New to Growing Orchids? Learn These Essential Orchid Care Tips

By Brenlee Place

Orchid care can certainly be easy enough, provided that you are aware of the various care tips that are important to the health of your plant. You should become aware of which ones are most vital in determining whether or not your orchids are going to be healthy and beautiful.

Of course, there are countless different tips for successfully raising orchids. Here are a few of the most important ones, which any beginner orchid grower should definitely keep in mind and take seriously if they want to have the most success.

Of course, as with all other types of plants, when it comes to orchid care you are going to need to be careful with watering. Orchid plants need water to grow and if you water them too much or not enough, they are going to suffer and end up withering and dying. Orchids require a lot less water than other flowering plants, and instead of watering every few days, it is important only to water them every five to ten days or so.

You can discover if your orchid requires some water by lifting it up by the pot and assessing the weight. This way you can see how heavy the plant is and therefore how much water is left in the plant. Wait until the soil in the plant is quite dry before watering again.

Ventilation is another critical factor in caring for orchids. The role of ventilation is to prevent the water from soaking directly into the soil, and it also provides the blooms with adequate oxygen.

Caring for orchids involves a number of issues that tend to come up quite commonly. If you ever notice that you have over watered the plant, for instance, then one of the best things that you can do is take a rag or a paper towel and use this to soak up the excess water.

Another problem that people often complain about is that the leaves on the orchid flower are burning. This problem is due to the fact that your plant is getting too much direct sun, causing the leaves to turn brown. - 31996

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The Beautiful World Of Canadian Flowers

By Adriana Noton

You can find lovely Canadian flowers growing in the forests, gardens and along the roadsides all throughout Canada. These are a little different than some you may be used too but they definitely have a unique beauty to each and every one.

A rare beauty that grows in the Saskatchewan area is called the Western red Lily. These flourish in the meadows of the countrysides and in areas that are forested but smaller. Their color is very noticeable as it is a bright red with tine flecks of golden centers to draw your attention in to them.

You can find Wild Roses in the territories of Quebec on to British Columbia meadows and gardens. These are dainty and truly worth any garden addition you may be thinking of.

The recognized flower of Canada is the maple leaf and is even included on Canada's flags and things. These leaves are brilliant in their coloring once in full bloom and growth.

Prince Edward Island is an exquisite place to visit and the added joy of finding lovely Lady's Slippers blooming all over it is a great bonus. These can only be found within the spring seasons and tend to have more growth in forested areas and places that carry a lot of shade. These are elegant and look like a true lady's slippers she may be wearing to a grand ball.

You can find Pacific Dogwoods all in bloom within the April and the May months every year in British Columbia. These lovely blooms only happen on the dogwoods that have reached a taller required height for blooming.

Mayflowers are a big part of history as they are named in commemoration of the great ship the pilgrims used "The Mayflower". Early settlers thought this the perfect name for the flowers they first saw that spring time season. These wildly paint the whole coastlines from the North Eastern Americas.

White Trilliums decorate most of Ontario in their vibrant looks. The spring flowers are more at home in the forests than in open areas. They carry only 3 of the flowers as well as the leaves that is why they came up with calling them Trilliums.

Quebec is home to the Delicate Blue Flags. These flowers have contributed to the landscape here from 1936 on when they were introduced here for the first time.

Purple Violet's of New Brunswick are similar to the ones in the states. They are very small and a deep rich purple or rich dark blue color. These love wet lands and forests for their growth.

If you venture into the Yukon Territory you will see brilliant fiery red flowers called Fire Weed. These were named this because of their abilities to grow better in lands that had been burned or had fires happen on their grounds. It is a tall plant that has an assortment of flowering darker pink blooms. You can also spot these by rivers, and roadsides.

A truly unique and interesting plant called the Pitcher Plant can be found growing in Labrador and Newfoundland. This flower can actually water itself. Water fills the top like a water pitcher would and then as water and some insects are trapped within the plants holding area they digest them for nutrients and food.

Flowers are all over the world and in different hues, shapes and climates. Finding rare gems within them all is always worth a quick stop on your daily routine to admire and enjoy the beauty that is nature and all around us such as these special Canadian flowers. - 31996

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Why Silk Orchids Are Better Than The Real Thing

By Martin Elmer

There is no doubt that orchids are one of the most beautiful flowers on earth. Even though you are not interested in flowers, you can probably see the beauty in an orchid. But orchids are also one of the most difficult blooms to take care of. That is the reason why silk orchids are getting very popular these days.

There are almost no occasion where fake orchids cannot be used. They are great in a pot or a vase in your home; either as a bouquet or just a single stem. But they are probably even greater used for wedding decorations. No matter what you are planning to use the orchids for, they will give a beautiful impression.

Cymbidium and Phalaenopsis orchids are the most popular silk orchids to buy. And the reason is probably that they are also the two most popular real orchid species. But Dendrobium and Vanda are popular orchids. And in contrast to real orchids you can buy all species all year round; even though they normally only are found in the summer in Indonesia.

Today the quality of fake orchids is really great. A few years ago an artificial flower was made of clothes for the flower and plastic for leaves and the stem. Today you will get realistic orchid made of materials like silk and nylon. At it will look exactly like the real orchid.

