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There is a real paradox between the perception we have of orchids, supposedly fragile plants, and the reality: they are really robust plants that bloom again in the least experienced hands. Here are the basics you should know for the maintenance of indoor orchids.
Orchid Robot Portrait
Each flower has five petals and a “lip” in the middle. This well-coloured lip acts as a landing strip for insects visiting the flower’s interior. A fine example of natural architecture!
The leaves are +/- fleshy, generally ovoid to oval, 10 to 40 cm long. Depending on the species, they may be pendulous or almost horizontal. The colour of the leaves varies from light green to dark green.
Inflorescences appear most often in the axils of the lower leaf. They are usually branched and the flower stalks, depending on the species, can vary from a few centimetres to 1 metre in length. For some species, the flowers open one after the other, for others – almost simultaneously.
Phalaenopsis do not have pseudobulbs, but instead grow from a central rhizome (root) that produces thick, fleshy leaves one by one. An adult plant can bear 4 or 5 leaves at a time (sometimes more).
The roots are flattened, silvery and sinuous. They often emerge from the pot, become aerial and stick to everything they touch.
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