The bamboo orchid can grow in the wild as high as five feet, and will sport showy flowers that are lavender or rose and white, and quite aromatic. The flowers usually bloom in the summer and autumn months, although some plants will bloom all year long. The flowers of the bamboo orchid are great attractors for bees, butterflies and birds. The stems are tall and reedy in appearance, leading to the name of bamboo orchid.

Growing a Bamboo Orchid

Bamboo orchids are found in many areas of the world, including much of Asia, and islands in the Pacific. This plant has also been introduced in areas like Puerto Rico, Panama and Costa Rica. It is found in abundance in Hawaii, especially on the Big Island there. However, the plants are in danger of becoming extinct in areas like Singapore, where it is reported that fewer than 200 plants are growing in the wild. This is largely due to the fact that its habitat, such as the rainforest, is becoming destroyed.

The bamboo orchid can also be grown indoors, if you can find a species to purchase. Because this plant is known as a terrestrial, it will thrive in sand or soil that is specially designed for orchid plants. It will require a sunny spot that also receives some shade throughout the day, such as a southern-facing window. Bamboo orchids also need to live in at least 50% humidity. This means that if you are in a drier climate, you will need to add humidity for your plant. You can do this by placing a tray of water next to your plant and keeping it filled.

In tropical climates, these bamboo orchids can also be grown outside, where they can reach that impressive height of up to five feet. If you are interested in growing a bamboo orchid, you will need to find an orchid expert at your local garden center or extension office that can give you information on where you can find bamboo orchids to purchase and the best ways to care for them.

How to Select your Orchid Flower

It may be true that the hardest part of orchid care may be the selection process. There are so many species of orchids available, that it is easy to become overwhelmed with the plethora of choices. Generally, when you are hunting for an orchid flower that will do well inside your home, the species to select from are phalaenopsis (also known as the moth orchid), cattleya (the most popular orchid found in bouquets), and dendrobium. By limiting your selection to these three varieties, you are more likely to find an orchid flower that you will be able to successfully grow indoors. You can then select from factors like when the orchid flowers bloom and how much sun and water each variety requires.

How to Grow Orchids

The first note to make when it comes to growing orchids is that most of these plants do not require soil to grow in. Many are considered “air growers”, which means that they usually grow on trees. Others grow in mulch on the forest floor, and still others root themselves in sand or soil. It is important to know which growing medium that your particular orchid flower will prefer. Light is another factor in the growing of orchid flowers. The majority of these plants will require plenty of bright, filtered light to thrive, so a southern-facing window is often the best location for your orchid flower. These plants also need sufficient water, but should never be allowed to become waterlogged. Finally, humidity is a key in good orchid care, so if your home is lacking in this component, make sure that you add additional humidity for your plant.

Orchid flowers are beautiful and fun to grow. Talk to your local garden center today about the best choice of orchids for you.

The Windowsill

The very first thing you need to do when learning how to grow orchids is to buy a good book on orchids. This book will come in very handy during your orchid growing project. If you have a window in your home with a southern exposure you will learn how to grow varieties of orchids right on the windowsill. Even if your windows are partially obscured by buildings or trees you should still be able to grow your orchids. All that you need to begin your orchid growing is a windowsill and a humidity tray on which to place your potted plants. A nearby misting bottle is good to have on hand to mist your plants occasionally.

Light Conditions

Starting with two or three orchids is a suitable amount to start your project. There is no need to crowd your windowsill and two or three plants are an easy number of plants to handle. If you have sun loving orchids (check your handy orchid book) grow them several inches from the window pane. Shade loving orchids (again check your orchid book) can be grown in the shadow of these plants. Knowing how to grow orchids in different light conditions can make the difference between beautiful orchids and dead orchids. Direct sunlight on orchid plants can burn leaves especially during hot summer months.

