Precious orchids. Types of orchids. White Orchid: Home Care

To say that orchids have become very popular and common in our homes and apartments - it's nothing to say. They are collected, presented as a sign of sympathy or as a gift, admired by them. A special place among this splendor is occupied by precious orchids, which have very decorative foliage. Possessing a rather capricious temper, they nevertheless firmly won the love of flower growers.

What are the precious orchids different from the usual ones?

Mainly because they are grown not because of the magnificent large flowers, but for the sake of beautiful leaves, having a velvety surface and a unique mesh of patterns on it. Precious orchids often have a nondescript inflorescence, but they have a delicate and pleasant scent. The color of the leaves varies widely depending on the species, may be silvery, emerald or light green, saturated with cherry, red and even almost black. The veins are always painted in contrast color, they create something like openwork laces made of gold, silver, bronze or copper threads. The main species of orchids belonging to this rather heterogeneous group are represented by the following genera: Gemaria (Ludizia), Makodes, Anektokhilyus, Dossinia, Gudayera, Heyrostilis, Malaxis, Sarkoglottes. There are others, but they are less common in the home culture and little known.

Where are decorative deciduous orchids from?

Precious orchids in the greater weight are inhabitants of damp, rain, tropical woods of Japan, China, India, Vietnam and some other countries of Southeast Asia. They can also be found in remote Madagascar, rich in endemic species, in New Zealand, Brazil. Some types of orchids with decorative leaves, for example gudayera creeping, are found even in Scandinavian countries.

Rod Ludisia: a brief description

This is the genus of evergreens, known before as Gemaria. Homeland are Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Sumatra. In a natural environment, plants grow on soft wood litter, differ in miniature sizes (about 15 cm). For representatives of the genus, the sympodial branching of the main stem is characteristic, owing to which small bushes are formed. On each branch is about five leaves, having olive or purple color, with light and silvery venation. Dimensions - about 7 cm in length and 3-4 cm in width. Rhizome strongly branched and well developed. Flowers are inconspicuous, small, appear on a long peduncle. They are less effective than other relatives, but elegant, with a delicate aroma.

If to compare with other species, then this is perhaps the most unpretentious orchid. Home furnishings quite suit her, she even gets used to the low humidity in the room, but it still affects her appearance. In room floriculture, the most famous is the two-color dudisia (pictured above).

Genus Macodes: Description

This genus includes terrestrial and epiphytic plants, also having sympodial branching. The homeland of their growth is the tropical forests of Oceania and South-East Asia. As a houseplant, the most famous rare species is Macodes Pétola (pictured).

Its leaves have a rich green color and golden veins. The size of the plant is miniature, only 7-8 cm in height, the stems spread over the surface of the substrate. In the room, it feels good enough, but it grows slowly. Very unpretentious orchid. Fall foliage, if you allow a strong drying of the soil, while losing any decorativeness.

The genus Dossinia

Precious orchids of this genus are represented by only one species - dossinia of marble. This is a terrestrial plant with a fleshy stem that spreads along the substrate. Homeland are the tropics in Indonesia. These are not very large in height (10 cm) orchids. Buds, however, are located on a long peduncle (up to 30 cm), and the flowers have a brown hue with a white lip. A special decorative value is represented by large juicy leaves. They have a rich olive green color, an ovoid shape with pointed tips and a dense network of golden-yellow veins.

Family Anektokhilos

According to the way of life representatives of the genus - mostly terrestrial plants and much less often lithophytes (grow on stones). Precious orchids of this genus are almost the most beautiful among their relatives. Grow up to 10 cm in height, have creeping stems with large leaves, as if made of velvet. The venation is usually of a silvery color, either yellow or reddish. Sometimes they form a very dense network, then the color of the surface of the leaf is almost white. Orchid as a whole becomes unrealistic, as if it is forged from metal. In shops you can often find anektokhylus beautiful or striped. The peculiarity of growing is the need for a not clearly expressed period of winter dormancy.

