Orchid Care Tips Blog

As most garden experts know, Orchids are one of the most prized flowers in the world. Orchid growing is one of the top hobbies of people around the globe. Orchids are prized for their glamour and beauty. There are some varieties of Orchids that are easy to find but there are also those that are extremely rare and hard to find anywhere. Here are some of the rarest orchids in the world.

• The Asian Slipper Orchids are one of the rarest type of orchids that have a luscious lower petal. They are related to the rarest flower in Britain, which is the lady’s slipper.
• The Phal amboinensis flava or the albino variety of Orchid is one of the rarest Orchids in Singapore. It is known for its yellow petals. Only experts and serious Orchid collectors know about its existence. In addition, it has been discovered only thirty years ago.
• The Phal appendiculata is one of the smallest and rarest Orchids there is for it was thought to be extinct. Its buds only measure up to ten millimeters.
• The Phal speciosa var. tetrapis is a very strange Orchid for its blossoms are unique in appearance. They look very different from one another even if they grow from the same plant. So, it is always a surprise to see what the flowers look like.
• The Spy Orchid or Ophrys Sphegodes is one of the rarest orchids in Germany. It has yellow and blood red petals.
• The Maxilliara mombarchoensis and the Epidendrum glumarum are two of the rarest orchids in Nicaragua, which are only found on the Mombacho mountaintops. In Mombacho, there are a hundred Orchids that are of this variety that were found.
• The Bulbophyllum hamelinii is a gorgeous epiphytic orchid that grows in the rainforest in Madagascar, which suffers very much due to deforestation.
• The Eulophiella roempleriana is one of the largest Orchids in Madagascar. It has purple petals.
• The Angraecum longicalcar is an endangered species of Orchid where there are only a few plants of this type that are in conservation grounds.
• The Aeranthes henrici is a gorgeous epiphytic Orchid which has been endangered due to the deforestation of its habitat, the rainforests in the north and north east of Madagascar.
• The Grammangis Spectabilis is a very rare Orchid in Madagascar and it is also endangered and rarely seen in its natural habitat.
• The Paphiopedilum Rothschildianum Orchid is one of the rarest Orchids that used to be found in Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia. Some of the plants of this variety is now kept at the Kew Gardens.

It is sad to say but mostly, these types of Orchids have become rare and endangered due to the destruction of their natural habitat. If we work together to protect the rainforests and ecosystem where these Orchids grow, we can hope that these orchids will grow there once more.

See Many Rare Orchids on Amazon.com (link opens in new window)

Orchids are definitely one of the most fascinating plants in the world today. Its beauty is very rare and exotic. You can learn all about growing different variety of orchids in the book, “Orchids Grower’ Companion.” This book is written by Banks who has an extensive experience and knowledge about growing orchids himself. You will be able to learn from the best and manifest all these knowledge in your garden.

Not only that, you will also know about the 30,000 species of orchids and distinguish its 100,000 hybrid strains one from the other. This book includes 400 colored pictures of different orchid varieties so you will surely learn a lot about this plant and its characteristics.

Since Orchids Grower’ Companion is about orchids, it would not be complete without information about plant structures, its pollination, and even the plant’s history. Everything about orchids is can be discovered here. Aside from all these information though, there are also practical considerations that are tackled in this book. Banks’ book contains several chapters on plant care and maintenance. You will learn about how orchids can develop either indoors or outdoors and even how to grow it in mounts, basket, or pots.

In addition, the chapters about the temperature requirements, the moisture requirements, the fertilization, watering, propagation, and how to prevent pests are tackled in this book. Both amateur and professional gardeners are surely bound to learn something from the “Orchid Grower’s Companion,” it is very comprehensive and accurate.

But there is one conclusion that will surprise you after reading this book. It is the fact that orchids are actually not difficult to grow as many people think. But you need to learn a lot about orchids to be able to take care of it properly. Gardeners can grow orchids quite easily after knowing about all these but the basic is that as long as the temperature, the moisture level, and the proper housing for the orchids are met, orchids are bound to survive.

“Orchids Grower’ Companion.” definitely offers value for money. In fact, when you compare this book with other books that tackle the same subject, you will inevitably realize that this book is one of the best there is. Every penny you used to buy this book is definitely a penny well-spent. You will simply be astounded by the wealth of knowledge about orchids and you will surely want to buy a similar book to learn more.