A sheer curtain may be needed to protect your orchids from any excessive light and heat. Good air circulation is also important and a light fan that is directed just above the leaves will keep your plants cool. If little pests become a problem on your plants, gently wash or scrape them off of your plant. Using isopropyl alcohol to spot treat your plants is a handy way to keep your orchids pest free. Isopropyl alcohol is easily accessible as it is found in most bathroom medicine chests.

One basic rule in learning how to grow orchids is when watering your orchids keep in mind that orchids tolerate being too dry rather than too wet. Be sure and let the water run through the pot in order to eliminate any mineral deposits that have settled into the soil. The amount of water depends on a lot of different variables. It depends on the size of the pot, the composition of the soil, the type of orchid, which direction the windowsill is facing, is the plant active and how hot is the weather. But remembering the one basic rule for watering orchids should keep you safe. Knowing how to grow your own orchids is a fun, beautiful and easy hobby especially from your very own windowsill.

They are also very thirsty plants and require lots and lots of water saturated through their soil. But the most important additive for these potted flower plants is their orchid bark. What is orchid bark? Orchid bark is a special blend of vitamins and nutrients created specifically for the well being of the orchid plant. Orchid bark also has just the right consistency to let enough air through the mixture to promote healthy growing for the orchids.

The Flower Garden

With all of this information in mind it is time to start a flower garden full of orchids. The first thing that needs to be done is to find the perfect location with enough light to make the orchids happy and just enough humidity to keep the leaves moist. There has to be an adequate water source nearby, such as a spring or a creek to provide the finicky flowers with all of the water they can possibly drink. Now, the most important aspect of this garden is the question, where are you going to get the orchid bark?

Since the orchid bark is so essential to the growth of the orchid, research must be done to find a perfect match. The best place to find orchid bark is in an orchid nursery. You can find orchid nurseries all over the world from London to Thailand. There is medium grade and regular grade orchid bark, each of which adds a different element to the soil’s mixture. Now you need to landscape your orchid flower garden. A goldfish pond should be added for a little atmosphere. The garden should be bordered by decorative rocks that glimmer in the sun.

A white picket fence should be erected around the garden to keep out the rabbits and the deer. And hummingbird feeders should be hung in the trees to attract the cute, funny little creatures. All in all, the orchid flower garden has turned out well. All of the ingredients mixed together well to add the perfect blend of ambiance and flare for a very colorful, very vibrant orchid flower garden.

The orchid is probably the oldest flower known to man and dates back to the dinosaur era. A student of Aristotle was the first to name the plant and it was recorded in his book around 286 BC. It is derived from the Greek word orchis, meaning testicle. The testicle must come from its tuberous roots. The same student eventually became known as the father of botany and ecology. Orchids are very beautiful and it is amazing to think how old they really are. It is fairly simple to grow orchids and putting them in unusual orchid planters will add a very pleasant touch to anyone’s home.

An Orchid Garden

An orchid garden is not like a traditional garden. Orchids are grown in planters or on trees. They have tuberous roots which contain all of the water and nutrients that they need. Their natural habitats are in Asia, Central America and Tropical locations. Taiwan is the leading orchid exporter in the world. It is also the leader in exporting orchid planters. Orchids are absolutely beautiful when they are grown in orchid planters. If grown appropriately, your orchids will bloom continuously in your orchid garden. An orchid garden which is comprised only of orchid planters will be one of the most beautiful things you have ever accomplished. The planters can be weaved into slatted baskets for a very unique look. They can be square, oblong or round.

Orchids pots can simply be dropped into these unique orchid planters or your orchid plants can be planted directly into them. The baskets are lined with sheet and moss and have a very natural finished look. Another fun and tropical look for orchids is the Jimmy Buffet look. Making an orchid planter out of a coconut is a unique concept for orchids, but one that fits into their mystique. They are tropical plants so having a coconut orchid planter makes your orchids feel like they are home. Hang your coconut in a tree or patio and it will also give that area a very tropical feel. Macramé hangers are always good for your orchid plants and orchid planters because the tubers can attach themselves to the macramé like they do to trees. As you can see, orchid gardens are very easy to make and very easy to maintain.

