The name orchid is derived from the Greek word “orkhis”. This exotic flower was named by an ancient Greek botanist named Theophrastos. He named it orchid because he thought the fleshy underground tubers in the orchid resembled the male anatomy.
Orchids are one of the biggest blooming plant families with over 25,000 species worldwide. They are a valuable and popular type of flower in our nation. Malaysia is home to about 3,000 species of the most beautiful and fascinating plants, with Peninsular Malaysia hosting over 1,000 of them. Let’s look at some of the types of orchids in Malaysia and the meaning of the different colors of orchids.
White Orchids represent innocence and purity. They also symbolise elegance and reverence. Types of white orchids available in Malaysia are Ludisia, Nun’s Hood Orchid and Aerides Odorata.
Tiger Orchids are named as such because their blooms contain golden yellow petals and reddish brown striped sepals, just like tigers and Tiger Orchids are said to deter predators due to their resemblance to tigers. The scientific name of Tiger Orchid in Malaysia is Grammatophyllum Speciosum.
Purple orchids are frequently associated with monarchy and prosperity. They can also convey adoration, respect, or dignity. The most common purple orchid that can be seen in Malaysia is the Dendrobium Orchid.
Vanilla orchids symbolize respect and humility, innocence and purity, elegance and beauty. The full form of Vanilla Orchid found in Malaysia is Vanilla Planifolia. Vanilla is extracted from the pods of Vanilla Planifolia.
Pink orchids are commonly associated with femininity, grace, and elegance. They can also be used to express admiration, thankfulness, or appreciation. The Pink Orchid that can be found in Malaysia is the Dipodium Roseum, commonly known as rosy hyacinth-orchid or pink hyacinth-orchid.
Bamboo Orchid or also known as Tapah Weed, Kinta Weed or Bird Orchid, is one of the most common orchids that can be seen in Malaysia. The scientific name of Bamboo Orchid is Arundina graminifolia and it is a wild orchid.
Orange orchids are thought to symbolize eagerness, energy, and resolve, as well as admiration and pride. The Orange Orchid available in Malaysia is the Ascocenda Orange Orchids.
Orchids are one of the largest families of flowering plants in the world. They are one of the most popular houseplants.
There are 25 000 to 30 000 different species of orchids.
Orchids are one of the oldest flowering plants. According to scientists, orchids were dated to be about 15 to 20 million years old. Genetic Sequencing done by scientists also figured out that orchids go back to the Late Cretaceous period (76 to 84 million years ago).
The famous Chinese philosopher Confucious admired orchids. He wrote many poems about orchids and he called them the king of fragrance. This led to orchids being one of the most famous plants in China until today.
Orchids grow on every continent from the Arctic Circle to the Southernmost Jungle except for Antarctica. Orchids are valued and appreciated in every continent.
Orchids are actually easy to care for if you follow the right methods and ways to properly take care of your orchid plants. Here are some of the ways to take care of orchids.
Do not choose an orchid plant that has all of the blooms already out because orchids that have their blooms completely out are orchids that are at the end of their blooming cycle. You have to choose an orchid that has fresh buds on it.
Orchids prefer to stay in a bright indirect environment. Direct light can burn the petals of orchids. Orchids also last longer in semi-cool environments. Do not put it facing the air conditioner as it can cause the flowers to wilt easily.
Orchids prefer tap water or lukewarm water. Soak the flowering pot or plastic pot in a sink for about an hour. This is because orchids should not be watered from above. Water left standing in the crown and the leaves will end up killing the orchid. Orchids do not like to stay wet so drain the excess water after soaking the plant in a sink.
Orchids are not heavy feeders which makes orchid fertilizers different from fertilizers of other plants. Choose the right fertilizer for your orchid following the advice of an expert because orchids require special fertilizers, especially at the early stage of their life.
Cut the stems above the nodule points that are a couple of inches further from one another while keeping some of the nodule points intact to the stem. The nodes are necessary for the plants to grow new flowers. As long as the stem is green, leave the nodes for reblooming of the orchid plant. The other way to produce a new spike is to put the flower at a cooler temperature for 6 months and move it to sunlight which will then help the plant to rebloom.
Orchids are not only attractive, but also an interesting flower. It is simple to understand why orchids are among the most popular flowers in the world, as beautiful in a bouquet as they are in a planter pot. Check out our latest collection of orchid flowers featuring a wide variety of gorgeous designs at Happy Bunch!
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