But it is not only the orchids that are made of artificial materials. Also the water in the vase can be faked with a transparent polymer-suspension. The same apply for dew drops on the leaves.

Do you suffer from flower allergy? And would you love to decorate your home with orchids. Then you just select fake orchids; a beautiful home without a single sneeze.

So you do not have green fingers. And all your plants die a few days after you have got them? Not if you choose faux orchids. Just dust them regularly and they will look beautiful for years. And no one can see the difference.

Silk orchids are very sturdy and can take both the warm sunshine and the cold frost. Real orchids will die if they are exposed to cold winters or hot summers. The heat or the cold will make them wither.

Silk orchids look exactly like real orchids. Sometimes they even look better than the real ones. And then they have all the advantages that will make you happy that you bought the artificial version instead of the real ones. - 31996

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Orchids, Orchids, Orchids

By David Ross

Everyone will have his or her favorite flower, but there's a reason that orchids have been so popular since their introduction to Victorian society over 100 years ago. Orchids are exquisite.

Orchids come in four varieties - epiphytes that cling to trees, lithophytes that grow on rocks, saprophytes that make a home in leaf litter and terrestrials that sometimes grow in sand. But within these four broad categories there are a huge number of distinctive plants.

Native orchid species number more than 20,000 known species, which leaves us to believe that may be many not discovered yet. In addition to the native species, over 100,000 hybrids have been created artificially with cultivators. It has been a busy one hundred years for the orchid family.

Orchids have long had a reputation for being high maintenance and hard to grow. This isn't necessarily true. Some varieties do need more attention, but there are many varieties that are hardy. Some orchid varieties prefer heat and humidity that is the popular belief for this plant, but there are some that thrive in cool, dry conditions. The differences in light, temperature and the best growing condition is another example of the varieties of natural areas where they grow.

In those conditions we find genera that range from the lovely Phalaenopsis to the even lovelier Cymbidium and many others. There are orchids that hail from Africa and those native to South America. In fact, orchids occur in the wild on every continent (except Antarctica) and on many islands. Hawaii is an excellent example of the latter, sometimes called Orchid Island because of its numerous species.

Orchards do have some special needs as far as care. Like any other plant, they can be susceptible to pests and diseases. These can include things such as spider mites, aphids and snails. There are some orchid flower varieties more prone to fungal growth than other, but prevention is easy. If a problem does occur, it isn't the end of your plant - you can still treat it.

Some techniques to use are simply brushing the leaves off and washing the flowers, to mild anti-bacterial compound products. Fungi is treatable by drying, an anti-fungicide, or other methods. Simple isolation will sometimes allow the plant to cure itself with a little pruning, while preventing the spread of the fungus.

In fact, choosing an orchid is often more difficult than caring for one. With the variety of sizes, shapes and colors available one could spend a lifetime just looking through the catalog at all the outstanding samples. There are some that have no leaves, while others have long, bamboo shoot-like leaves. Some have miniature flowers, while others grow to 12 inches or more.

It doesn't matter what your taste in flowers is, what your decorating goal is, or how much of a green thumb you have. There is an orchid that will work for you. One thing that is certain is that you will be able to find the perfect plant to bring beauty to your home or green house. - 31996

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How To Grow Orchids

By Dave Long

Everyone will have his or her favorite flower, but there's a reason that orchids have been so popular since their introduction to Victorian society over 100 years ago. Orchids are exquisite.

Orchids come in four varieties - epiphytes that cling to trees, lithophytes that grow on rocks, saprophytes that make a home in leaf litter and terrestrials that sometimes grow in sand. But within these four broad categories there are a huge number of distinctive plants.

Orchid species that are native (not hybridized) naturally occur with over 20,000 known species. There may be more native plants that have not yet been discovered. When you count orchid flower hybrids, over 100,000 hybrids have been artificially created through cultivator plants.

Orchids often have the reputation for being difficult to grow, but this can be misleading. Some orchids do indeed require tender loving care. But many are very hardy. Some orchids prefer the high heat and humidity traditionally associated with this family of plants. But others will do just fine in cooler, dryer conditions. The range of light, temperature and growing conditions is another reflection of the variety of natural conditions in which they're found.

In those conditions we find genera that range from the lovely Phalaenopsis to the even lovelier Cymbidium and many others. There are orchids that hail from Africa and those native to South America. In fact, orchids occur in the wild on every continent (except Antarctica) and on many islands. Hawaii is an excellent example of the latter, sometimes called Orchid Island because of its numerous species.

They do require some care, of course. Like any living thing, they are subject to a number of pests and diseases. Spider mites, aphids and snails are common problems. Fungi and bacteria, along with several viruses, are known to attack orchids. But prevention and cure is not too difficult.

Some techniques to use are simply brushing the leaves off and washing the flowers, to mild anti-bacterial compound products. Fungi is treatable by drying, an anti-fungicide, or other methods. Simple isolation will sometimes allow the plant to cure itself with a little pruning, while preventing the spread of the fungus.