Though orchid growing is not as difficult as most people say, you still have to get in mind of the type or variety of orchid that you want to grow and cultivate. And, of course, this largely depends on the country or place where these orchids originate from. Now, if you have chosen the type of orchids you want to grow and take care of, then, select where to get these plants.

For a consumer, it is easy to buy an orchid. You can normally get them in garden shops and the like where there are a number of varieties or species of orchids to choose from. There are even those that were imported from other countries where the climate is gentle on orchids. But have you really thought of such things as: Where these orchids have come from? What sort of climate do these countries have? How difficult is it to import orchids?

Here are the top five countries where these orchids really originate from:

• Ecuador has the largest number of orchids that are native to this country. In fact, it has over three thousand, eight hundred varieties of orchids ever recorded from this Andean country.
• Thailand is a country where orchids bloom due to its mild climate. It is famous for one of its type of orchid, the Nobile dendrobium, where the farm is located in the base or Doi Saket mountains. Also, in this farm, several types of orchids are cultivated such as intergeneric odontoglossum, Miltonia orchids and cymbidium.
• Taiwan is one of the countries that produce and export the best Phalaenopsis variety of orchids that are usually sold in the United States. A lot of these orchids are commonly grown and taken cared of in Taiwan mainly for selling to other countries.
• The wild orchid is a variety of orchid that is a top imported product of Australia. In fact, it has been a champion of the All Imported Stakes Series-3 competition, where the last one was held last June 10 at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in the small town of Carmona in Cavite, Philippines.
• For many years, the Netherlands has been known as the top producer and exporter of different flowers such as tulips, which is famous for but aside from tulips, not many know that it is also one of the top exporter of orchids that grown native in this country. Mainly, it exports orchids to Canada and the United States.

We’ve posted 5 new articles to our home page on the Orchid Tips Website about Orchid care and other topics:

Top 20 Orchid Species and Why

Top 20 Orchid Hybrids and Why

The Orchids to Grow That Bloom the Longest

The Most Difficult Orchids to Find and Grow

The Most Colorful Orchids

Orchids thrive in varied climatic conditions and each climatic zone has helped evolution of unique characteristics of this plant. Lets have a look at the climate profile of the top 10 counties where orchids are found.

Thailand has a tropical climate with a high temperature as well as humidity, and is dominated by monsoons during most times of the year. April and May are the hottest months of the year. The month of June is the beginning of the South West Monsoon that brings with it the rainy season, with intermittent rains lasting until the end of October. From November to the end of February the climate is pleasant with low temperatures and a reduction in the humidity level. The minimum temperature is 29oC and maximum reaches 37oC during the hotter days of the year.

India has hot tropical weather with climatic variations occurring from region to region. While the coolest months are from November to mid-March, the hot days are from April to June. From mid-July to September is the time for the Monsoon rains. Except for the North and North East regions, winters in India are pleasant with plenty of sunny days. Depending upon the region, the minimum and maximum temperatures can range from -5oC to 47oC in the entire country.

Hawaii : The climate of Hawaii is warm throughout the year, with an average temperature of 24 to 29°C, and no considerable difference between summer and winter temperatures. Heavy rainfall occurs in some mountainous areas during December to February, but most regions only receive short showers, while others remain totally dry.

Philippines : This land experiences a tropical climate tempered by constant sea breezes. There are three distinct seasons: the rainy season which is from June to September, the cool and dry season occurring during the months of October to February, and the hot and mainly dry season during March to May. Typhoons occasionally occur from June to September.

Mexico : The coast and lowlands are hot and humid all year. The interior highlands and the plateaus are milder and drier, but can become freezing between December and February. Rainfall is scanty throughout most of the country. Minimum temperature is 6oC and Maximum goes up to 27oC during the hotter days.

Peru : The climate of Peru varies according to area. In the coastal regions, winter lasts from June to September. During this period, the mountainous areas are often sunny during the day but cold at night. Heavy rains in the mountains and jungles last from December to April.

Brazil : The climate of Brazil varies from hot and dry in the interior to the hot, humid tropical rainforests of the Amazon jungle. Coastal Brazil tends to be hot and sticky for most of the year but it can get cold in the south and in the mountains during the winter months. Rainy season occurs from January to April in the north, April to July in the northeast and November to March in the Rio and Sao Paulo area.

