There are greater than 800 genera of vegetation within the Orchidaceae household and a few 28,000 species amongst them. It’s the second largest of all plant species, behind Asteraceae, which incorporates sunflowers, daisies, and chrysanthemums, to call a number of. It stands to motive that figuring out a selected plant on this group may show tough.
Though there are lots of genera, solely a few dozen (give or take) present up generally in nurseries and different retailers. Amongst these, practically all are tropical. They like temperate climates with excessive humidity. These vegetation are usually choosy about daylight and water, and the identical guidelines don’t apply to each orchid.
There are three widespread genera with names that, whereas they differ considerably, have the same sound. They’re oncidium, dendrobium, and cymbidium. It’s straightforward to get one confused for the opposite, they usually have some variations in optimum care. Let’s check out the components that make it attainable to differentiate between these three kinds of orchids.
How you can Inform the Distinction
There are 4 apparent aspects of an orchid’s look that assist us determine it and place it in a selected species. The primary and infrequently the deciding issue is the development behavior. The remaining elements to take a look at are beauty and embrace the leaves, the flowers, and the general form and measurement of the plant.
Development Habits
There are two elements of development that assist determine most kinds of orchids. The primary is the place they develop, and the second is how. These tropical vegetation may be epiphytic, lithophytic, or terrestrial.
These species develop on timber excessive up underneath the rainforest cover. Their roots are uncovered to the air and wish appreciable air circulation consequently.
These develop from cracks in rocks in a manner that’s much like epiphytes. They have an inclination to develop decrease to the forest ground, which impacts the quantity of sunshine they like.
These develop within the floor, with their roots within the soil. They develop on the forest ground normally.
Oncidium orchids are practically at all times epiphytes, rising excessive up in timber, nearer to the cover overhead. Dendrobiums are a big genus and embrace species that fall into all three classes. Some are additionally deciduous and lose their leaves in winter. Cymbidiums are semi-terrestrial, rising within the floor however sending up skinny aerial roots.
When it comes to how these vegetation develop, there are two development habits of orchids: monopodial and sympodial. All three of the vegetation we’re analyzing are sympodial.
These develop vertically on a central rhizome, repeatedly upward. From this central rhizome, leaves and flower stems are each produced from nodes alongside a single central stem.
These develop horizontally throughout a rhizome, sending up particular person pseudobulbs. Each solely blooms one time after which turns into meals for the brand new development.
The components these two habits affect most are potting, and propagation. The place they naturally develop determines what sort of container and potting combine is finest. Propagating a sympodial orchid tends to be simpler, as you merely reduce teams of pseudobulbs aside. They already every have their very own roots. For monopodial orchids, it’s obligatory to chop via the center of the plant and root the highest portion.
Leaves
Since all three of those are sympodial, they develop these particular person pseudobulbs. Each is a tiny plant of its personal, with its personal private root system. Every pseudobulb produces leaves with their very own distinct look.
Oncidiums have strap-like leaves that adjust in measurement in accordance with species. Every pseudobulb will develop between two and 5 leaves. Dendrobiums develop tall canes with leaves rising at intervals on opposing sides. The variety of leaves relies on the scale and age of the orchid.
Cymbidiums are completely different as a result of they’re terrestrial. Their strap-like leaves seem to develop in a clump. In actuality, they develop the identical manner as different sympodial orchids, overlapping as new leaves develop from the middle.
Blooms
Sympodial orchid pseudobulbs every produce leaves and flower stems. The variety of flower stems relies on the species. Many of the three vegetation we’re discussing develop one to 2 stems per pseudobulb. The quantity, measurement, and look of the blooms differ between generas however will usually be comparable throughout species in a single genus.
Of the three, oncidiums have the smallest flowers with the best quantity per stem. Many species are aromatic, with at the very least one which smells like chocolate. Cymbidiums have the most important, and a few hybrids are aromatic however much less continuously. Dendrobiums have mid-sized flowers, they usually lie within the middle in practically each side.
Total Form and Measurement
Orchids cowl a variety of sizes. They embrace the minuscule Platystele jungermannioides at two to a few centimeters tall, to the big Grammatophyllum speciosum, which may be as much as 25 ft tall. Most, nonetheless, fall into the same vary of about one to 4 ft tall.
Oncidiums are the smallest of those three with a typical vary of 1 to 2 ft. Dendrobiums skew bigger, from six inches to 4 ft tall. Cymbidiums are comparable, maturing to between one and 4 ft tall.
Oncidium
Oncidiums are native to Central and South America, in addition to Florida and the West Indies. They develop at a variety of elevations from sea degree to over 8,000 ft above. In consequence, they’re adaptable and have a wider vary of care prospects than most orchids.
