Basic Information on Orchids Lawrence KS

An overview of orchids and the necessary care required to grow orchids, an easy flower to grow.

Local Companies

Lawrence Landscape
(785) 843-4370
600 Lincoln St Ste B
Lawrence, KS
Valley Fertilizer
(785) 632-5603
1447 Navajo Rd
Clay Center, KS
Louisburg Nursery
(913) 837-2174
10860 W 271st St
Louisburg, KS
Earthcare Services Garden Store At Waters True Value Hardware
(785) 823-6400
460 S Ohio St
Salina, KS
Lett's Ornamental Grass
(620) 378-2047
RR 1
Fredonia, KS
Fox Seed Farms
(620) 354-6200
111 N Cherry St
Walnut, KS
Strawder and Daughters Tree Farm & Nursery
(620) 256-6629
1272 23rd Rd NW
Lebo, KS
Grassland Gardens
(785) 427-2438
1739 Camp Rd
Miltonvale, KS
Westlake Ace Hardware
(913) 782-9111
Highway 150
Olathe, KS
Big Spade Inc
(620) 663-6477
Hutchinson, KS

Orchids For Dummies

Adapted From: Orchids For Dummies

Believe it or not, orchids — among the most glamorous and spectacular flowering plants in the world — are easy to grow! You just need to give them what they need. And their requirements are not difficult to meet: adequate light, humidity, water, and ventilation. Sure, there are other nuances, like fertilizing, repotting, insect and disease control, but none of these is daunting.

This is the largest plant family on our planet with an estimated 30,000 wild types (species) and many more varieties that have been bred.

What makes an orchid an orchid?

You can easily tell when a rose is rose, but orchids are quite a bit more complex and varied when it comes to their flower shapes and the construction of their leaves, stems, and roots.

Certainly, the flamboyant colors of modern orchid hybrids are a standout and are the primary reason these plants are so treasured. But there are so many different types of orchid flowers, so the question is, "Which one is typical?" There is really no correct answer to this question. Many people think of the cattleya-type, while others may picture moth orchids.

To get a better idea how orchid flowers are constructed, take a look at a typical cattleya flower and compare it to a more ordinary flower, a tulip (see Figure 1). Table 1 shows some of the major differences between these two flowers.

So what makes an orchid an orchid? The column. This fused sexual structure located in the middle of the flower is what separates the orchid from all other plants.


Figure 1: Comparing a cattleya flower with a tulip flower.

Table 1: Differences between Tulip and Orchid Flowers

Flower Part

Tulip

Orchid

Petals

The most obvious part of the flower and what makes a tulip look like a tulip.

A very prominent part of the flower but comprises only half of the show.

Sepals

Hardly noticeable in the tulip flower, especially after they open.

Very striking in many orchid flowers. Can be as brightly colored as the petals.

Lip or labellum

Not found in the tulip.

Usually a very showy part of the orchid flower. Actually a modified petal.

Anther and stigma

The two sexual parts of the tulip. The anthers are male reproductive organs and the stigma is the female part.

These separate organs are not found in the orchid; instead, orchids have a column in which the male and female parts are fused.

Column

Not found in tulip.

Found only in orchids.

Where do orchids come from?

About 80 percent of orchids are from the tropics in both the New World (Central and South America) and the Old World (Asia and Malaysia). A smattering can be found in North America and Europe.

The ones that grow in your home, though, are all of tropical or semitropical origin. They mostly hail from areas of high rainfall and humidity and enjoy tropical to above-freezing temperatures during the winter.

Orchids are divided into two major categories based on where they grow. Those that are commonly found clinging to branches of trees are called epiphytes; those that thrive growing on or in the ground are called semiterrestrials and terrestrials.

So how can you tell the difference between the two? Many of the terrestrial roots are hairy, like those found in the slipper orchid (see Figure 2). Epiphytes have thick roots (called aerial roots because they're frequently suspended in the air). These aerial roots are covered with a silvery material called velamen, which can absorb moisture from the air like a sponge (see Figure 3).


Figure 2: Terrestrial and semiterrestrial orchids, like most slipper orchids, frequently have hairy roots.

Figure 3: Epiphytic orchids have thick roots covered with velamen.

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For Dummies is a registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Used here by license.


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