Cactus or Orchid?

While the large, showy blooms of the orchid cactus resemble those of other orchids, this plant is without a doubt a cactus. If you look closely enough, you will even detect the hairlike spines along the leaves and stem that characterize a cactus species. In addition to the name orchid cactus, these plants are also referred to as jungle cactus, which separates them from much of the rest of the desert flora that you might find. Many of the varieties of the orchid cactus will primarily bloom at night, when you will have to look closely through the darkness to find large, beautiful blooms of white or other hues. You can also find some species of orchid cactus that will bloom during the day, and now there are many other color variations available as well, as hybridization has progressed to many other varieties of this plant.

The term “epiphyllum” means “upon the leaf”. This refers to the fact that these plants often live on other plant surfaces, which is a typical characteristic for many types of orchids ? another commonality between the orchid and the orchid cactus. This does not mean that this plant is parasitic in nature, however. The orchid cactus does not take anything from its host for survival. Instead, it relies on its environment to provide everything it needs to thrive. This is what makes the orchid cactus an epiphyllum instead of a parasite, just like the nature of many orchid plants.

The orchid cactus is plentiful in some environments, but it is also fairly easy for the gardening enthusiast to grow at home. In zones of 10 or higher, these plants can be left outdoors year-round. In cooler climates, it is best to leave these plants indoors until the warmest months of the year. But no matter where you live, you can enjoy the beauty of the orchid cactus indoors and out.

In existence since dinosaurs ruled the lands, skies and waters of this earth the orchid is the center of these people universe. This may sound odd to most of us but we have not been stricken with the same beauty of the perfect orchid arrangement as these folk. Often borne into the trade they drink their milk and have their diapers changed in blankets exhibiting the most exotic of the plants in the rarest of environments. Again this may sound extreme but there is a reason for this apparent mass obsession with the orchid. Although their pain is many years distant the reason for the obsession of these folks is borne in a story from our sad past.

The Kingdom of the Orchid

Many years ago in the deep south of the United States a variety of associations had arisen based on the fact that the marshes and wilderness that surrounds the Gulf Coast is an ideal place for some orchids to grow. These orchid clubs organized an event that could loosely be called a competition. There were no prizes, no glory to be had just the pride in workmanship, when your orchid arrangement was chosen as the best. Each year members from all the clubs spent many hours developing designs and manufacturing the pot or planter to display their orchid arrangement.

Now this may not sound like a real reason for this obsession. However, considering the conditions in which most of these people lived it is actually not difficult to understand. In those days the orchid represented a true and rare sign of peace and beauty in a world of hardship and pain. Although most people had enough to eat it was not healthy food, many were ill and died before their time and most struggled through each day.

It was in this environment that the Kingdom of the Orchid took hold. It was this setting, when the groups got together to study and learn how to grow this beautiful plant, that the origins of the competition were borne. It is in this environment that when your work was chosen as the best orchid arrangement, just for a fleeting moment, you could imagine that you had the most famous orchid arrangement of all and your soul was whisked away from the painful reality of your existence.

There are roughly more than 25,000 species of orchids worldwide. These numbers grow regularly due to the constant addition of hybrids and new discoveries. Most orchid species are almost always found in rainforests and tropical areas of the world. The orchids love moisture so they thrive in rainforests and tropical climates.

Well Known Orchid Species

Dendrobiums are among the more popular orchid species in the world. These species have a wide range of colors for their flowers. Some species have white flowers while others have purple or yellow. These orchid species can be found in most parts of Asia including but not limited to the Philippines, Borneo, New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea. The great demand for these orchid species has inspired hobbyists to create hybrids of the orchid.

The Cattleya is a beautiful orchid that can be found in some parts of South America up to Asia. These extravagant orchid species are very beautiful and usually bloom in small groups of a single flower to eight flowers per blooming season. The colors are from white to yellow to deep purple. The Cattleya is beautiful orchid that does not grow total but instead spreads out and is similar to the dendrobiums in some aspects.