In fact, choosing an orchid is often more difficult than caring for one. With the variety of sizes, shapes and colors available one could spend a lifetime just looking through the catalog at all the outstanding samples. There are some that have no leaves, while others have long, bamboo shoot-like leaves. Some have miniature flowers, while others grow to 12 inches or more.

It doesn't matter what your taste in flowers is, what your decorating goal is, or how much of a green thumb you have. There is an orchid that will work for you. One thing that is certain is that you will be able to find the perfect plant to bring beauty to your home or green house. - 31996

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The Endless Orchid Variety

By Dave Branson

While you may already have a certain flower that attracts you, orchids offer a variety that appeals to anyone. For more than one hundred years since it's introduction to Victorian society, orchids have become one of the most exquisite choices in flowers available.

Orchids are available in four different varieties. Epiphytes - cling to the tree as they grow Lithophytes - known for growing on rocks. Saprophytes - grow in leaf litter. Terrestrials - grows in sand.Between these four categories, you will discover that there is an abundant number of distinct plants.

Orchid species that are native (not hybridized) naturally occur with over 20,000 known species. There may be more native plants that have not yet been discovered. When you count orchid flower hybrids, over 100,000 hybrids have been artificially created through cultivator plants.

Orchids have long had a reputation for being high maintenance and hard to grow. This isn't necessarily true. Some varieties do need more attention, but there are many varieties that are hardy. Some orchid varieties prefer heat and humidity that is the popular belief for this plant, but there are some that thrive in cool, dry conditions. The differences in light, temperature and the best growing condition is another example of the varieties of natural areas where they grow.

Natural areas where the orchid family genres are found include every continent except Antarctica, including Africa and South America. Orchids actually occur as wild flowers. Hawaii is sometimes referred to as "Orchid Island" due to the number of orchid species found on the islands.

Orchids do require some special care. Like other plants, they are susceptible to pest and disease. Some of the more common pests include spider mites, snails and aphids. Certain varieties are more prone to fungi and bacteria growth, but prevention goes a long way, and curing problems is not that difficult.

Some techniques to use are simply brushing the leaves off and washing the flowers, to mild anti-bacterial compound products. Fungi is treatable by drying, an anti-fungicide, or other methods. Simple isolation will sometimes allow the plant to cure itself with a little pruning, while preventing the spread of the fungus.

In fact, choosing an orchid is often more difficult than caring for one. With the variety of sizes, shapes and colors available one could spend a lifetime just looking through the catalog at all the outstanding samples. There are some that have no leaves, while others have long, bamboo shoot-like leaves. Some have miniature flowers, while others grow to 12 inches or more.

No matter what type of flower you love, large or small, dainty and delicate or intricate and showy, there is the right plant for your garden or greenhouse. Have fun searching for the perfect fit to add to your orchard flower collection. Even if it's a first flower, it will become a collection. - 31996

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Orchids, Orchids, Orchids

By Dave Upton

Everyone may have a favorite flower that holds special meaning, but orchids have long been a popular choice. Introduced to the Victorian society more than one hundred years ago, orchids are one of the most exquisite flowers available.

The orchid flower comes in four main varieties or groups. The first is the epiphyte. This variety clings to trees in a vine form as it grows. The lithophytes are popular for growing on or rocks or in rock gardens. The saprophytes grow best in "leaf litter" - decomposing leaves. Terrestrials grow most commonly in sand, but there are other varieties of this plant available. These four groups offer a wide variety on the amount of distinct plants.

There are over 20,000 known native orchid species, which means there are probably many more not yet discovered. But that's nothing compared to the over 100,000 hybrids that have been artificially created by clever cultivators. The past 100 years has been very busy for some.

Orchids often have the reputation for being difficult to grow, but this can be misleading. Some orchids do indeed require tender loving care. But many are very hardy. Some orchids prefer the high heat and humidity traditionally associated with this family of plants. But others will do just fine in cooler, dryer conditions. The range of light, temperature and growing conditions is another reflection of the variety of natural conditions in which they're found.

The orchid flower has roots in all the continents (except Antarctica), from Africa to South America. Many varieties of the orchard flower actually grow as indigenous wildflowers. The large number of orchids found in Hawaii has earned it the nickname "Orchid Island".

They do require some care, of course. Like any living thing, they are subject to a number of pests and diseases. Spider mites, aphids and snails are common problems. Fungi and bacteria, along with several viruses, are known to attack orchids. But prevention and cure is not too difficult.

Techniques range from simple brushing or washing off the flowers and leaves to mild anti-bacterial compounds. Fungi can be treated by drying, anti-fungicides and other methods. Sometimes simple isolation is enough to prevent spreading and the plant will cure itself with a little pruning and proper watering and potting.

Caring for your orchid may be the easy part -sometimes the hardest part of orchard flower ownership is picking the perfect flower. The tremendous amount of choices in colors and shapes, and browsing through the orchid catalogs can overwhelm the senses. Don't give up on finding the perfect flower for your garden.

It doesn't matter what your taste in flowers is, what your decorating goal is, or how much of a green thumb you have. There is an orchid that will work for you. One thing that is certain is that you will be able to find the perfect plant to bring beauty to your home or green house. - 31996

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