Exotic plants attract attention with their unusual shape and color of flowers and foliage. The buds and petals of green color fascinate and activate the imagination.
The orchid family is one of the oldest decorative flowering perennial herbaceous plants. About 40 thousand species of natural varieties and bred hybrids are included in this group. There is also some varieties of green orchid flower that exist in nature as well as hybrid varieties are available.
green orchid habitat
In their natural environment, green orchids are admired in temperate tropical countries:
- South and Central America;
- Asia.
Most green orchids live in the tropics.
A large number of species of green orchids suggests the breadth of their habitat:
- Tropical forests with abundant fogs and dews;
- Tropical plains and valleys;
- rocky areas;
- Savannah.
Its green inflorescences can be found on:
- trunks and branches of trees,
- Stumps and snags
- In the crevices of the rocks,
- On the ground.
The root system keeps them in such strange places. Epiphytes are plants that attach by roots to other trees and plants.
Lithophytes have adapted to rocks and rocky surfaces. Among them grow and green Cattleya.
Ground orchids belong to the shrub orchid family. Cymbidium is the brightest green member of this group.
Let’s take a closer look at what green orchids look like: their photos and varieties.
green orchid Flower: Existence in nature
Unscrupulous sellers often paint white Phalaenopsis with spray paints or by injecting dye into the plant’s spike. The sparkles on the petals of the plant should be especially alert.
After 6-12 months, the paint will come out, and the orchid will probably die. To avoid such a nuisance, before purchasing, you need to familiarize yourself with the green representatives of the elegant family.
All orchids can be divided into color groups very conditionally. There are many shades of green, white-green, yellow-green, lemon-green, and light emerald green.
Consider a few greenish orchids, perhaps they will seem yellow to someone. In the first photo, a common hybrid is Dendrobium Anna Green.
On the second is the Phalaenopsis violacea alba variety, which you rarely see in the store.
Paphiopedilum or Lady’s slipper. Indeed, orchids of the Lady’s Slipper can be attributed to the green group. We will return to it later; Paphiopedilum or Lady’s slipper.
Cattleya. Cattleya is also called green – a variety that is not common at home. Its color, if approached strictly, is yellow-green;
Cymbidium (green cymbidium orchid). In flower shops, the Cymbidium orchid with a calm green color of the petals has become widespread. Below in the article we will tell you more about it.
So, green orchids exist. In the store, you can choose an exotic beauty for your tropical corner. The variety of its shapes and colors inspires breeders to develop new varieties and hybrids.
The orchid family itself, according to some sources, has more than 880 types of genera. Inside them, up to 22,000 different species are distinguished. Despite the volume of the family, only a few dozen bred hybrids are suitable for a home flower collection.
When crossing several species, breeders take into account color, aroma, flower size, ease of care, and reproduction.
green orchid Some other varieties
Phragmipedium long-leaved (Phragmipedium) refers to lithophytes or terrestrial orchids. There are up to 25 species in the genus Fragmipediums, the long-leaved is the largest representative: leaf length up to 60 cm, inflorescence more than one meter. On the peduncle there are up to ten flowers (about 15 cm in diameter) with purple-green petals and a brown-green lip, blooming alternately;
Brassavola is an epiphyte with up to 30 species of varieties and hybrids. Recognizable by the evening subtle aroma. This complex hybrid is often bred for cutting. Brassavola flowers are large and beautiful.
Advice! Between waterings, the substrate at Brassavola should dry well.
Phalaenopsis Violans Alba (Phalaenopsis violacea alba) – a white form with green tips on the petals and yellow lateral parts of the lips. The species has several dozen hybrids.
Venus slipper (Paphiopedilum) – epiphyte or semi-epiphyte. The varieties are united by characteristic features: the greenish bag-shaped lip of an orchid resembles a shoe or slipper. Pseudobulb does not form in a flower, leaves are collected in a rosette, peduncle with one wax flower.
Cymbidium an epiphyte, the most common type of green color, grown for exquisite bouquets, hybrids develop well at home.
.Some species are lithophytes and land plants. Cymbidium Tracy (Cymbidium tracyanum).
Propagated by pseudobulbs and new rosettes. Peduncles are found in different shapes (up to 1.2 m in length): straight, curved or hanging. The flowers are large, 10-20 cm in diameter.