Japan experiences four different climates. Spring occurs during March and April. It is not too hot and not much rain. The summer months between June and August receive some rainfall. During this period, the temperature and humidity are high. Autumn is from September to October with tolerable temperatures. Winter, during November to February is miserably cold.

Ecuador has warm and subtropical climate with the weather varying within the country due to the Andes mountain range and coastline. Andean regions are cooler and it is especially cold at nights in the mountains. Rainfall is high in coastal and jungle areas whereas in the Galapagos region the weather is dry and mild.

Indonesia experiences a tropical climate varying from area to area. The country is split into halves by the equator. The eastern monsoon brings the driest weather, which is from June to September, while the western monsoon brings the main rainfall during the months of December to March. Rainstorms occur throughout the year. The higher regions are comparatively cooler than the coasts and lowlands.

Orchids have intrigued serious gardeners for centuries more than any other plant. In fact, if people think of exotic and delicate flowers the first thing that comes to their mind are orchids. Orchids have been loved by many for a long time but it looks like their popularity still hasn’t dimmed to this date as there are still thousands of people who grow and take care of orchids in their own houses.

There are actually a wide variety of orchids; you will simply be astounded by the number of plant species of this flower. The orchid species number around 30,000 and each of these orchids has its own characteristics that make it unique from other types of orchids. Of course, with such a wide variety, you can expect that the care and maintenance of each plant varies from one plant species to another. In addition, not all orchids have the same beauty because some orchids stand out from the rest.

The Purple Dendrobium orchid, in particular, is a favorite among many because it is very beautiful while being easy to grow and maintain at the same time. The Dendrobium makes for an excellent houseplant because it blooms extraordinarily; thus it gives the house the enlistment and embellishment it needs.

Another great advantage of orchids compared to other types of plants is their longevity. They can last indefinitely as long as they are cared for properly. Because of this, the the Dendrobium Orchid is the favorite of many. It stands at around 18” – 26” tall and it comes with its split bamboos planter. You will also find care instructions for this plant so you will never go wrong. The most important thing to remember about orchids though is that they need to be watered carefully and should always be placed in an area with indirect sunlight.

The Purple Dendrobium is said to be very hard to find and the truth is, sometimes it is especially if you want the kind that looks extremely healthy and vibrant. But it is not impossible to find the perfect Purple Dendrobium. When you do find it, you will agree that this plant has been worth the search after all. After having a great experience with your first Purple Dendrobium, you will surely want to buy another one as a gift to a special person. This plant can certainly capture the heart of anyone.

Click here to purchase this Orchid on Amazon.com (link opens a new window).

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More often that not, when people think about Orchids, they usually think of different varieties of Orchids that are cultivated and grown in homes. What they do not know is that there are also many types of orchids that grow in the wild, particularly in tropical rainforests that are spread throughout the globe. Here are some of the tropical rainforests that play host to these wonderful plants and the types of Orchids that live there:

• There are rainforests found in Central America, particularly in the area of the Amazon river, in Zaire in Africa and easter Madagascar, India, Assam, New Guinea and Queensland in Australia. In all these tropical rainforests, certain types of Orchids that crave a lot of sunlight grow on the upper regions of the trees. These are what are called the epiphytes.

• El Yunque is a rainforest found in Puerto Rico, one of the oldest rainforests. Located in the Western hemisphere, it is generally warm while the forest floor is wet and marshy. The Orchids in El Yungue are usually seen growing on top of trees.

• Cabanas del Rio, a tropical rainforest in Ecuador, is where many tourists flock to in order to get an incomparable experience of seeing awesome widelife and great sights. This location also has a number of natural waterfalls where you can swim if desired. Normally, Cabanas del Rio has an environment that is friendly to Orchids so that many grow here on top of trees.

• The Kinabalu Park in Sabah, Borneo contains a huge number of plants, which are one of the oldest plant life in the world. Here, there are one thousand, two hundred varieties of wild Orchids such as the white necklace Orchids that are pretty to look. Also included are the slipper Orchid ( Papiopedillium family ) including the Papiopedillium dayanum and Papiopedillium rothschildianum.

• The Olympic Peninsula Rainforest in Costa Rica plays host to quite a lot of plant life as well as wildlife where there a number of wild Orchids that grow. Aside from Orchids, this rainforest has bromeliads, vines, ferns, mosses and palms that bloom there.

