Everything about orchids in nature: a photo, how they grow and how they differ from home ones

Orchid is one of the most ancient flowers, adapted for home maintenance. But not everyone knows where and what types of these plants grow in the wild.

The orchid family is very diverse, and not all of its species were able to domesticate. Fans of these flowers will be interested to know how orchids grow without human intervention.

In nature, this flower grows over large areas and creates a charming sight for the eyes of the layman. Different colors and sizes make the orchid unmatched.

What types and colors are wild plants?

Today, there are more than 30 thousand genera of these plants. In the wild, these flowers multiply and pollinate quickly with the help of other flowers, which is why they are constantly changing. More and more hybrids appear, the exact number of which is unknown.

There are three main types of orchids:

1. Saprophytes (live underground).This species does not have chlorophyll, but flowers consist of one shoot, covered with small scales, which ends with a flower brush. A feature is the impossibility of the formation of new root processes - saprophytic flowers absorb the entire surface of the humus substrate from the entire surface.
2. Epiphytes (grow on trees). The most numerous species common in the tropics. Such flowers grow on trees, in the mountains and on rocks, using them as a support, but not parasitizing. It was this species that humans adapted for home breeding.
3. Ground flowers. This species includes bulbous flowers, which are widespread in the United States and Europe, as well as in the tropics. This is the only orchid species that can grow in temperate latitudes.

In the wild, you can see orchids of almost all colors and shades - plain, two-tone and even with a pattern. The only color that is not in nature is blue. It is also extremely rare to find a purple orchid - this color always comes in combination with a yellow, white or orange background (the main color of the plant).

ATTENTION! Black orchids (like roses and other flowers) in nature do not exist because plants do not have a gene that would be responsible for such a pigment.

Breeders can now dye any flower blue or black, but you need to understand that this color is not natural for plants. Not so long ago, Japanese scientists have developed a view of a blue orchid - one of a kind.

Photo

Next, you can see photos of fresh flowers, as well as where and how they grow in the wild and on trees:

Where and on what do they grow?

These plants are common on all continents except Antarctica. In nature, they mostly choose open places where their roots will have access to light. They orchids cling to tree trunks and rock cracks, using these surfaces as a support. But there are those that are well adapted to ordinary soil - such orchids are not very similar to those that are bred at home.

South American and African species feel great at a temperature of 28 degrees and above, and humidity 60%. The root system of such plants is on the surface and actively consumes moisture from the air, due to which it does not dry out.

In the steppe and on the plateau, they adapted to grow in ordinary soil. The day temperature there is very different from the night, because the colors had to change and adapt. The most common orchid is Spotted Yart. This plant with gray-brown leaves, with a height of 30 to 60 cm and with an elongated peduncle such as an ear, has a purple or lilac color.

ATTENTION! Orchids are able to adapt to almost any climatic zone, changing and sometimes dramatically different from the usual indoor plants.

New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Andes and the mountains of Brazil are characterized by lower temperatures than the tropics, but the orchid grows well there too. In view of the optimal light, temperature and humidity conditions in these zones, most species of their plants grow.

The most striking representative of the low-temperature countries is the Cattleya orchid. This flower can grow up to one and a half meters in height and give up to twenty flowers on a branch during the flowering period. What is noteworthy, this species has grown a new organ in itself - a pseudobulb, which serves as a flower growth point, storing all the nutrients in it.

In the temperate zones, orchids are practically not found due to the fact that in such temperature conditions it is very difficult to develop an air root system. Because here the flowers grow only in the ground. In Thailand, these flowers grow everywhere, which gives this country the right to be considered an orchid reserve.

Life cycle

Despite the fact that the species of orchids are very different from each other, their life expectancy is very long. On average, these plants live from 60 to 80 years.

There are indeed long-livers who in some cases can grow even more than a century. At the same time, orchids are quite accommodating. They are not afraid of temperature changes, and the bright sun is always welcomed by them. Even in ancient Japan, such flowers were grown in the house and very revered. They were even inherited, and this suggests that orchids are indeed long-livers.

Differences from home

The main distinguishing feature of the domestic orchid from the wild is the hybrid varieties of domesticated. In the wild, orchids for the most part need certain conditions that are difficult to achieve in houses and apartments. Previously, lovers of these flowers created conditions close to tropical at home to contain orchids, but over time, breeders have developed new varieties that can live in a drier climate.

Reference! Also appreciated by connoisseurs are those species that have adapted to grow in simple soil - such orchids are also very capricious, but valued for their beauty. Also, home orchids have a shorter lifespan, which is on average 8-9 years.

Another distinctive feature of the home orchid is its lush flowering. Some domestic species bloom almost all year round, and in the wild only in summer.

In the wild, you can find a huge variety of orchids, some of them are very unusual, and some are very similar to domesticated specimens. But, despite such diversity, they are all very beautiful, and most exude pleasant aromas, which makes this plant one of the most refined and luxurious representatives of the flora.

Watch the video: Orchids in the wild vs. Orchids at home (December 2024).