Phalaenopsis is native to Southeast Asia and surrounding areas and is an epiphyte found in subtropical rainforests. Phalaenopsis flowers are gorgeous and delicate, like butterflies flying on branches, and they have a long flowering period, making them ideal for indoor flowering plants. After a series of artificial hybridization and selection, 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 matches your aesthetic and let it decorate your room.
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If you want to see Phalaenopsis, the Singapore Botanic Gardens will surprise you. As one of the world's seven botanic gardens, 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 30,000 square metres (7.5 acres) and showcasing more than 3,000 species including a variety of Phalaenopsis orchids, and more than 60,000 precious orchids. There is also a special nursery and research institute in the orchid garden, from which new varieties of orchids are constantly being nurtured.
Highly sought after
Orchids' popularity didn't happen overnight, back in the Victorian era, orchids were a luxury item reserved for the elite. Orchids, including Phalaenopsis, have sparked a craze in Europe, and it's no exception to bid £1,000 at auction for a new variety of orchid. At that time, specialized orchid hunters were hired to track exotic species in the wild and bring them to collectors who were keen to display orchids in gorgeous private greenhouses.
After that, the tide crossed the ocean and spread to the United States. In Fitzgerald's famous novel "The Great Gatsby", the author describes the life of the American high society drunken gold fans in the 20s of the 20th century, and the male protagonist Gatsby reunites with his lover Daisy, whom he has not seen for several years, in order to surprise her, he decorated the house with orchids to welcome her, because this expensive flower is Daisy's favorite.
From flowers to leaves
In East Asia, more popular is a class of orchids called Chinese orchids, which have a long history of cultivation and a strong historical and cultural background. Chinese orchids are mostly groundborn, with more slender flowers and light colors, but always with an attractive floral fragrance. In East Asia, Chinese orchids are seen as a symbol of elegance, but interestingly, the slender leaves of orchids are actually more important objects to see.
Morantu Southern Song Dynasty Zhao Mengjian (1199-1264)
This transformation from flowers to leaves actually exists in nature. Some Phalaenopsis flowers do not wither after fulfilling their duty of attracting insects, and after pollination, these petals turn green, produce chloroplasts, carry out photosynthesis, and perform the function of leaves.
How to grow orchids
Phalaenopsis, which is native to tropical rainforests, may be very different from the environment in which we live. They are epiphysis on tree trunks that do not reach direct sunlight, and the surrounding air is moist and warm. Therefore, if we want it to thrive, we need to restore its native environment as much as possible when planting it - choose a breathable bark substrate mixed with 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 towards the light. Phalaenopsis has roots that reflect her health, and when planting, you can choose a transparent plastic pot, and when her bare roots turn silvery white, it means that watering is needed.
Planting card size: 20-90 cm high, 30 cm wide (varies by variety) Hardiness: USDA hardy zone 10-12 light: bright shade soil: moist bark-like potting substrate, slightly acidic to neutral flowering time: spring to summer, bloom all seasons if planted indoors