Care
These vegetation want containers with wonderful drainage and a rough, bark-based potting combine. They’ve uncovered roots in nature, in order that they want loads of air circulation to keep away from root rot. Your container mustn’t maintain water, and your potting combine ought to solely keep barely moist.
These want loads of mild in comparison with most orchids. The thicker their leaves, the extra tolerant they’re of direct publicity. Some even tolerate full solar. These with extra delicate foliage will want between 20 and 60% shade. An excessive amount of solar will trigger the leaves to tackle a purple hue. Too little, and it’s unlikely to bloom.
Oncidium roots are usually finer and extra delicate. This implies they’re extra delicate and simpler to wreck. A superb watering routine is important for his or her well being. Water about as soon as per week. Fertilize each two to 4 weeks similtaneously watering.
All orchids like additional humidity. With out it, your leaves might start to crinkle and switch brown on the ideas. These are joyful within the vary of 40-70% humidity, although 40% is on the low finish.
Blooms
Oncidium orchids produce loads of flowers, a minimal of 25 per stem. A single mature plant can produce many stems, so it’s not unusual for one in every of these to supply a whole bunch of flowers in a single season. The flowers are small and dainty. They usually include at the very least two colours and have a big, ruffled labellum.
The form and measurement of the labellum in comparison with the remainder of the petals is noteworthy on this group. Oncidiums have the nickname “Dancing Girl,” as these frilly labellums resemble twirling skirts. The blooms are often heat colours, crimson, yellow, orange, white, and pink, however some even have shades of purple.
Dendrobium
Dendrobiums are quick growers, and the genus consists of at the very least 1,800 species. They’re native to Southern Asia, the place they stay in cloud forests, tropical islands, and monsoon environments. They’re extra cold-tolerant than most orchids and tolerate a wider vary of temperatures.
That is the one genus that incorporates some deciduous vegetation. All different orchids are evergreen. Some dendrobiums shed all of their leaves within the winter after blooming. Don’t throw it out when this occurs, they may all develop again in a number of months. Throughout this time, expose them to cooler temperatures to encourage bud setting.
Care
Their environmental flexibility makes these nice newbie orchids. Apart from Phalaenopsis, these are most likely the simplest to maintain alive. All besides a number of terrestrial species want bark combine rather than potting soil. All of them want containers with wonderful drainage.
When it comes to mild, vivid, oblique solar is finest for these, although they do like some direct solar within the morning. Defend them within the afternoon. In addition they want humidity within the vary of 40-70%.
As a result of they’ve a small root system in comparison with the general measurement of the plant, these want extra water than most. Through the rising season, you might wish to water these twice per week relatively than as soon as. Simply be certain your container has good drainage, otherwise you’ll find yourself with root rot.
Blooms
Dendrobiums have bigger blooms than oncidiums however are usually smaller than cymbidiums. These develop on lengthy stems with about 4 to eight per stalk. They’re widespread in floristry for his or her magnificence and since they’re sturdy.
You’ll typically see dendrobium flowers used as garnish. All orchids are edible. Many resemble phalaenopsis flowers and are known as phalaenopsis dendrobiums. They’re well-balanced with a rounded labellum, usually in a contrasting colour. Pink, purple, yellow, and white are the most typical colours for this genus.
Cymbidium
Cymbidium orchids are native to Asia and Australia, the place they generally develop at excessive elevations. They’re tolerant of a variety of temperatures however require a interval of cooler nights within the spring to induce blooming.
Care
As a result of they’re semi-terrestrial, they’ve markedly completely different care wants. They nonetheless want good drainage, however as a result of they develop within the floor, they are usually much less delicate to moisture and hardier general. You possibly can pot these in a high-quality bark combine with peat moss, perlite, coco coir, or sand combined in. Potting combine custom-made for this plant may have smaller particles and maintain extra moisture than customary orchid bark.
You should utilize a customary clay pot with at the very least one drainage gap for these, they usually don’t thoughts crowding. They like a major quantity of sunshine, however any direct publicity ought to happen within the morning. Shelter from direct afternoon rays is essential, as it will probably burn the leaves.
Water this plant about as soon as per week, however take note of the potting medium. You need it to be flippantly moist and dry barely between waterings. These want gentle temperatures and are most tolerant of 40-80°F climate. They’re pleased with humidity proper round 50%.
Blooms
I discover cymbidium flowers to be among the many most stunning of all orchids. They’re typically referred to as boat orchids, after the Greek phrase kymbe which suggests boat. It refers back to the form of their labellum, which is critical and deeply curved.
These are the most important of the three teams, and one stem might maintain as much as 20 blooms. They’re sturdy and waxy and are available in a variety of colours. Among the extra widespread shades are inexperienced, pink, yellow, and orange.