If there is one species of flower that so often seems to be more highly prized than any other the orchid has to be a serious contender for that top spot.
This tropical flower enjoys an enviable reputation as a beautiful gift to receive or simply as a great way to enhance the look and feel of your home.
Here is a look at some interesting facts about the orchid flower and some useful tips on how to keep them looking their best and healthier for longer so that you can enjoy them for the greatest amount of time.
Many different versions of this stunning species
You only have to visit a site like With Our Aloha to instantly appreciate the captivating allure of orchids and to get a sense of the different varieties available of this tropical flower.
What you might not know is that there are actually well over 25,000 different documented species of orchid in the world today.
The Orchidaceae is prolific in tropical regions of the world and there are a number of scientists and horticulturists who believe that there are still plenty more varieties of orchid waiting to be discovered.
In addition to the orchids found naturally in the wild, orchids are a popular choice for horticulturists to hybridize the flower, creating versions that wouldn’t necessarily occur in nature but have become universally popular and a firm favorite for flower lovers everywhere.
At one with your orchid
It might seem strange to even suggest that we have any sort of meaningful connection with orchids, other than appreciating their beauty.
However, its seems that one of the reasons why we have such a strong affinity with orchids could be due to the fact that they have bilateral symmetry, which is a trait shared with humans.
A human face with a line drawn down the middle will result in a mirror image of both sides and that is the same result you get with orchids. Maybe the reason why you love orchids so much is that it reminds you of a human face and you might feel that the plant is looking right back at you.
Not just a pretty face
Another interesting fact about orchids aside from their symmetry is their ability to fool insects into pollinating them.
The reproductive components of many orchid flowers are strikingly similar in shape and color to the insects they are trying to attract.
The orchid pulls in the insect by attracting it with its looks and then sticks its pollen to the bug before it flies off to make the same mistake with another orchid, completing the pollination process.
Let there be light
There is no disputing the love and fascination we have for orchids but some people think that they are really tricky to keep, which isn’t the case when you follow a few simple steps to keeping your flower as healthy and vibrant as possible.
One of the biggest points to remember about enjoying success with keeping orchids is that they need to be kept in a well-lit area.
Don’t place the flowers in direct sunlight or where it is cold and drafty as that will soon have a detrimental impact on the condition of your orchid. As long as you give it the right amount of light your orchid will bloom nicely, but also be mindful that the larger the leaf, the less light it will need.
It is not as complicated as it might seem but if you give your orchid the right amount of light it will reward you handsomely.
Easy on the watering
It’s always tempting to give your orchid a bit of regular attention and keep it well watered but you have to be patient and disciplined with your watering ritual if you are going to get the best results.
The majority or orchids require watering only once a week. Keep an eye on its condition and wait until the bark or moss is looking almost parched before watering. It can be hard to resist the temptation to apply some water when it looks to be in need of it, but the best way is to wait until it is almost completely dry before watering.
Apply water until it starts to pour out of the drainage holes before draining any excess water immediately. Never leave your orchid in standing water if you don’t want to drown it.
Orchids are an amazing flower and understandably popular, they are also easy to keep with a little bit of know-how.
Frank MacMillan owns and manages With Our Aloha and Alii Hawaiian Tropical Flowers. His mission is to share the spirit of ‘Aloha’ through Hawaii’s most beautiful flowers, leis and local cookies and candies. After 20 years in high tech he moved to Hawaii to create a business of his own. Frank has a BA from the University of North Carolina and an MBA from Duke.
So many great tidbits about orchids here and seriously as much as I love these flowers, I really didn’t know much about them apparently. So thanks for the helpful education here today 🙂
They’re so fascinating. We used to get them at Trader Joe’s in San Francisco. I wonder if you can get orchids at our Trader Joe’s!? So worth a try.
I love tropic plants and flowers. Living in the desert though, I dont get to see any
Orchids are absolutely beautiful aren’t they, my Mum managed to keep on going for ages, me though. I wouldn’t manage more than a couple of days as they are so delicate.
I love orchids! I have not had much luck keeping them alive at home though!
I have never grown orchids even though I garden quite a bit. I live in the Midwest and prefer native species. I am working on developing my butterfly and bumblebee garden at the moment.
Orchids are lovely to look at but somehow I’ve never trusted myself to buy one as then I’d have to take care of it. Not wanting to hurt one, I still think it’s better to enjoy them from afar.
I have always been fascinated about orchids! They’re very beautiful and I also find them interesting.
I love flowers, but don’t have a green thumb or any idea on the different plants and flowers. This was very helpful and now I want orchid flowers to bless my home. LOL
This is such an informative post. The orchid flowers definitely deserve to be more popular.
My mom grows the most beautiful orchids! She is especially proud of her Vandas. I Tried to grow some myself but I could not make them bloom. I guess my mom has more TLC for plants than me.
My grandfather was a master gardener and orchids remind me so much of him. They were his signature flower and those he tended to were all different colors, and so very beautiful. I sure wish I’d have inherited his green thumb! x
I love orchids. As a floral designer many years ago I loved to design with them. So many different colors and variations makes it one of the prettiest flowers especially for brides and centerpieces.
Among the ornamental plants, orchids is my favorite. Before I really thought that taking care of the orchids are kinda hard cause they seem so sensitive. But I realized they aren’t. One secret why my orchids are growing healthy and beautiful is because I communicate with them, I sing them a song or talk to them every day.
Orchids remind me so much of my grandmother. Taking care of and growing her own orchids was her favorite hobby! I think this is such a lovely guide for people who would like to grow orchids.
I love orchids! They are so pretty and peaceful! Now, keeping them alive is another thing! haha 😉 Xx-Doran @HauteBeautyGuide
Orchids are my all time fave. I currently have about 5 around my house. For me I love that they are so easy, I normally kill all other plants/flowers but somehow I manage to not kill these!
Wow, you’re only supposed to water orchids once a week?! Guess that explains why mine had such a short lifespan. Oops.