycastus Orchid - symbol Guatemala.

Indians in Latin America still worship this plant as a deity.

Orchids in traditions and legends

The Legend of Aphrodite and Adonis

The most beautiful resident of Olympus, the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite, fell in love with Adonis. Nobody, neither people nor gods, loved Adonis, only Aphrodite. Moreover, their feelings for each other were so great that they could not part for a minute.

One day, when a couple in love was hunting, Zeus saw them. In anger, he began to throw thunder and lightning. To shelter from the storm, Aphrodite and Adonis ran into the nearest mountain cave. Of course they made love there.

In a fit of ardent passion, the goddess lost her shoe. Where she fell, a flower of divine beauty grew - an orchid. From then on he was destined to be symbol of passionate love. The fruit of the love of Aphrodite and Adonis is also their son, the god Eros.

Maori legend of the orchid

The indigenous people of New Zealand have their own opinion about the orchid.

Once upon a time, the Sun visited the Earth unusually rarely. It was completely covered with snow, from which only the tops of the mountains were visible. But when the Sun turned its face to the Earth, the snow on the peaks of the mountains began to quickly melt, and then streams of melt water fell down. This is how the seas were born. Water from the seas evaporated and formed a dense cover of clouds.

In the end, the Sun completely stopped seeing the Earth behind the clouds and became very upset. The luminary directed its powerful rays at the Planet and tried to pierce the clouds with them. The clouds shed a lot of rain on the Earth, melting all the snow. And after the rain, a multi-colored bridge appeared in the sky - a rainbow.

The evil spirits who lived on earth at that time hastened to occupy all the free space on the rainbow. But the rainbow bridge could not withstand such weight and split into thousands of small multi-colored fragments that fell to the ground in magnificent flowers - orchids.

Believe the legends or not, but the orchid is undeniably one of the most beautiful on this planet!

You can learn how to choose the right orchid variety for yourself in the store. And about how to care for the plant.

Orchids are one of the most species-rich families of the plant world. Representatives of this family can be found almost anywhere on the globe: in rainy tropical forests, in savannas and steppes, in hot lowlands and in cold mountainous regions, at an altitude of up to 5000 meters. However, the greatest diversity of species of the orchid family can be seen in the tropical and subtropical zones of East Asia, as well as in Central and South America. These regions are the birthplace of most of the orchids grown in our country as indoor plants.

A Brief History of Orchid Growing
Orchids have been admired and collected since ancient China. 300 years before Christ, the Greek Theophrastus gave these plants the name "orchis", which means "testicles" and alludes to the paired thickened root tubers that the European orchis has. Later this name was transferred to the entire plant family as a whole. In 1731, the first tropical orchid, brought from the Bahamas by a missionary, bloomed in Europe. However, almost another century passed before the real hunt for these exotic seed plants began.

At the beginning of the 19th century, orchids appeared in England - they were used as packaging material for other tropical plants. One day, gardener and plant importer William Catley became interested in strange parts of plants. He planted them in a pot and a plant with unusually large, lush flowers grew from them. It was an orchid. In honor of the man who discovered orchids in Europe, the genus to which the flower he grew belonged was named after him - Cattleya (Latin Cattleya).
After this unusual discovery, many gardening farms sent their “orchid hunters” to the tropical regions of Asia, America and Africa. These people discovered and collected many new species of precious flowers, but often they simply barbarously stole orchids from their natural habitats. For a long time, exotic plants were sold at exorbitant, inaccessible prices, with some specimens costing up to DM 12,000. And only when gardeners were finally able to successfully propagate these plants, the flower trade faded into the background. Today, almost 30,000 wild species of orchids and 150,000 crosses, so-called hybrids, are known. However, even today new species of orchids are being discovered. In the early 80s, unknown species of Lady's slipper with large flowers of very bright color were discovered in China. Nowadays, all wild orchids are protected by environmental laws. Today, the task of gardeners and orchid breeders is to obtain many new species.


Epiphytic lifestyle
Most tropical orchids in their natural habitats are so-called epiphytes: they settle on other plants, in the forks and crowns of trees. The reason for choosing such a unique habitat is that orchids can receive more light on the crowns of trees than on the shady soil of a tropical forest. Orchids do not take water or nutrients from host plants, and therefore are not parasitic plants. They obtain nutrients using specially formed roots, from moist tropical air, as well as from a thin plant layer of soil (humus), which accumulates on the branches and bark of trees. The epiphytic lifestyle determines some of the unique requirements of orchids for climate and care, which you need to know and fulfill in order to successfully grow these plants.


Other growing places
In addition to epiphytic plants, there are many more types of orchids, including tropical ones, which grow with their roots in the ground. This includes, for example, most species of Paphiopedilum, Cymbidium and Calanthe. They are also called soil, terrestrial or terrestrial orchids. Another group of orchids, relatively smaller in number, prefers stones and rocks for their habitat. The most famous representatives of this group of plants - they are also called lithophytes - are some species of Laelia, the so-called stone laelia.


Orchids - as useful plants
In ancient sagas and legends, orchids were often credited with the ability to increase potency. Today, the most famous of the so-called “useful orchids” is Vanilla planifolia. Without this plant, with its incomparable aroma, it is impossible to imagine either the food or cosmetic industry today.