Orchids For Dummies

John Wiley & Sons

Chapter One

In This Chapter

* Getting to know orchids

* Deciding whether orchids are right for you

* Knowing what to do for your orchids each month of the year

You're about to enter the wonderful world of orchids. You're in store for an exciting adventure! This is the largest plant family on our planet with an estimated 30,000 wild types (species) and many more man-made varieties. No other plants can compete with orchids for their power to seduce and bedazzle the most jaded plant lover with their fantastically beautiful flower colors, shapes, and textures, and heady and sensuous perfumes.

Understanding What Makes an Orchid an Orchid

You can easily tell when a rose is rose, but orchids are quite a bit more complex and varied when it comes to their flower shapes and the construction of their leaves, stems, and roots. In Part III, I give you lots of information on flower, leaf, and stem construction of specific orchids. In this chapter, I talk generalities.

Certainly the flamboyant colors of modern orchid hybrids are a standout and are the primary reason these plants are so treasured. But there are so many different types of orchid flowers, so the question is, "Which one is typical?" There is really no correct answer to this question. Many people think of the cattleya-type orchids (see Chapter 11), while others may picturemoth orchids (see Chapter 10).

To get a better idea how orchid flowers are constructed, take a look at a typical cattleya flower and compare it to a more ordinary flower, a tulip (see Figure 1-1). Table 1-1 shows some of the major differences between these two flowers.

So what makes an orchid an orchid? The column. This fused sexual structure located in the middle of the flower is what separates the orchid from all other plants.

Knowing Where Orchids Come From

About 80 percent of orchids are from the tropics in both the New World (Central and South America) and the Old World (Asia and Malaysia). A smattering can be found in North America and Europe.

The ones that grow in your home, though, are all of tropical or semitropical origin. They mostly hail from areas of high rainfall and humidity and enjoy tropical to above-freezing temperatures during the winter.

Orchids are divided into two major categories based on where they grow. Those that are commonly found clinging to branches of trees are called epiphytes; those that thrive growing on or in the ground are called semiterrestrials and terrestrials.

TECHNICAL STUFF

So how can you tell the difference between the two? Many of the terrestrial roots are hairy, like those found in the slipper orchid (see Figure 1-2). Epiphytes have thick roots (called aerial roots because they're frequently suspended in the air), which are covered with a silvery material called velamen, which can absorb moisture from the air like a sponge (see Figure 1-3).

Seeing Why You Should Grow Orchids

Growing and studying orchids will provide you the ultimate horticultural experience and pleasure. Here are some key reasons to start growing orchids now:

• Growing orchids is fun! That's the most important motive.

• Orchids are easy to grow. See Chapter 5 for tips on how to be successful.

• You can start with beginner orchids that any newcomer can be wildly successful with. See Chapter 15 for some plants to start you off.

• Orchids cost less than they ever have, and you can easily select just the right one for you. See Chapter 2 to make this process a snap.

• No group of flowering plants comes close to the delicious perfumes that orchids emit. Pay attention to the Fragrance icon used throughout this book to find the most-fragrant orchids.

• Orchids are available from "box" stores, specialty growers, orchid shows, garden centers, botanical gardens, orchid societies, and mail-order suppliers. See the appendix for a list of suppliers.

• Because of the huge diversity of orchids, you'll never tire of them. You'll always find new ones to try and enjoy. Check out the chapters in Part III for some of the many possibilities.

• You'll meet new friends who are as fanatical about these plants as you are. See the appendix for lists of orchid societies to join. Their magazines are a marvelous source for information and gorgeous pictures. These are some of the best-quality plant magazines in the world.

• Orchids don't require an expensive greenhouse to grow. They'll be happy with a windowsill or artificial lights. See Chapter 5 for the skinny on how to grow these orchids to perfection in your home.

• They'll beautify your home and life. See Chapter 4 for some tips on how to enjoy them to the fullest in your home.

• Orchids can live forever, so as they grow you can divide and multiply them to share with your friends or to trade for other orchids. See Chapter 8 for more tips on dividing and multiplying your orchids.

