 Erotic orchids make exotic windowsill plants for the home.
Myths and legends surround the sensuous orchid. The very name Orchid is derived from the Greek word-meaning testicle. Claimed to be an aphrodisiac, it was perhaps the first Viagra, when the testicle like roots were crushed and eaten to stimulate sexual activity. Don’t try this at home. The fascination for orchids has taken man across continents in search of unique species, with the orchid hunters travelling the jungles of the world in search of a rare or new variety.
Orchidomania reached fever pitch in the Victorian times, it was a hobby for the very rich who built large hot houses and conservatories for their prize collections and new or unusual orchid plants changed hands for large sums of money. Nowadays with advances in orchid cultivation orchid plants have become affordable for the masses. Their exotic and dramatic blooms prove popular with the customer, and coupled with the long flowering period they make extremely good houseplants. Orchids are often assumed to be difficult to maintain when in fact many varieties of orchids will do well in centrally heated homes placed on east or west facing windowsills.Signs of Orchid popularity can be seen at the RHS annual Orchid Show held in March at the Horticultural Halls in London with crowds of orchid lovers from all over the country jostled for a glimpse of some of the most beautiful orchid species in the world.
The Phalaenopsis Orchid.
The Phalaenopsis orchid has been the darling of the style gurus for quite a while. The most popular of all the orchids because they are extremely easy to maintain with the flowers lasting for several months, long sprays of elegant blooms, hovering above the plant like giant moths from which it derives its common name – the Moth Orchid. Phalaenopsis are epiphytic, growing on trees and branches, high above the rain forests. Their aerial roots absorb the nutrients and moisture from the air and generally they like shady conditions with high humidity, spraying the plant with tepid water regularly will help to emulate their natural growing habitat. They will do best in an east or west-facing window, sat on a bed of pebbles or chippings. Once the flowering is completed, cut the stem just above a node to encourage another flower stem.
The Cymbidium Orchid
The Cymbidium Orchid the most well known orchid, has had mixed fashion fortunes. A single cut orchid in a box was fashionable for many years, until it found its way onto garage forecourts; this was the death of sales in florist’s shops. The number of flower spikes and the size of the plant will determine the cost, huge plants around 5 feet tall can now be purchased with 5 or 6 flower spikes. The flowering season for Cymbidiums is winter and spring so they make ideal Christmas presents with flowers lasting around six to eight weeks, in the summer months Cymbidiums can be placed out of doors in a cool shady spot, but they must be kept well watered.
The Paphiopedilum
The Paphiopedilum commonly called the slipper Orchid differs from the other Orchids mentioned here as it only has one flower at a time. It is the most sensational flower, some flowers measure over 6 inches across, and they have a slipper like pouch at the base of the flower. This is a seriously sensual flower, which has startling markings and dramatic colourings with the flower lasting for months. Again the Slipper Orchid likes shady conditions, be careful to drain any excess water away after watering.{pgomakase css="omakaseright"}
Miltoniopsis
Perhaps the prettiest of all the windowsill orchids is Miltoniopsis, the Pansy Orchid. Its pretty smiling faces are fragrant and come in vibrant purples, cerise and pinks, and burgundy, this is a summer flowering Orchid,
With plant sales increasing, the customer is on the look out for interesting varieties already displayed in interesting containers. Its worth giving orchid plants a try, they sell themselves.
Copyright © 2008 Lynda Owen. All Rights Reserved.
|
Articles 
