Living with orchids and how they grow in your garden or patio

The name orchid comes from the Greek word orchids- which means testicles. The plants were given this name due to their testicle like roots. Today the orchid family is known as Orchidaceous and includes 750 genera, over 20 000 species and approximately 70 000 hybrids. It is next to impossible to give the exact number of species available because orchids are highly adaptable and continuously cross breed.

Orchids grow in all climatic regions all over the world. Central Europe has about 60 native species while North America house about 150 species. Most orchids reside in Asia and its known as the orchid paradise. Orchids can be found in the South American tropical rainforests, tropical mountain forests and in wet cloud forests.

Orchids were delicate priceless flowers in the 17th century and orchid hunters risked their lives in search of orchids in tropical rainforests. There was always some life threatening event such as meeting venomous snakes, hostile tribesman and other corrupt orchid hunters who would stop at nothing to get what the other hunters wanted, (murdering each other for the orchids). Most European orchids were named after the founder and auctioned off in London .

Life Cycle of an orchid.

Orchids take different life forms. This is because they were forced to continuously adapt in order to survive the ever changing environment. There are:

  • Terrestrial orchids

  • Epiphytes

  • Lithophytes

The roots of Terrestrial orchids are deep in the soil. They are thick and hairy for example the European Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio). Epiphytes developed climbing abilities because they needed to reach the scare sunlight in the dense rain forest. Epiphytes orchids thrive on the top of tress, on steep rock faces and on hanging branches. They developed aerial roots which they use to hold onto support structures as well as absorb nutrients and water. Aerial roots are thick and fleshy. They resemble worms or ribbons as they dangle high up in the air.

Lithophytes grow well on bare rocks and on sites that have very little soil. The stone Laelia is a perfect example of a lithophyte.

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How do orchids grow?

Orchids grow either by extending their shot tips (monopodial growth) or by branching out laterally (sympodial growth)

Monopodial growth

The new leaves develop at the top of the main axis having the plant getting taller each year. Flowers grow along the main axis and pseudo-bulbs are not present. Vada and Phalaenopsis grow in this manner.

Sympodial growth

Shoots growing laterally instead of vertical from the base of the last shoot. They form Pseudo-bulbs having flowers visible at the ends or along the sides. Perfect examples include Cattleya and Cymbidium. Pseudo-bulbs are thickened shoots (look like lumps) and store water and nutrients. They allow the orchid plant to survive drought seasons and can be cylinder, spindle, egg or barrel shaped.

The pseudo bulbs are connected together by a main axis. Orchids develop a new bulb each year having the previous one wrinkling up.