Deciding Which Orchids to Bring into Your Home

Choosing an orchid is an exciting, but sometimes confusing, decision! So many types of orchids, so little space. In this book, I make this process easy for you:

• Check out Chapter 2 to walk through some of the steps to take in deciding what orchid will fit in with your home environment and suggestions of where you can scope out and purchase them.

• Consider starting your orchid collection with moth orchids. They're the most foolproof of all. See Chapter 10 for details about these.

• Next check out slipper orchids, another easy group. See Chapter 12.

• Then, if you want to try others, look over Chapter 15 for some of the easiest orchids to grow.

• When you're ready to expand or you want more choices, check out all the other orchids in Part III.

Getting to Know Your Orchids by Name

Probably one of the most intimidating hurdles that the beginning orchid grower faces is the complex names given to orchids. When you realize what an immense group of plants this is, you'll soon come to realize why most orchids are referred to by their Latin name rather than a common name. Actually, very few orchids even have a common name. In this book, I always use the Latin name, because that's the universally accepted name, and I add a common name when there is one.

If you struggled through high school Latin classes as I did, you may have thought (and hoped) that this language died with the Romans. Alas, it is alive and well in the natural-science world, and it's the standard language used to name flora and fauna. You'll start to make friends with Latin as its use become more familiar and comfortable to you.

Taking the name a little at a time makes it easier to digest. In the following sections, I show you the names, one word at a time, of a species orchid and then a hybrid.

Species orchid names

Plants that are sold as they were created by nature, not hybridized by man, are referred to as species orchids. They have two names: the genus name, which comes first and is capitalized, and the species name, which comes second and is lowercase. Both names are in Latin, so they're italicized (which is just the way foreign languages are usually treated).

You may see a third part to the name, the botanical variety, after the species name. This is a name given to an orchid that varies somewhat-it could be a larger flower or one with slightly different coloration-from the standard species. It will be preceded by the letters "var." and will be in lowercase and in Latin.

TIP

The genus name is much like your last name and the species name is like your first name. In other words, orchid naming is backward to the way you say your own name. If my name were written as an orchid's is, I would be Frowine steven.

Here's an example of the name of a species orchid: Cattleya walkeriana var. semialba. Table 1-2 explains the orchid's name.

Hybrid orchid names

Oh, it would be so simple if naming stopped here, but man got mixed up in all this and started developing hybrids. Hybrids result from crossing two species (taking the pollen from one orchid to use it to "mate" with another). A marvelous thing happens when two different species of orchids are crossed or mated to each other. Their progeny is usually stronger, easier to grow, and frequently produces larger flowers than either of its parents-which is why hybrids are so desirable and popular.

Here's an example of a hybrid orchid name: Brassocattleya Cynthia 'Pink Lady' HCC/AOS. (See the color section for a photograph of this orchid.) Table 1-3 breaks down the name and explains its various parts.

Orchid hybridizing can produce plants with quite complex names, especially in some of the very large groups like the cattleyas (see Chapter 11) and the oncidiums (see Chapter 13). In these chapters, I deal with their names in more detail.

REMEMBER

You don't have to be an expert in orchid names in order to enjoy and grow orchids. You'll catch onto many other name nuances after you're drawn further into the orchid web. For now, don't worry about them much-they're only names!

TIP

Turn to the Cheat Sheet at the front of this book for a list of common genera names that you're likely to run into, along with their abbreviations and pronunciations. Tear out the Cheat Sheet and take it with you when you go shopping for orchids.

Growing Orchids Easy As One, Two, Three

To be successful in growing orchids, just follow these suggestions:

• Know the environment you have to offer your orchids and match this with the orchids that fit. See Chapter 5 for more information on your growing environment.

• If necessary, modify your growing area to help your orchids perform to their best. Check out Chapter 5 for information on how to do this.

For the most common questions and problems, check out Part IV.

Beyond choosing the right orchid for your environment, you have to pay attention to the time of the year to know what your orchid needs. In the following sections, I give you a rundown of the year, month by month. Note: You can't be too exact with the timing of this care schedule, because the United States is a vast country with climates from the cold north country to semitropics.

January

This is a period of cold, short days and low light, so orchids don't grow much in such times. Fortunately, many moth orchids, slipper orchids, and some other cattleyas and their relatives will be budding up getting ready to show off their splendiferous blooms very soon.

