Native to Southeast Asia and the surrounding region, Phalaenopsis orchids are epiphytes in subtropical rainforests. The flowers of Phalaenopsis orchids are gorgeous and delicate, like butterflies flying on the branches, and their long flowering period is ideal for indoor flowering. After a series of artificial hybridizations and breeding, they have successfully occupied the potted and cut flower market, and we can find Phalaenopsis orchids of all colors, patterns, and sizes – you can always find a pot that suits your aesthetic and decorates your room.
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If you want to see Phalaenopsis orchids, the Singapore Botanic Gardens will surprise you. As one of the seven largest botanical gardens in the world, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is also Singapore's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Orchid Garden is the most distinctive and attractive part of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, covering an area of 30,000 square metres (7.5 acres) and displaying more than 3,000 species and more than 60,000 precious orchids, including a variety of Phalaenopsis orchids. There are also special nurseries and research institutes in the orchid garden, and new varieties of orchids are constantly being bred from here.
Highly sought after
Orchids were not sought after overnight, and back in time to the Victorian era, orchids were a luxury that belonged only to the elite. A variety of orchids, including phalaenopsis orchids, have sparked a boom in Europe, and bidding for a new variety of orchids at auction for £1,000 is by no means unique. At that time, dedicated orchid hunters were hired to track down exotic varieties in the wild and bring them to collectors who were keen to display orchids in gorgeous private greenhouses.
After that, the wave spread across the ocean and spread to the United States. In Fitzgerald's famous novel "The Great Gatsby", the author describes the life of a drunken gold fan in American high society in the 1920s, and the male protagonist Gatsby, when reunited with his lover Daisy, whom he had not seen for several years, in order to surprise her, he decorated the house with orchids to greet her, because this expensive flower was Daisy's favorite.
From flowers to leaves
In East Asia, a more popular group of orchids is the family of orchids called Chinese orchids, which have a long history of cultivation and a strong historical and cultural background. Chinese orchids are mostly ground-grown, with more slender flowers and lighter colors, but always with a seductive floral fragrance. In East Asia, the Chinese orchid is regarded as a symbol of high purity and elegance, but interestingly, the slender leaves of the orchid are actually more important objects of viewing.
MoRantu Southern Song Dynasty Zhao Mengjian (1199-1264)
This transition from flower to leaf actually exists in nature. The flowers of some Phalaenopsis species do not wither after completing their duty of attracting insects, and after the flowers are pollinated, these petals turn green, produce chloroplasts, photosynthesis, and perform leaf functions.
How orchids are planted
Phalaenopsis orchids native to tropical rainforests may be very different from the environment in which we live. They are epiphytic on tree trunks where the sun cannot shine directly, and the air around them is moist and warm. So if we want it to thrive, the potted plant needs to be grown as much as possible to restore its native environment – choosing a breathable bark substrate and mixing in perlite, charcoal, coconut shell detritus and other substances to retain moisture. Do not allow the leaves to receive direct sunlight to avoid burns. In addition, a ventilated environment is also important.
In order to maintain the symmetry of the plant shape, we need to rotate the plant from time to time to stop it from growing toward the light. The roots of the Phalaenopsis orchid reflect its health, and a transparent plastic pot can be chosen when planting, which requires watering when her bare roots turn silvery white.
Grow cards
Size: 20-90 cm tall, 30 cm wide (varies by cultivar) Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone 10-12 Light: Bright shade soil: Moist bark-like potted substrate, slightly acidic to neutral flowering time: Spring to summer, if planted indoors, it will flower all year round