Please also visit my other website at:
Art For Sale - Saint Michael Miniature Pen and Ink Drawings
including:
 |
Our Lady of Guadalupe, stippled ink on genuine sheep skin, a (finished) Work In Progress |
As war escalates around the world, please remember each day to pray for Peace.
including:
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Inc.
The Society of Tempera Painters
Marians Of The Immaculate Conception
Orchids,
The Aristocracy of the
Plant Kingdom
by
Janet Stromborg,
Orchid Enthusiast
Laeliocattleya Mary Elizabeth Bohn 'Royal Flare' AM/AOS by
Janet Stromborg
Orchids,
The Aristocracy of the
Plant Kingdom
Orchid growing can become an obsession
once you have seen the exotic beauty of one in bloom, or smelled its heavenly
fragrance. They are far easier to grow than most people have been led to
believe and actually require very little time on the part of the hobbyist. Of
course they will require more time if the obsession takes a really good hold and
you end up with hundreds of them! .
It is generally believed that there are at least
20,000 species of
orchids, making the family Orchidaceae one of the largest families of
flowering plants in the world. While most of them occur in the tropics, they can
be found worldwide with the exception of the North and South Poles. Some are
microscopic in size and others are huge. Those that grow on the ground are
called terrestrials, those that grow on rocks are called lithophytes
and those that grow on trees or other vegetation are called epiphytes.
Orchids are capable of crossing the boundaries of both species and genus when it
comes to breeding and as a result there are thousands of intergeneric hybrids
that we humans have created in addition to the native species that inhabit the
globe.
Phalaenopsis Mauve Twilight by
Janet Stromborg
Orchids have one of two basic growth forms, monopodial and sympodial. Monopodial orchids develop new leaves from a central point. The genus Phalaenopsis is an example of monopodial growth and plants in this group have leathery leaves that cascade gracefully from the centers of the plants. These orchids go by the common name of “moth orchids” such as the one pictured, Phalaenopsis Mauve Twilight. Sympodial orchids grow from rhizomes that creep along the substrate surface. They produce successive shoots in a line, much like German bearded iris. Many sympodial orchids have a water storage organ called a pseudobulb to which a single or double leaf is attached at the top. The genus Cattleya is made up of sympodial orchids and these are the flowers most people think of when they hear the word “orchid”, picturing large colorful corsage orchids. Cattleya Gertrude Hausermann (pictured) is an example of a sympodial orchid.
Cattleya Gertrude Hausermann by
Janet Stromborg
For the beginning hobbyist, Phalaenopsis orchids,
or “Phals” for short, are a good choice as they can be grown quite
well in an east facing window, a south or west window that is protected with a
shear curtain or under ordinary shop lights. They have become readily available
in stores that have a garden department and they are relatively inexpensive.
They can be kept in a number of different potting media as long as their
long fleshy roots get plenty of oxygen. A mixture of fir tree bark, sponge rock,
and charcoal makes a good potting medium as it does not compact or stay overly
wet which is important in the culture of the vast majority of orchids. New
Zealand sphagnum moss is also a good potting medium for Phalaenopsis orchids as
long as it is replaced every couple of years and not allowed to break down and
rot. Most orchids in this genus have flowers that appear on a long stem
called a spike, and they remain open for many weeks. Phalaenopsis orchids
grow best when kept just barely damp and not allowed to dry out. A drop in the
temperature at night during the fall months initiates bud formation.
Keeping them outside in a shaded spot during the end of summer up until danger
of frost is an easy way to accomplish this temperature drop.
Paphiopedilum insigne by
Janet Stromborg
Orchids from the genus Paphiopedilum make wonderful
houseplants as well. Commonly called “lady slipper orchids”, they are
terrestrials, many of which grow in loose leaf litter on forest floors. A number
of species can be found in north America though they are from the genus Cypripedium.
“Paphs” as they are often called, can have very pretty mosaic
patterns on the their leaves and the flowers last for many weeks, rewarding
the grower with colorful blooms that look like they came from another
galaxy. Pictured are two Paphs or lady slipper orchids. Paphiopedilum insigne
is a species native to Nepal, and Paphiopedilum Lynleigh Koopowitz is a
man-made hybrid. Orchids from this genus grow year round and like to be
kept damp at all times, flowering best in an east window or under flourescent
lights.
Some of the orchids in the genus Cattleya make good
houseplants as well, if they can be given enough natural light to keep them
blooming and there is enough room by an east, west or south window. Miniature
Cattleyas or “Catts” as they are sometimes called, are especially
suited to window sill growing as they do not get to be as large as the
full sized Cattleyas. Many of the orchids in this genus are wonderfully fragrant
which makes them all the more attractive. They also can be grown in a number of
different media such as the bark mix mentioned earlier or in the case of the
miniatures, New Zealand sphagnum moss. These orchids like to be kept dry in
between thorough waterings. It is best to drench them until the water runs out
of the bottom of the pot, and then let them dry before watering again.
Miltonia Pearl Ono 'Iliwai' by
Janet Stromborg
Feeding orchids is very easy. By using a very weak fertilizer solution every time they are watered, they can be constantly fed as long as there is new growth evident or blossoms. For some orchids this means year round and for others it may mean that they need a rest from feeding during the winter months, when they should be watered sparingly with just plain water. A standard fertilizer dilution would be 1/4 teaspoon of 20-20-20 or other balanced fertilizer dissolved in a gallon of water.
Brassolaeliocattleya Jungle
Treasure by Janet Stromborg
Perhaps the most important factor in choosing orchids to grow in the home is selecting ones that have requirements that you can easily give them. For example buying a species that grows in a cool damp cloud forest and putting it in a house that stays warm and dry will lead to frustration and failure. On the other hand that same orchid might well flourish in a cool growing greenhouse. By reading about the orchids that interest you and learning about their requirements, you can make wise purchases that will reward you with many years of blooms. The American Orchid Society is an excellent source for more information on growing orchids as well as locating vendors who sell them. They can be contacted on line at
American Orchid Society
Janet's African Violet Seed Starting Page
Janet's Chimera African Violet Propagation Page