Rod Goodyear

Representatives of the Gudier genus are mostly terrestrial plants, in exceptional cases - epiphytes. The leaves are of different shades of green, the veins of the veins are pinkish or white. Orchid gudayera bristly (hyslid) is the most common in indoor culture.

The photo shows that the lanceolate leaves are gathered in a dense outlet, they have a rich green color with a bluish tint and a bright silvery-white mesh of vessels. The natural habitat is the lower reaches of the tropical forests of Vietnam and India. The leaves grow large, 7-8 cm in length, the color ranges from pure green to green with a pink bloom. Much less often in the market you can find a gudayer creeping, mesh and fluffy. Names cause their appearance. The first species has already been mentioned earlier, it has some individual characteristics. So, for example, the seeds of the orchid gudayers creeping are so small that there is enough light airflow to move them. Another interesting fact is that it does not occur in young forests, but only in old, age-old forests.

Family name Malaxis

The second name of the genus is Myakotnica, which directly speaks of the structure of the leaf of these plants. The species number about three hundred, grow on all continents. These orchids are poorly suited for home-grown, but still occasionally encountered. For example, malaxis beautifully (in the photo). It has elongated brownish leaves with slightly fringed white edges.

Little-known genera and species

The genus Heyrostilis is represented in nature by 54 species. The most popular heyrostylis is Chinese, its second name is the "gray mouse" given for the unique silvery-gray color of the leaves.

Representatives of the genus Sarkoglottis (pictured) are very rare guests in stores. They are appreciated for the incredible color of the leaves, they have not only stripes, but spots of contrasting shades with a metallic coating. A prominent representative is sarco-glottis scepeteroid.

Orchids of the genus Zevsin have velvety dark green leaves, which are permeated with silvery strips and threads.

Features of care

Precious orchids are quite different, and each plant has its own special requirements for care. But there are general, basic rules, they are as follows:

• As a primer, use special mixtures with the mandatory addition of peat and sphagnum, the substrate must let in air and simultaneously retain moisture. The pot should be wide and low, with drainage holes.
• The correct place is, firstly, by no means a bright light, but only scattered (half-shade), soft sun rays are permissible in the mornings and in the evening; Second, away from central heating.
• Orchid in winter requires additional lighting, a light day should last about 12-14 hours, otherwise shoots will begin to stretch and lose decorativeness.

• Watering only with soft water in the morning and afternoon, avoiding getting into the axils of the leaves. It is necessary to try to maintain the ideal balance of moisture, not allowing its excess, otherwise it will lead to the fact that the roots of orchids will begin to rot.
• The optimal air temperature in summer is 25 degrees in the daytime and about 20 at night, in winter the figures are slightly underestimated. Too much drop during the day will stimulate flowering.
• Many precious orchids prefer a closed space with a special microclimate inside; Do it in the room is easy enough if there is an old aquarium or a small glass container.
• Orchid seeds are now quite easy to acquire, especially through the Internet (the main supplier is China), but the further process often does not give positive results, so it is better to propagate them vegetatively or buy in a store without wasting time.
• Vegetative reproduction is possible with the help of apical cuttings, and in some species after flowering in the leaf axils appears a baby (gudayer orchid).
• Humidity is important, so plants need to be constantly sprayed, put under a warm shower, simulating a tropical rainstorm.
• The most common among inexperienced growers is the question of why the orchid turns yellow. There may be several answers, the most obvious reasons are excess moisture (at the same time, most often there are signs of decay) or its lack (associated with the wrinkling of leaves), sunburn (local spot).

Buying these amazing and exotic flowers in stores or taking them as a gift, we often do not even know the name of the orchids. Therefore, the appearance of a tropical visitor in the house should begin with acquaintance. Determining the species and genus of the plant, you are making the first steps towards its successful cultivation.

Orchids with decorative leaves can become an ornament of any house. These are ideal plants for small apartments, as well as for a beautiful and unusual green corner in an old aquarium - it all depends solely on your imagination.