Why Orchids?

      In September 2004 I received two wonderful Orchids as a gift. Since they were my first specimen I immediately had to learn everything about them, so that I could provide the appropriate care for them. Out of my curiosity grew a passion, and by now my collection has grown considerably.

      Without doubt there are already numerous pages on the Internet which shed light on the topic of Orchids from all possible perspectives. These here are supposed to give the visitor a small glimpse of the variety of Orchids, as well as to allow me to document the singular specimen of my collection and their specific peculiarities. Furthermore I have collected a number of interesting Links about Orchids, which certainly present only a small selection, but which seemed useful to me. The page about Care is a summary which I have assembled over time from many different sources.

What are Orchids?

      Orchids are very frugal plants, which can occur as Epiphytes (growing on trees - ca. 70% of all Orchids), Lithophytes (growing on stone), as well as terrestrial (growing in earth). But they are in no way "parasites", they only use the trees as a way to get closer to the light, while they receive nourishment from rain and organic precipitation without harming their host tree.
Furthermore there are Orchids which don't produce leaves, the so called Saphrophytes, which can only grow in symbiosis with fungi. Young orchids growing from seeds also depend on this kind of symbiosis until their leaves and roots have grown strong enough.

      The long florescence and the longevity have made Orchids one of the most favoured plants for appartments. Probably the most known genera of Orchids are the Phalaenopsis, which is also known as the Moth Orchid, and the Paphiopedilum, or Lady's Slipper Orchids. Species of these you can often purchase in small nurseries or building centres. Beyond those there are a huge amoung of further Genera, with around 30000 natural species and approximately 100000 hybrid breeds.

Epiphyte - from greek: epi "above" + phytos "plant"
Lithophyte - from greek: lithos "rock"
Saphrophyte - from greek: saphros "to fade to decomposition"*
terrestial - from greek: terra "earth"

* Of course these plants don't decay, but supported by their symbiosis with fungi and their inability to grow leaves, the impression and thus the name was formed.