To say that orchids have become very popular and common in our homes and apartments is to say nothing. They are collected, presented as a sign of sympathy or as a gift, they are admired. A special place among this splendor is occupied by precious orchids, which have very decorative foliage. Possessing a rather capricious disposition, they nevertheless firmly won the love of flower growers.
How are precious orchids different from ordinary ones?
Mainly because they are not grown for their magnificent large flowers, but for the sake of beautiful leaves with a velvety surface and a unique mesh of patterns on it. Precious orchids most often have inconspicuous inflorescences, but they have a subtle and pleasant aroma. Leaf color varies widely by species, ranging from silver, emerald or light green, deep cherry, red, and even almost black. The veins are always dyed in a contrasting color, they create something like openwork lace from gold, silver, bronze or copper threads. The main types of orchids,included in this rather heterogeneous group are represented by the following genera: Gemaria (Ludizia), Makodes, Anektohilyus, Dossinia, Goodayera, Cheirostilis, Malaxis, Sarkoglottis. There are others, but they are less common in the home culture and not well known.
Where do decorative leafy orchids come from?
Precious orchids for the most part are the inhabitants of the humid, rain, tropical forests 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, such as creeping Goodyear, are found even in the Scandinavian countries.
Rod Ludisia: brief description
This is a genus of evergreens formerly known as Gemaria. Homeland are Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Sumatra. In their natural environment, plants grow on soft forest floor, differ in miniature size (about 15 cm). Representatives of the genus are characterized by sympodial branching of the main stem, due to which small bushes are formed. On each branch there are about five leaves, which are olive or purple in color, with light and silvery venation. Dimensions - approximately 7 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The rhizome is strongly branched and well developed. Flowers inconspicuous, small, appear on a long peduncle. They are less showy than other relatives, but elegant, with a delicate aroma.
When compared with other species, thenthis is perhaps the most unpretentious orchid. The home environment suits her quite well, she even gets used to the low humidity in the room, but this still affects her appearance. In indoor floriculture, the most famous dudisia is two-color (pictured above).
Rod Macodes: Description
This genus includes terrestrial and epiphytic plants that also have sympodial branching. Their homeland is the tropical forests of Oceania and Southeast Asia. As a houseplant, the rare species Macodes petola is best known (pictured).
Its leaves are rich green with golden veins. The size of the plant is miniature, only 7-8 cm in height, the stems spread along the surface of the substrate. In room conditions, it feels quite good, but it grows slowly. A very hardy orchid. Leaves fall off if the soil is allowed to dry out, and any decorative effect is lost.
Rod Dossinia
Precious orchids of this genus are represented by only one species - dossinia 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 (10 cm) orchids. The buds, however, are located on a long peduncle (up to 30 cm), and the flowers are brown with a white lip. Large succulent leaves are of particular decorative value. They are a rich olive green color, egg-shaped with pointed tips and a dense network of golden yellow veins.
The genus Anectochylos
According to lifestylerepresentatives of the genus are mainly terrestrial plants and much less often lithophytes (grow on stones). Precious orchids of this genus are considered perhaps the most beautiful among their relatives. They grow up to 10 cm in height, have creeping stems with large leaves, as if made of velvet. The venation is most often silvery or yellow or reddish. Sometimes they form a very dense network, then the color of the leaf surface is almost white. The orchid as a whole takes on an unrealistic appearance, as if it were forged from metal. In stores, you can most often find an anectochilus beautiful or striped. A feature of cultivation is the need for an indistinct period of winter dormancy.
Rod Goodyear
Representatives of the genus Goodyear - mostly terrestrial plants, in exceptional cases - epiphytes. Leaves - various shades of green, vein mesh - pinkish or white. The bristle-haired orchid (hislida) is the most common in room culture.
The photo shows that the lanceolate leaves are collected in a dense rosette, have a rich green color with a bluish tint and a bright silvery-white mesh of blood vessels. The natural habitat is the lower reaches of the tropical forests of Vietnam and India. The leaves grow large, 7-8 cm long, the color ranges from pure green to green with a pink bloom. Much less often on sale you can find creeping, reticulated and fluffy Goodyera. The name determines their appearance. The first type has already been mentioned earlier, it has some individual features. Yes, toFor example, the seeds of the Goodyear creeping orchid are so small that a light air current is enough to move them. Another interesting fact is that it does not occur in young forests, but only in old, centuries-old ones.
Rod Malaxis
The second name of the genus is Pulp, which directly speaks of the leaf structure of these plants. There are about three hundred species, they grow on all continents. These orchids are not well suited for indoor cultivation, but are still occasionally found. For example, beautiful-leaved malaxis (pictured). It has elongated brown-tinted leaves with slightly fringed white edges.
Uncommon genera and species
The genus Heirostilis is represented in nature by 54 species. The most popular is Chinese cheirostilis, its second name is “gray mouse”, given for the unique silver-gray color of the leaves.
Representatives of the genus Sarcoglottis (pictured) are very rare guests in stores. They are valued for the incredible color of the leaves, they have not only stripes, but also spots of contrasting shades with a metallic coating. A prominent representative is the scepter-shaped sarcoglottis.
Orchids of the genus Zeuxina have velvety dark green leaves that are pierced with silver stripes and threads.
Features of care
Precious orchids come in many varieties, and each plant has its own special care requirements. But there are also general, basic rules, they are as follows:
- Use special mixtures withthe obligatory addition of peat and sphagnum, the substrate must pass air and at the same time retain moisture. The pot should be wide and low, with drainage holes.
- The right place - firstly, in no case is it bright light, but only diffused (partial shade), soft sunlight is acceptable in the morning and evening; secondly, away from central heating.
- Orchid in winter requires additional lighting, daylight hours should last about 12-14 hours, otherwise the shoots will begin to stretch and lose their decorative effect.
- Water only with soft water in the morning and afternoon, avoiding falling into the axils of the leaves. You need to try to maintain the ideal balance of moisture, avoiding its excess, otherwise this will cause the roots of the orchid to rot.
- The optimum air temperature in summer is 25 degrees during the day 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; doing this at room conditions is quite simple if you have an old aquarium or a small glass container.
- Orchid seeds are now fairly easy to obtain, especially online (the main supplier is China), but the further process most often does not give positive results, so it is better to propagate them vegetatively or buy them in a store without wasting time.
- Vegetative reproduction is possible with the help of apicalcuttings, and in some species, after flowering, a baby appears in the leaf axils (Goodyear orchids).
- Humidity is important, so plants must be constantly sprayed, put under a warm shower that simulates a tropical downpour.
- Most often, inexperienced flower growers have a question about why the orchid turns yellow. There can be several answers, the most obvious reasons are excess moisture (at the same time, signs of decay most often appear) or its lack (associated with wrinkling of the leaves), sunburn (local spot).
Buying these amazing and exotic flowers in stores or accepting them as a gift, we most often do not even know the name of orchids. Therefore, the appearance of a tropical guest in the house should begin with an acquaintance. By determining the species and genus of a plant, you are taking the first steps towards its successful cultivation.
Orchids with decorative leaves can decorate any home. These are ideal plants for small apartments, as well as for a beautiful and unusual green corner in an old aquarium - it all depends on your imagination.
