Orchid Varieties - Oncidium,
Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum
Executive Summary about Orchid
Varieties by Matt C Clarke
If you're
new to orchids the first thing you'll probably have noticed is the rather long
Latin names which can be a little off putting at first.
You might
even find that you are already familiar with many of these names such as some
of the more common orchid varieties including Oncidium, Phalaenopsis
and Dendrobium.
Hybrids have
their own naming convention for obvious reasons, you need to know the parent plants.
Oncidium orchids are also known as spray orchids or some species as dancing girls.
Cymbidiums are quite often referred to by
their nickname Boat orchids due to the hollow depression in the flower or the abbreviation Cyms.
Phalaenopsis the Moth orchid so called due to
it's flowers unique resemblance.
Paphiopedilum
also goes by the nickname the Venus Slipper orchid or the quite cute name Paphs.
Dendrobium is another large family of orchids
consisting of over 1200 species making it one of the largest orchid genera.
Of these few
varieties of orchids, species from the Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Dendrobium
and Oncidium families are generally considered by most to be the best suited
for beginners.
Top Ten Orchid Varieties
Executive Summary about Orchid Varieties by Jan Gilbert
Phalaenopsis are also known as moth, phal, and ice orchids. They come in every size, shape, and
color except blue, with blooms that last 3 to 6 months.
Phaius or nun orchids are also easy to care
for. These orchids are even easier than phals because they grow in regular but
well draining potting soil.
Cattleya or corsage orchids also come in a
variety of colors and sizes. Like phals they are
epiphytic and therefore love bark medium with air circulation and immediate
drainage.
Dendrobiums are the most numerous orchid species
and found in the most disparate places ranging from the tropics, to 10,000 ft
mountain elevations, to swampy lowlands. Dendrobium is Greek for "life in
a tree".
Miltonias or pansy orchids have no set
blooming time. A large plant can be blooming intermittently throughout the
year.
Paphiopedilum, or venus slipper orchids, are
terrestrials or soil-dwellers. Most have a single flower per stalk, but there
are varieties with multiple flowers.
Phragmipediums
or phrags
are similar to paphs, but phrags are the lady slipper orchids. Most bear
multiple flowers per stem, opening only one at a time, and have plain green
leaves.
Oncidiums, commonly referred to as dancing
lady or dancing girl orchids, are also easy to grow.
Zygopetalum orchids are very fragrant and easy
to care for. These orchids have colors of green, purple, burgundy, and
raspberry, with a variety of patterns.
Epidendrum orchids are epiphytes. Also called
the poor man's orchid, star orchid, and crucifix orchid, they too are among the
easiest to grow.
Most orchids
hate any kind of soggy soil conditions. Morning is the best time to water. It's possible to give your orchid higher
humidity by keeping the pot on a bed of wet stones in a tray or deep dish.
Orchid
leaves will generally tell you if they are getting enough or too much light:
cattleya leaves for instance turn jade green if they don't get enough light, yellowish green with purplish blushing
around the edges when they have good light.
Flowering
orchids like more frequent fertilizing.
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