The Wonderful World of Orchids

And how to grow just one of the 35,000 known species

Orchid Fun Facts

• One of the largest plant families on earth• Over 35,000 species: more than 2X the number

of bird species, and about 4X the number of mammal species

• On all continents except for Antarctica• May have arisen 76–84 million years ago and

coexisted with dinosaurs• Earliest human evidence in Chinese and Japanese

drawings and literature, ca. 700 BC

Expert Adapters

Uniquely designed to survive in various climates and conditions• Live on trees, rocks, in the ground or under it,

in tropical rainforests, grasslands, high mountains, and bogs

• A majority are perennial epiphytes, which grow anchored to trees or shrubs in the tropics and subtropics

Amazing Pollinators

• Very specific• Moths, insects, bees, ants, butterflies,

hummingbirds, wind• Lures, color, smells, mimicry, tricks, stealth• Ensures purity of the species – only one

pollinator can successfully gain sustenance from its chosen specie host

“Darwin’s Orchid”

Angreacum Sesquipidales• Waxy white star-like flowers• Heavy perfume at night• Spur ~12 inches long at the back of the flower, with

nectar at the bottom

Darwin reasoned that the pollinator must be a moth and have a tongue (proboscis) at least 18 inches longAfter his death, the Predicta Moth was discovered

“Darwin’s Orchid”

Lady Slippers

• Lure the insect: Drink from its pouch? Scent?• Pouch is very slippery and polished• Pollinator gets stuck at the bottom, either too

wet to fly, or the shape of the pouch stops it• Only one way out, which the insect eventually

finds, is to crawl through a tight doorway so that it rubs against the pollen

Michigan Lady Slippers

Bee Orchids• A small, pretty orchid that mimics a receptive

female bumblebee visiting a flower• The dark brown "bee" is also hairy• During a frustrating attempt to mate, the male

bee becomes an unwitting carrier of pollen

Bee Orchids

Vanilla Orchid

Growing Orchids

THEN• Hobby of the rich—very expensive• Very difficult to breed—most were harvested

from the wild• Seeds: millions, microscopic, no reservoir of

food in the seeds, dependent on fungus to survive

• Environments difficult to maintain

Growing Orchids

NOW• Affordable: $10 at Kroger• Tissue propagation/cloning• Hybridization: bigger, better,• longer-lasting blooms

Moth Orchid

Moth Orchid

Phalaenopsis• Over 75% of all orchids sold are Phalaenopsis• Epiphyte• Long-lasting blooms, up to 4 months• Hardy, adaptable, easy to grow in our homes• Temperatures common to our homes: 50-95 °F • High humidity (60-70%)• Low light (south- and east-facing windows)

Planting Mediums

• Sand-peat• Bark mixture• Moss (from Chile)

• Pots that allow air flow• Larger drainage holes

Humidity/Watering

Humidity• Moisture trays• Pebbles• Mist/showerWatering• Once a week• Let the plant dry out a bit between waterings

Fertilizer

• Weakly, weekly• 20-10-12 February-August (green)• 6-30-30 August-February (bloom)• Nitrogen: green• Phosphorus: roots and flowers• Potassium: overall health

Repotting• Once a year• When a lot of roots are outside the pot• Clean up the roots

Healthy roots: whiteCut off the black,dead roots

• Use clippers you’ve• dipped in a water/bleach mixture (~9:1)

Problems

Problems

• Over/under watering• Humidity• Bud blast• Exhaustion• Viruses (hence, the bleach)• Light—not enough or too much• Temperature extremes (air conditioning and

heating vents nearby)