WHAT ARE ORCHIDS ?

The orchid family is one of the largest groups of flowering plants on the planet. They can be found on every continent except Antarctica and in almost every conceivable habitat. With around 30,000 species growing in the wild and well over 100,000 man-made hybrids there is no shortage of choice in the orchid world!

The highest density of orchids grow in the rainforests all over the world, loving the humidity and shaded provided by these environments. Not all orchids like hot conditions, though. Many need cooler climates, as where they grow is at high altitudes in the mountains where the temperatures can drop very low at night.

As forest dwelling plants, many orchids grow as ‘epiphytes’, which means that they grow on the trees, clinging on with thick aerial roots and storing water in either fleshy leaves or thickened stems called ‘pseudobulbs’. There are also many orchids that grow in the ground, including our own native British species. These are know as 'terrestrials'.

The orchid family is certainly the most diverse group of plants with so many various shapes, sizes, colours and patterns to their stunning and often extraordinary blooms. Whatever your taste in flowers, there is certainly something for everyone in the orchid kingdom.

Anatomy of a 'Sympodial Orchid'

Sympodial orchids often have swollen stems called pseudobulbs which store water and food, giving the plant energy to continue to grow and flower.

Anatomy of a 'Monopodial Orchid'

Monopodial orchids tend to grow with a central stem and leaves from either side.

They also have plenty of aerial roots to help take up moisture as they have no pseudobulbs in which to store the water like the sympodial orchids do.