Features of green orchid Flowering
Orchids at home are able to bloom all year round. The plant needs a short rest, a couple of months is enough. Normal mode: blooms for 5-8 months, 2 months break.
Their stimulation is simple: give them stress. Watering is reduced, and flower stalks are removed. At the same time, daylight hours and temperature are increased by 6-8 degrees.
A young green orchid begins to bloom for 3-5 years, it all depends on the variety.
Check guide also on Cambria Orchid: Varieties.
green orchid Maintenance and care
Beginners are afraid of exotic flowers. Orchids are acquired more often by experienced flower growers. To create comfortable conditions for a green orchid, you need to spend some time studying the issue. The conditions themselves are quite easy to organize at home.
Caring for these orchids is easy enough, the main thing is to follow the rules.
The optimal conditions for an orchid will be:
- Light. Shading is required on southern windows. Western and southwestern windows are perfect. For the winter period, the northern window sill for the orchid should be equipped with a fluorescent lamp;
- Watering. The watering regime depends on the season and the type of orchid. You can stick a wooden stick into the ground. It’s easy to tell when it’s time to water. The wand must dry completely. When watering, water should not fall on the leaf socket;
- Top dressing. For the good development of the plant, special fertilizers are needed, adapted specifically for the orchid family. Fertilizers will be required a little, but weekly;
Important! Urea is contraindicated for orchids.
- Humidity. High “tropical” humidity will help maintain additional water containers;
- Transplant. After the purchase, this procedure will not be required immediately, the orchid must adapt to new conditions. The interval between transplants should not be less than 2 years. The pot becomes cramped, the roots begin to crawl out of it. When transplanting orchids, the transshipment method is used;
- Soil and pot. The usual flower land for an orchid is not suitable. Up to a third of the height of the large drainage tank (pebbles, stones) is taken into the pot. Next, a moisture-intensive and breathable substrate is placed (pine or oak bark).
Experienced flower growers recommend using transparent pots to monitor the condition of the roots. The health of the root system can also be seen from the state of orchid leaves; - After flowering , the arrow is removed if they want to speed up re-blooming;
- Prevention of diseases and pests consists in observing the regimes of care: humidity, temperature, lighting;
- Reproduction at home. The best time for the green orchid propagation procedure is at the time of transplanting into a new substrate. Varieties with bulbs and pseudobulbs take root well when they are separated from the mother plant into another container. On some varieties, ” babies ” develop. They can be transplanted in the presence of 2-3 leaves and roots of 5 mm. Sympodial varieties and hybrids are propagated by dividing the bush.
A young orchid will begin to please the owners with its green flowering only after 3-5 years, depending on the variety and conditions of detention.
green orchid Diseases, pests, and their treatment
Dry air in a room where a tropical flower grows will lead to dry tips on leaf blades. A stop in development will be provoked by sudden temperature changes of more than 6 degrees.
Yellowing of the leaf part of the plant indicates the presence of the disease.
To prevent orchid disease, you need to properly care for them.
Viral, fungal, and putrefactive diseases are reflected in the appearance of the roots and leaves of the green orchid. In any case, the treatment includes :
- Soil replacement;
- Removal of the affected parts of the flower;
- Washing the roots;
- And the treatment of the plant for several weeks with special means.
Important! Slices when removing the affected parts of the green orchid are treated with crushed coal or brilliant green.
Its main pests include:
- thrips;
- Aphid;
- Woodlouse;
- Whitefly.
A warm bath with the full immersion of the orchid will remove pests from the substrate. With a cloth with soapy water, parasites are removed from the leaves.
In flower shops, sell special pesticides, use according to the instructions on the package.
Bringing the orchid back to normal takes several weeks, it is much easier to maintain the recommended maintenance regimes prevention of any violations.
Conclusion
Green orchids are the highlight of the home flower collection. If she was presented to you in a bouquet, prolong her life. For a green orchid, you need a container with clean water without top dressing, before immersing the stem in a vase, cut 1 cm daily.
A green orchid in a vase will stand for a very long time without drafts and bright sun. It is enough for an orchid purchased in a special flask to add clean water daily.
