Orchids are abundant flowers throughout the world. They are found everywhere except on Antarctica. Most orchids grow in the tropics, but some species can also be found in the temperate zones. Of the 20,000 varieties that can be found in the world today there are also innumerable hybrids added to the list.
Since the amount of information about orchids out there is so widely available, it is crucial to have the right kind of know-how for anyone who is trying to work with a special brand. And since there are so many different varieties out there, making general statements about orchids as a rule is not an easy enterprise. Let's just say that some are aerial while others like terra firma to grow in. Some prefer to grow in the shade, but some like the direct light of the sun.
Perhaps added information about the aerial variety is needed here. Any aerial plant, such as this kind of orchid, has its roots above the ground. Many of these varieties prefer the sides of certain trees but they can also be found growing on the side of walls. These types are usually named epiphyte orchids. The ones that prefer terra firma do, of course, grow in the ground.
Phalaneopsis or Phal orchid is a highly trendy variety. It is especially popular at weddings. Part of the reason for this is that it comes in many different colors, so that the choice of white or pink or yellow is not out of the question. In addition to about 60 different species of Phal orchids, a wide range of hybrids may be added to further increase the total numbers available.
Not so long ago orchids were specifically the domain of the rich and famous, but today this flower is popular the world over. Orchids don't exactly fit into the average category of house plants, but if a person knows what he or she is doing, their cultivation is not at all impossible. Once a person knows how to take proper care of a certain type of orchid, the plant can undergo impressive flowering more than once in a given year.
A first-time orchid grower should be careful not to overdo it with watering their orchid. Since many a variety is of the aerial kind, their roots tend to retain water for fairly long periods of time. Since these roots evolved with the ability to store water, they can stand rather long periods of time without additional watering. If an orchid root is too wet, it has an almost compulsion-like pull towards rooting and this is not a good thing for an orchid.
This general orchid information should help you with two things: First, you will need to get the right information about the particular variety that you want to grow. Then you need to find out where this type of orchid originates from. The idea is to be able to provide it with something like those conditions it would need to thrive on in its original habitat. If you follow these two basic bits of advice, you should have thriving orchids on hand.