• For orchids such as some of the dendrobiums, cattleya species, and deciduous orchids, like the catasetums, this is a time of rest, so you'll want to reduce your watering.

• Keep the humidity high with good air movement.

• If you are using well water, warm it up to room temperature before using it on your orchid plants. Ice-cold water can cause forming buds to drop and may stunt new growth.

• Don't put your orchids too close to the windowpanes or the leaves could be damaged by the cold.

• Apply very little fertilizer. The orchids won't need it.

February

This is another dark month, but the days will be getting longer and brighter, which should cause an increase in growth.

• Toward the end of this month, increased light may mean you have to be careful with your orchids that require less light, like the slippers and moth orchids, so they don't get burned.

• More of your orchids will be showing buds and some, especially some of the moth orchids and some of the oncidiums, should be blooming.

• Don't overcrowd your plants-make sure they receive as much light as possible.

• Provide good air circulation to prevent disease problems.

• Stake your cymbidiums, which should be spiking now.

• Don't forget to keep your miltonias and miltoniopsis damp.

• If you're growing under lights, take note of when you last changed your bulbs. Fluorescent lamps can lose up to 40 percent of their light output after several months of use. Because new growth is starting on orchids, this is a good time to change the lamps so the plants will receive the most light possible.

• Apply very little fertilizer during this month.

March

Finally, signs of spring with longer and brighter days.

• Be careful that the increased light doesn't heat up too much in your greenhouse or windowsill. Apply shading if necessary.

• The increased light and warmth of this month will mean an acceleration of growth. Sprouting new roots should be more evident.

• This is the beginning of the show for many orchids. Many cattleyas, moth orchids, slipper orchids, and oncidiums will be starting to bloom.

• As the days get brighter and warmer, you can resume your regular fertilizing schedule.

• This month and next are prime times to check out orchid shows in your area.

April

In April, many orchids will be in glorious flower.

• You'll probably have to increase the frequency of your watering because of the new plant growth.

• As soon as you see new roots emerging in cattleyas, this is the time to repot. Do it before the roots grow a few inches (5 cm) long.

• Many other orchids showing new growth can also be repotted at this time.

• Be on the lookout for bugs. The warmer temperatures cause them to hatch out.
• Dormant orchids should be showing new growth now so you can resume your regular watering schedule.

• If you didn't apply shading on your greenhouse last month, it may be needed now.

• A gauze curtain may be needed to soften the light for orchids growing in a south window.

• Check out orchid shows in your area.

May

Growth will continue at full speed this month. This is another prime month for orchid flowering.

• More frequent watering and fertilizing will be called for.

• If you're in a northern climate, move some plants to a shaded, protected spot outdoors by the end of this month, but be careful not to do this too quickly. Orchids that prefer it warm, like moth orchids, don't appreciate being too chilled at night, not below around 65°F (18°C).

• Increase your ventilation to remove excess hot air and prevent fungal disease spotting on the flowers.

• This is usually an opportune time to repot most of your slipper orchids because they should be in active growth now. Also, repot moth orchids and their vandaceous relatives. Attend to this right after they've flowered.

• Continue your fertilizing program to strengthen new growth.

June, July, and August

Temperatures are starting to heat up now. Some orchids, like a few of the summer blooming hybrid cattleyas, oncidiums, and slipper orchids, will be in flower.

• Be sure your windowsill or greenhouse doesn't get too hot. Consider moving the orchids you have in the south window to the east window, where they'll have reduced light and heat.

• For orchids growing under lights, make sure your growing area gets plenty of ventilation, because it could be getting very warm now under the lights. If you have trouble keeping the temperatures low enough, consider summering your orchids outside in a shaded and protected spot. They'll enjoy the vacation.

• This is also a prime time for insect problems. If it gets hot and dry, be on the lookout for mites. If it's wet, slugs and snails will be a plague. Aphids and scale can show up anytime. If you need to spray, do it in the morning when it is cool and be sure the orchids are well watered before you spray.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Orchids For Dummies by Steven Frowine Excerpted by permission.
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