Flower of love with a deep mystical hue, purple orchid will decorate any room and will be an unforgettable gift for your loved ones. It is simply impossible to be indifferent to such a flower. Even Confucius, the great thinker of Ancient China, treated him with great love, calling him "the queen of fragrant flowers." He compared the delicate aroma, the pleasure of intoxicating contemplation and interesting conversation with good noble people.
There are figurative expressions in the language of his people, where the word "orchid" meant a wonderful attitude or a magnificent quality of a person. This is a truly beautiful plant, gentle and mysterious, very sensitive to people. There is a belief that being next to a person who is plotting something evil, the flower instantly fades, warning the owner of the danger.
Legends of orchids
Many ballads, songs, poems are dedicated to this plant. In many museums of the world there are works of art - painting on precious porcelain, fine embroidery, where grace and beauty are glorified.the beauty of this delicate flower. There are many legends about its origin. One of the most beautiful tells that once a magnificent rainbow shone over the earth, the beauty of which attracted gods and other magical creatures. Once she could not bear the weight of those who wanted to sit on her and crashed. Its multi-colored fragments after falling turned into noble flowers, and those that fell on the trees became the most graceful.
According to other legends, the purple orchid and its sisters appeared from the slipper of the irresistible Venus, who became the progenitor of these beautiful flowers. This legend has taken root so much that the flowers, seeds, leaves of the plant were used to make a love potion and healing drinks for intimate ailments.
Where do orchids live?
The "Queen of Flowers" is native to tropical forests and plains. Most often, they grow on trees and shrubs, firmly attached to their bark with their aerial roots and rising to the light. There are species of orchids that live on rocks, running their roots between rocks and into cracks. Sometimes an elegant plant can be found in the most unusual places and even underground, without sunlight. Some of these delicate flowers even feed on insects.
All types of orchids prefer different temperatures. The most heat-loving ones need up to 32 degrees during the day, and they cannot stand strong temperature changes. Their homeland is the tropical forest. Alpine species of the flower queen love coolness, heat above 25 degrees can kill them.
Black Orchid
According to one of the romantic versions, this strange flower, a totem plant, was stolen by a traveler from the Papuan tribe in Africa, but in reality it was bred by breeders by crossing several species in California. Breeding such a capricious plant is a very laborious and costly process. This hybrid Phalaenopsis is a rarity and too expensive to buy and maintain, but its dark beauty and great vanilla smell will be rewarded.
The more common orchid is dark purple or burgundy, species of which exist among the Vandas. It is she who is mistakenly called black by many owners, believing that they have a unique curiosity in their collection.
Orchid care at home
A blooming purple orchid in a pot is a worthy interior decoration, but the plant will require a lot of care and special conditions. The biggest feature of the content is the lack of the need for ground soil. For stability, a special pot or glass container is filled with a substrate from the bark of trees. It is worth remembering that these plants are very fond of light, but the bright sun can leave burns on its leaves. It is also necessary to maintain high humidity.
For the he alth of the plant and its successful flowering, a special temperature regime must be strictly observed - more heat is needed during the day than at night. When watering, care must be taken - excess moisture causes decay. Capricious queen, purple orchid, care is laborious, but herbeauty in bloom is definitely worth it.
Orchid Vanda. Containment Conditions
The plant reaches over a meter in height. It has powerful hanging roots of a green-gray hue that absorb moisture even from the air. They are a hallmark of all Wands and take up a lot of space. From the axils of the belt-like leaves, up to four peduncles appear, containing up to fifteen buds. The flowers are large, fragrant every day after opening, they become more and more.
Caring for a very whimsical plant Violet Vanda Orchid is a very difficult task. Growing it has its own unique features. All Wandas are thermophilic, the optimum temperature for them is 25 degrees. Constant air humidity from 70 percent. Light is required 12 hours a day. Water for spraying and watering should be several degrees warmer than air.
Features of Vanda care
Water the plant and spray should be sure in the morning. In the evening they breathe, and water can greatly interfere. In the summer it is good to put the roots of the orchid in the bath before they turn green. The uniqueness of keeping Vandas is that they do not need any soil or substrate. The plant is either hung on the wall or kept in a wide vase, basket - enough air is needed around the roots.
The purple orchid needs to be fed with a special ready-made fertilizer diluted in water once a week. When buds appear, add more potassium monophosphate. After flowering, reduce watering, stopspraying and, if possible, take the plant to fresh air. At home, Wanda reproduces only vegetatively, by lateral processes. They need to be separated when the roots get stronger.
Phalaenopsis Orchid
This name, which means "like a moth", these plants received for the resemblance of a flower to the wings of a beautiful butterfly. In nature, they grow on a tree trunk, firmly clinging to the bark with their roots. The room requires a special microclimate, which will have to be artificially created. Like Wanda, the purple Phalaenopsis orchid has green roots that are involved in photosynthesis, which must be kept in the light and need good aeration. For stability, a substrate can be added to the container. The leaves are collected in a rosette at the bottom of the stem. The plant also has aerial roots.
Flowering is long, up to six months, very beautiful. Graceful bunches of bright "butterflies", on which, sometimes, there are up to a hundred flowers - the pride of the owners of such a plant as a purple orchid. The photos that they post in large numbers on the Internet are simply amazing in their splendor.
Features of care
This type of orchid loves partial shade and not very hot, but warm enough temperatures. Sufficient ventilation of the room and atmospheric humidity of about 40 percent are required. If less, the leaves of the plant become sluggish and the flowers fall off. Spraying can cause rot, as can too much watering or moisture in the atmosphere. The purple orchid needs to be fed once a month. yellowed after floweringthe peduncle must be cut off. If it remains green, it can not be removed, but shortened to a viable kidney.
Watering is carried out after complete drying of the substrate or in the absence of moisture on the inner walls of the vase. The plant signals a lack of water by changing the color of the roots to a lighter one. Moisture should not fall on the plant itself and, moreover, accumulate in the rosette of leaves in order to avoid decay. The easiest way is to use the bottom watering. Once a month, the orchid should be placed under running water and thoroughly wiped dry.
Dendrobium Orchid
These orchids are usually very compact, which is incredibly convenient for growing in an apartment. Some species of Dendrobium shed their leaves once a year. Plant care is quite complicated. These orchids do not tolerate drafts, direct sunlight. Orchid purple Dendrobium requires additional fertilizing with nitrogen and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Each species requires a specific combination of temperature, humidity, and daylight hours. Some experienced growers advise keeping Dendrobium together with osmunda, since in nature these orchids often grow with ferns, which serve as a support for the roots.
The most beautiful is Dendrobium noble with large white-purple flowers. Its miniature copy, Moniliforme, the most unpretentious species of this kind of orchids, is very suitable for beginners to get acquainted with the "queen of flowers". Dendrobium parishii, with its flexible hanging stems and amethyst purpleflowers, will require more attention, but will please with its original beauty.
Why is the orchid not blooming?
If several months have passed since the last flowering, and the orchid has not yet given buds, the reason is in the wrong care or conditions. It is required to check the sufficiency and intensity of lighting, watering, feeding. It is necessary to exclude nitrogen-containing fertilizers and give the plant a rest. To stimulate flowering, you can lower the temperature at night by a few degrees and use special preparations.
It is no coincidence that the orchid is called the flower of love. She is not only a symbol of this wonderful feeling, a delicate plant also really needs gentle care. If you treat the "queen of plants" accordingly, the purple orchid will bestow its majestic charm and bring good luck in personal affairs.
