"Orchidaceae, the Orchid family, is the largest family of the flowering plants (Angiospermae).[1][2] Its name is derived from the genus Orchis.
The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew list 880 genera and nearly 22,000 accepted species, but the exact number is unknown (perhaps as many as 25,000)[3] because of taxonomic disputes. The number of orchid species equals about four times the number of mammal species, or more than twice the number of bird species. It also encompasses about 6–11% of all seed plants.[4] About 800 new orchid species are added each year. The largest genera are Bulbophyllum (2,000 species), Epidendrum (1,500 species), Dendrobium (1,400 species) and Pleurothallis (1,000 species). The family also includes the Vanilla (the genus of the vanilla plant), Orchis (type genus) and many commonly cultivated plants like some Phalaenopsis or Cattleya.
Moreover, since the introduction of tropical species in the 19th century, horticulturists have produced more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.
The complex mechanisms which orchids evolve to achieve cross-pollination were investigated by Charles Darwin and described in his 1862 book Fertilisation of Orchids."(Wikipedia).
Orchid flower is a flower that already exist on the earth since 120 million years ago and have been able to continue to evolve and adapt so that it still survived until now, although many ancient plants and animals become extinct. Orchids live on all continents, except Antarctica. In China, wild orchids found living in the area of Southwest China and the South, for example in the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan. In this world there are nearly 35 thousand species of orchids. Even more undiscovered species. One of the rare orchid found in the Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan province has a unique coat.
In the natural landscape, orchids survive the minerals contained in the falling rain and fertilizer made from leaves, bird droppings or insect decay. Insects that assist marriage orchids drawn by the smell that must pervade, or with the colors and shapes that resemble those of insects, such as the orchids that resembles a butterfly. In addition, insects have legs by stamens can also slip into the stigma, so that helps a marriage between orchids.
About orchid care, basically there are several things that must be considered.
The first is the light.
Orchids need sunlight to live, but should not be exposed to too much sun. The best is the sun from the east, when the sun will rise. But the afternoon sun too long and not good for orchids because it can quickly withered. For orchid lovers in North China, in summer they have to be careful when putting orchids on the window facing the west, because the windows facing west receive sunlight during the day until sunset. In fact, in the summer sun set over the North China at 8 or even 8:30 at night. Min Lin and Indonesian orchid lovers would not have to worry about it, but of course, preferably before noon orchids moved to a place not exposed to direct sunlight, or somewhere more quiet.
Actually, each type of orchid have needs its own light. Phalaenopsis orchid family and less like oncidium light, whereas the type of Cattleya orchids, dendrobium and Vanda like light.
The second is the humidity.
Most orchids like humidity. For orchid lovers in Indonesia, it is certainly not a problem, because Indonesia is a humid tropical country. But for those who live in North China, the air is dry, especially in winter. Therefore they are advised to put a bucket of water near their orchids, so the water can evaporate and moisten orchids.
The third is the irrigation.
At best, orchids drenched in the morning, so that the water had evaporated at nightfall. Therefore, the pot used to have water pores. Water is best to water orchids is rain water, because it contains has been mixed with dust and organic materials. Tap water is not too good, especially a lot of tap water contains chlorine. If tap water is used, it is better ignored it for a while. To remember is not to flush the orchids with water that is too cold.
Watering orchids do not need to be done too often. 5-10 days can be watered, depending on the type of orchid. To be sure, when watered, the medium where the roots of orchids growing in a state must have been really dry.
The fourth is the temperature.
For the people of Indonesia, the air temperature may not be a problem, because the temperature in Indonesia the average is always the same. In China, orchids should be treated in the house that uses heating in the winter. The average air orchids which bear no more than 33 degrees Celsius or below 15 degrees Celsius. Therefore, do not let your orchid is placed in a place that is too hot. After this you can also listen to commentary from orchid experts who say that the best temperature for orchids is 27? 28 degrees Celsius.
For those who keep orchids in the room, then that also must be considered is the fifth point of the air ventilation. For most families in Indonesia, it is not too much trouble. Most houses in Indonesia are still stuck in the ground, have a yard, and enough ventilation. This is because the Indonesian people who live in tropical climates in desperate need ventilation, so the windows are often open house. But for the people of China in major cities who live in apartments and in the winter air is too cold, the ventilation can be a problem. Therefore, for a while, orchids should be placed near a fan to get air circulation. Blowing air or breeze is needed by the spray of orchids so that no stagnant water that could be a place to grow bacteria that rot the roots of orchids. So keep your orchid to grow happy, so do not forget to wind, put on the porch of the affected gust of fresh air.
The sixth, which is also worth noting is the provision of fertilizer. Select a fertilizer that contains potassium for flower and fruit growth, phosphorus for flower production, and nitogren for plant growth. When the medium orchid bark is made from wood that has been decomposed, the nitrogen is needed because the medium is produced from the bark decay by bacteria. The bacteria eat a lot of nitrogen, so do not leave a lot of nitrogen for orchid. About the many and frequent application of fertilizers, it all depends on the state of the newly purchased plant. Ask the seller, the number and frequency of fertilizer that is used for all different orchids. The seller also typically sell orchid fertilizer recommended.
The last thing that also must be considered is the transfer pot. Each orchid should be moved from the pot every one and a half to two years. Why? Because these orchids may have grown so big that pot is too small to accommodate the needs of the roots that have been developed. In addition, the roots of orchids also be cleaned from the roots of the dead. Also important is changing the medium orchid that may have been vitamins. The old pot can still be used, after cleaning. All this of course must be done carefully and ask the seller or the store orchid plants of the procedure. But that must be remembered, orchids like to be in the pot a bit tight, because if the pot is too large, most of the energy will be used to grow roots. Also must not move into a new pot. The transfer pot orchids do when it's too big, or when found in the pooled water can rot roots. If you can not find the reasons for moving to a new pot, let the orchids live in the pot may be another year.
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