Orchids are enchanting and charismatic. They are unlike any other flowering plant in nature. They are sophisticated and elegant. They make striking decor for any home. Orchids stand out due to their decorative blossoms, elegant stems, and the perfect balance of every flower.
There are numerous reasons to fall in love with orchids, from their scent and beauty to their sturdiness and ability to rebloom, to their symbolic significance and rich history.
Scent
The vanilla spice commonly used in kitchens everywhere is a species of orchid grown in Latin America. Vanilla planifolia, native to Mexico and Central America, is the chief commercial source of natural vanilla.
The vanilla orchid is the only one among all the thousands of species considered to have an edible fruit. The seed pods (beans) of vanilla orchids (Vanilla spp.) are harvested to produce the well-known vanilla flavoring we all know. It is the second most expensive spice in the world after saffron.
Beauty
Often described as the most beautiful flowers in the world, the shapes, colors, and different sizes of orchid blooms can resemble animals, birds and insects.
Although all orchids are beautiful, there are few that outnumber the beauty of the rest. These are sometimes rare to find and are expensive. While any orchid is brilliant in color and magnificent in its own way, there are others that are classified exclusively on the basis of their color combinations and shapes.
Ability to rebloom
Do orchids bloom more than once? The key to rebloom orchids is to mimic their native climate, specifically regarding temperature and light.
A dormant period is a normal part of an orchid’s life cycle and is necessary for the plant to produce more flowers. With proper sunlight, water, fertilization, and temperature control, you can keep your orchid healthy and trigger a rebloom that will produce more beautiful flowers.
Symbolic
Orchids are associated with fertility, virility, and sexuality. These associations, coupled with their exotic appearance, have given them a long history of being associated with love, fertility and elegance throughout various cultures and time periods.
The word ‘orchid’ is derived from the Greek word orchis which means testicles. The name originates from the shape of the root tubers of the plant. This is the reason that orchids have been associated with sexuality in many cultures.
History
A French botanist, Noel Barnard, was the first to discover this magnificent flower. Back in the year 1899, he came across seeds of a terrestrial orchid. He discovered that these seeds had germinated in some fruits which were infected by mold.
Another discovery was by Charles Darwin. He noted that a single orchid plant had produced so many seeds in one season, too much to even calculate, that it will continue till the day the whole earth is filled with orchids.
****************************************************
So, how do you pick the right orchid?
When picking an orchid, it is natural to want the prettiest one, or the one that matches a certain color scheme. However, selecting an orchid is not just a question of taste. It is important to look for an orchid that is healthy and blooming.
If you have never had an orchid before, you might want to choose a Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid. These generally thrive in warmer temperatures (60–65 °F) at night and 70–80 °F degrees during the day. They enjoy an intermediate amount of light, and only need to be watered every 4-7 days. They also have some of the longest and most frequent blooms from winter to spring. For best results, place your orchid in an east facing window.
Moth orchids are currently the most widely grown houseplants in the world, now superseding the popular Christmas plant, the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima.)