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Orchids are associated with elegance and luxurious living. This romantic flower is one of the oldest and most numerous plants on earth. The orchid conjures up visions of explorers venturing into steamy jungles to find rare specimens for the collections of aristocrats and millionaires. As said by a fancier over 100 years ago, "orchids meet the need of a cultured soul".
Contrary to popular belief, orchids are found all over the world. Even such cold places as Alaska and the Himalayas have their own native orchids. In Florida, there are over ninety different kinds of indigenous orchids, whereas Hawaii has less than five.
Orchids are all members of the same botanical family, the Orchidaceae. There are over 800 genera and 30,000 species of orchid that grow wild throughout the world. There are about three times that number in hybrid species. Many people do not realize that commercial vanilla comes from the pods of a leafy climbing orchid!
Terrestrial orchids grow on the ground. The epiphytic variety which grow on trees and bushes are the real hot-house variety, requiring high humidity if they are to bloom well. These are not parasites, as many believe, but get their moisture from rain and dew. Nourishment is derived from tiny particles of matter that fall with the rain, or from dead matter such as leaves and insects that fall around their roots.
The lipothytes are sometimes grouped with the epiphytes, and grow on barren rocks or cliffs. Saprophytes live on decaying animal or plant matter, usually on the ground or in rotting logs. A few orchids grow in the water as semi-aquatics, and a few rare Australian genera are subterranean.
Orchids are distinguished by having only a single seed-leaf upon germination. The flowers of all orchids are designed to be fertilized by insects. Some are designed to be fertilized by one specific insect in their native habitat. When transplanted, these must be pollinated by hand.
Orchids come in all the colors of the rainbow and can range in size from under 1/32 of an inch (less than a millimeter) to over 28 feet (8.4 meters). A common misconception is that is that orchids are fragile and difficult to grow. Actually, most species are quite resilient and many can grow in your own living room. Thanks to the remarkable nature of this plant, a handful of species can provide beautiful blooms year round.
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