The orchid species of Vanda are very strange looking plants that bear exotic looking flowers. Their leaves sprout from a single stalk and grow singly on each side. The flower stalks come from one of the leaves’ base and these can contain from five up to twenty blooms. This orchid species can be commonly found but not exclusive to the Philippines, India, China, Australia, the Himalayas, Indonesia and New Guinea.

The three orchid species mentioned above are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to the different species of orchids. There are man different kinds of orchids available and even more exotic ones at that. Some orchid species have even been discovered recently have been around for several hundred years in the rainforests. The beauty of these plants has endeared them to many people who strive to grow them in places which are so different from their usual habitat.

Blue Orchid by White Stripes lyrics are quite popular with the younger generation who find the words both catchy and meaningful in a way that a young person can only understand. The lyrics talk of dissatisfaction, hiding the truth, and a lack of maturity. Many people can find a personal connection in the lyrics and will find themselves repeating the phrases often.

The Music of White Stripes in Blue Orchid

The song Blue Orchid by White Stripes has a very catchy tune. The lilting notes trip over the scales quickly drawing the listener in. Though the tune is somewhat repetitive, it is a sound that makes a person move with it and quickly find they are humming along. The talent of the group White Stripes is clearly seen and heard in this music and is alluring to all who hear it. The quick rock tempo with the beat of the drum and talented guitar blend with the lyrics to create a light tune with deep meaning. Young and old alike will enjoy the sound.

Blue Orchid White Stripes Music Video

This music video, which can be seen on MTV or can be found on internet sites such as YouTube, is art in itself. The video is done in black and white which seems to emphasize the basic meaning of the lyrics. The young woman in the video seems to be struggling with her life as she tries to walk in stiletto heels and then further complicates the issue by trying to go down the stairs of the cluttered home she is in. There is a small, cute toddler in the corner who must represent innocence that has been lost by the young woman.

At some point the woman falls to the ground and in a somewhat Biblical reference the musician Jack White throws down a stick which turns into a snake and crawls towards the woman. The danger increases with the appearance of several snakes. The end of the video comes as a white stallion stands over the woman and rears up. Blue Orchid by White Stripes music video leaves the watcher considering the outcome of the situation.

Even the orchid itself seems to promote its own even without the help of science. Considered to have the most remarkable ability of evolution among flowering plants, its aggressive symbiotic strategies along with its active interaction with nature’s pollinators introduce new species every year.

In structure, the orchid is a monocotyledon which means that they have a single embryonic leaf in comparison with most flowering plants which have two. The said plant is also considered a perennial herb because it doesn’t have any woody parts. It can be grouped according to how it gets nutrients which also determines its geographic locations. With the exception of very cold regions and deserts, the orchid grows in every possible habitat. Its favorite is the tropics.

A Distinguished Orchid History

It was Theophrastos, the father of the studies of Botany and Ecology who first used the word orchid (from the Greek orchis). But the plant’s origins go back further to the Late Cretaceous period, about 80 million years ago. An Amber resin with fossilized insect remains show evidence that insects of that period were already pollinating the orchid.

Knowing where your orchid comes from can be useful in knowing how to take care of it.
If it flourishes being anchored on a tree, it’s a perennial epiphyte. Those who can grow on rock surfaces and don’t need much care are much likely to be hardy lithophytes. If you can grow your orchid in loose soil, it’s a terrestrial plant. Another kind which lacks chlorophyll and depends on decaying plant matter is myco-heterotrophs.

Travelers to the tropics who are fond of hiking on nature trails will find it pleasurable to come upon the sight of beautiful orchids. But think twice before you attempt to take it home. This species are classified as protected in their natural habitat and taking them out of that habitat might be considered illegal and a punishable offense.

Be careful when someone gives you an orchid as a gift. Ask the giver first if it is a hybrid. If you live in the United States, you may need to acquire a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) permit before you can bring the gift into the country.