Exploring Nature: Orchids

I was given a beautiful purple orchid plant in a plastic pot some 8 years ago. It is still blooming on a regular basis.

In fact, since orchids can grow to be 100, it could easily outlive me. I had no idea such a dainty looking plant could be so tenacious. It’s on a window ledge in my living room and gets the full sunlight through a large 24-paned glass window.

Orchids are one of the most popular houseplants of all time. They are also the largest family of flowering plants, with more than 25,000 documented species in the world — some 200 in the U.S. and 54 in Texas. Most of those in Texas are found in the wet East Texas woodlands, bogs and savannas, but a few also thrive in our Central Texas area.

Most common Texas varieties are Grass Pink, Chapman’s and Snowy. Some other varieties include Cranefly, Rose Pogonia and Spring Ladies’ Tresses.

I think the worst-named species is the Snake Mouth Orchid. It is a pretty little thing with a delicate violet color and doesn’t look at all like a serpent to me.

Smallest orchid is the size of a dime. And orchids produce the tiniest seeds of any plant. Some three million seeds fit in a single seed pod.

Orchids take a long time to mature and those you see for sale in stores usually are at least 10 years old. It takes 5-7 years before the first flower appears.

If you don’t have an orchid plant, I suggest you give one a try.