Now that you know more about tropical rainforests and how the ecosystem provides necessities to both plant life as well as animal life ( especially Orchids ) you can marvel at how these plants can survive in the wild.

The Secrets of the Phalaenopsis Orchids

The Phalaenopsis is a family of orchids that has over sixty species, which are normally located in the Himalayan mountains, Polillo island and Palawan in the Philippines, Northern Australia, and in the Orchid Island off Taiwan. Where wild Orchids in tropical rainforests grow on top of trees, there are also varieties of Phalaenopsis that usually sprout forth in the forest floor where it is damp and humid and at the same time. They are shaded from the harsh rays of the sunlight.

Other places where this variety of Orchid grows are Malaysia, Borneo, New Guinea, Yunnan in China, Vietnam and in other Southeast Asian countries.

Usually, Phalaenopsis Orchids have a few leaves but if they are healthy, they may have ten or more leaves. Also, they do not have pseudobulbs, which means that the flowers bloom on stems that are between the leaves. These plants proudly show off their blossoms for several weeks. If they are cultivated and taken cared of at home, these flowers can last from two months to a maximum of three months, a considerably long time. If the Orchids are exposed to fumes and gases from gas stoves or cigarettes, then, the blossoms can prematurely fall off in a number of days.

Phalaenopsis Orchids have very prominent appearance and beauty. At the same time, they perform a unique photosynthetic process in order to produce food. Their petals and sepals are adapted to new ways of pollination where they become greenish and rotund and they start this process.

In taking care of phalaenopsis Orchids, it is very important to have them repotted on an annual basis or every 2 years. Unfortunately many people do not know this. If this is not done, then, there is a tendency for roots to rot. It is best to use a fertilizer that has no urea content for Phalaenopsis Orchids because this can cause the pseudomonas disease.

For some, gardening is an activity or even an art that provides pride, pleasure and relaxation since you get to toil and enjoy the beauty you create. One of the many flowers that ardent gardeners grow is the Orchid, surely one of the most decorative flowers.

In each area of the world, there are different kinds of Orchids that grow either in the wild or at home. Each variety has a different quality to it, as well as location they are from. Some of them are as follows:

• In the Netherlands, many different types of Orchids bloom and come from, such as the Lesser Butterfly Orchid that has a scientific name of Platanthera bifolia, the Common Twayblad, which is also called Listera ovata, the Fly Orchid or Ophrys Insectifera. These kinds of Orchids typically grow in the forest and vanish each time the forest gets thick. They only appear when the forest has been cleared. These Orchids are some of the most uncommon and endangered types in Netherlands.
• Costa Rica, particularly the Southern Nicoya Peninsula, is known to be a haven of Orchids, hosting about one thousand and four hundred types of orchids. Here, different kinds of Orchids grow such as the Brassavola Nodosa, a very common variety with spiky petals and blooms, located in the ground around large areas speckled with trees. An uncommon type of orchid that grows in this region is the Maxillaria cf. Neglecta, which has been sighted in the Quebrada Buena Vista jungle. Another rare type of orchid is the Dimerandra cf. Emarginata, which has only been spotted in the abode of a Tica woman but originally bloomed in the jungle in Malpais.
• In the USA, there are many varieties of Orchids that usually bloom in late spring. One such Orchid is the Cypripedium Acaule, an Orchid that grows in Minnesota which is the official flower of this state. It possesses huge flowers, and its petals and sepals are of the hue dark reddish purple. Another Orchid that is typically seen in Georgia is Parviflorum, which has petals that are tinted in golden yellow. Other than these two, the Cahfomicium variety grows in the California Mountains during summer. It has petals colored brown and yellow and tinted in white.
• The genteel atmosphere of Canada is best suited for growing the Spectabile, which is also known as the Reginae, blooming in late spring.
• The Barbatum, which grows in India and the Malay Peninsula, is in season from February through August. It is colored white and purple, striped with green hue.
• Thailand is abundant with Bellatulum, an Orchid that grows during springtime. It is very small and has petals that are of creamy ivory hue.
• China has a climate that a Callosum Orchid can acclimate to. It has huge gorgeous flowers colored in green, purple, and dark red.

This information should help give you some more ideas on interesting Orchids from a variety of areas, that you can consider growing. Growing great Orchids may not an easy feat because they do require some TLC, but it is worth the effort when they bloom.