Orchids A-Z

Testicle plant?

Who would guess from looking at an orchid that its name means testicle plant? It comes from the Greek word "orchis", which means testicle.

This bizarre name is derived from the testicle-shaped root tubers of the orchid, which is only one of many genera of the Orchidaceae, but gives its name to the entire plant family.

Great diversity

They are more diverse than almost any other houseplant. Dazzling colours and wild patterns, beguiling fragrances and artistically shaped flowers that can be just a few millimetres or almost twenty centimetres in size make orchids one of the most popular houseplants.

Because of this, gardeners have have been breeding new varieties since the end of the 19th century(over 50 new varieties have been created here alone), making the Orchidaceae the largest plant family with over 30,000 species.

Ideal for hobby gardeners

They are particularly exciting for hobby gardeners, as some species take many years to flower for the first time, some can even live for decades and the growing of young plants is a bit of a challenge. At the same time, they are also ideal for beginners. As they are undemanding and do not need to be watered too often, they are not that complicated to care for. 

Orchids are a noble useful plant

What we admire as a piece of jewellery on the windowsill was used as a useful plant by the indigenous population in South East Asia and South America. Cymbidiums and Coelogyne were used as fodder plants in tropical countries, Spathoglottis and Coelogyne were popular vegetable plants in Asia and some Dendrobium species were used as wickerwork in the Philippines and Indonesia. 

 It was even used as a medicinal plant and as an aphrodisiac. 

 The queen of plants 

They like it sunny and airy around the roots, and occasionally a little water. This is why many tropical species have chosen to perch on the branches of trees or even on bare rock rather than on the forest floor. This is why they are called epiphytes (from the Greek "epi" = on and "phyton" = plant). However, no matter how hungry they are, they do not draw nutrients from the trees, but feed on everything they can catch on the branches or from the air. 

Phalaenopsis is particularly clever and uses its elevated position to photosynthesise not only with its leaves but also with its roots, which is why we cultivate it at home in transparent pots. Terrestrial orchids are particularly common in temperate zones, as they are better able to cope with the climate fluctuations that prevail there. 

Some orchids are quite cunning plants. The flower of the genus Ophrys imitates the shape of a female insect. This attracts male insects who are willing to mate and who involuntarily help with pollination. 

A long journey 

The Antarctic and the desert are too uncomfortable for orchids. Apart from that, however, they can be found all over the world, especially in tropical Asia, where around 14,000 species are native. A few species are also native to Europe, for example the nest orchid or the coral orchid. 

 However, the first orchids to land on our windowsills came to us from distant lands with Spanish sailors in the 17th century. These exotic beauties with their strange roots and wondrous flowers were a source of great fascination. At that time, they were still prestigious objects that only the rich nobility could afford. Many collectors embarked on arduous expeditions to find new wondrous species. 

 However, their exclusivity declined at the beginning of the 19th century due to mass imports and at the end of the 19th century the decisive trick was finally found to cultivate them. As the tiny orchid seeds have no nutrients of their own, they are dependent on a filamentous fungus. This fungus penetrates the seed and is used by the seedling as a source of nutrition. 

But where to get it from and not steal it? 

Thanks to modern propagation methods, orchids are now affordable and can be found in high quality in any well-stocked garden centre or florist's.Taking wild orchids home from the wild jeopardises their survival. The occurrence of many species is declining worldwide as their habitats are being destroyed due to agricultural use and rainforest deforestation. If you want a special species, it is best to choose it from a breeder, as there is a large selection of natural forms and hybrids as well as numerous new varieties.