3 Orchids that Look Like an Animal

Orchids produce some of the most beautiful and unique flowers in the world.  Recently, they have become one of the most common house plants you can buy and are available everywhere.  What most people don’t realize is just how many different Orchid species there are and how amazing they can be.

With over 20,000 Orchid species recognized today, you can’t even imagine some of the flowers they produce.  They can be small, medium, large, and in any colors but black and blue.  Some look like Tulips, while others look like Donkeys and Monkeys.  Orchids have adapted to become some of the most fascinating plants in the world.

Many Orchids have success in attracting insects to pollinate them by mimicking the other sex.  Fly Orchids, for example, produce flowers that look and smell like female flies.  This attracts the male flies to attempt to reproduce, spreading the pollen in the process.  They then move to the next flower and bring pollen that with them.

Donkey Orchids

These Orchids produces funny looking flowers that many people believe look like a donkey.  That’s how the Diuris Orchid got the nickname “Donkey Orchid”.  Growing mostly in Australia and Tasmania, this flower needs warm temperatures during the growing season.  During the winter, they go dormant and shrivel up to protect themselves from the cold.

The large Donkey-looking flowers grow on stems up to 3 feet high and typically stay together in clumps.  The 2 large lateral petals that create the look of donkey ears, are what attract bees to come pollinate the flower.  They flower between July and November, and the seeds mature in a matter of weeks after pollination. 

Monkey Face Orchids

The Dracula Simia Orchid has earned the nicknames “Monkey Orchid” and “Monkey Face Orchid” for obvious reasons.  The flowers they produce look just like the face of a Monkey.  These flowers grow in the mountains of Ecuador and are accustomed to cooler temperatures and high humidity.  The flowers are also said to be scented like ripe oranges to attract monkeys. 

These Orchids produce a large number of stems from the base of the plant.  Each stem produces one amazing flower.  These flowers can bloom at any time of the year which could lead to flowers throughout the entire year under perfect conditions.  These are one of the most unique Orchids that you will find.

Flying Duck Orchids

These are one of my personal favorite Orchids in the world.  The flowers they produce look just like a duck flying through the air.  These Orchids grow in Australia in warm climates that provide moist conditions.  You will find them in coastal and swampy areas, sometimes even at higher altitudes.
The flying duck flowers are very small and not noticeable in the wild unless you know what you are looking for.  The unique shape attracts insects, mainly sawflies, to come investigate and pollinate the flower.  The flowers grow on tall green stems, reaching 20 inches from the ground.

For more information on Orchids that look like animals click here

How to improve your ways on growing: Orchids For Dummies

Orchid Show, Warsaw Poland 2009

While winter is still trying to show us the power, Polish Orchid Society organised this weekend orchid show. The beauty of flowers is brightening cold sunday.


Show was hosted at Warsaw University Library, ultra modern building. Some arrangements were in strong contrast to character of building.


I would have nothing against having that many orchids in one room. Let me show you some of those beautiful plants.

Vuylstekeara.

Vanda.

Paphiopedilum argus.

Paphiopedilum.

Paphiopedilum.

Paphiopedilum.

Oncidium Twinkle.

Miltonia.

Lycaste Candida.

Epidendrum Cliare.

Encylia Vittelima.

Dendrobium.

Cymbidium hybr.

Cattleya hybr.

Cattleya hybr.

Brassavola glauca.

I fed my eyes and soul again. What is your way to hold on till Spring?

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Many, many orchid flowers at biggest orchid event - Taiwan International Orchid Show

As a thank you post at Valentine's Day I would like to share these beauties with you.

If you look for more information about how much light needs your orchid, how to fertilise and repot your orchid, you can find it in my previous posts.

If you are looking for practical guide which covers all you need to know about orchid care Click Here!

Orchid repotting and fertilizing.

Orchis - Phalaenopsis on this picture has about 50 flowers! This picture was taken by neocorsten

In case of orchids – at least Phalaenopsis and Oncidium – my love and fascinations was triggered by being able to overcome the popular belief about how difficult it is to grow them.
When additionally I have learned that there are also fragrant ones – I was done!

Producers produce them and we keep killing them until we learn how to take care.

Do you know who is expert? This is somebody that made all possible mistakes in the narrow field – that is famous quotation from Niels Bohr.

So don’t stop yourself from buying next orchid, just because you killed one. This doesn’t mean that you totally don’t know how to deal with orchids properly. Maybe you just made a little mistake or didn’t spot the symptoms fast enough. Next time you will know spot it faster.

Get yourself new orchid – it will help you to survive until spring and will give you lots of joy reblooming, when next winter comes.

Orchid repotting
Your Phalaenopsis should be repotted every 2-3 years – the reason is substratum, not the plant itself. You need to do it and don’t worry that it will not rebloom – your orchid will be happy to have better conditions and you will see new shots soon.
When orchid should be repotted:

==> Substratum reaches certain state of decomposition and is about to loose its ability to dry fast, it also seems to be more dense.

==> Pieces of substratum is covered with sediments – this means that either you are using too much fertilizer or water contains too many minerals. Use soft water – it can be just boiled water and used after cooling down.

==> There is a lot of moss inside, I mean really too much. If you see some if it – there is no need to worry.

When is the best time to repot and orchid?

==> Time right after the blooming is finished.

==> Time of fastest growth - in the spring.

Size of the pot matters?

Rather keep your orchid in similar size pot – could be exactly the same. Decision is yours and fully depends on amount of green healthy roots the plant produced. Pot can’t be filled mostly with roots – it needs at least 50% of substratum in order to keep the moist long enough.
Water the plant the day before you plan the repotting, so the roots will get back best turgor and will stay firm. While out of the pot examine the roots. Keep only green, healthy ones. Roots of lighter colors are dead – cut them back at the base. Use disinfected tool for cutting. After placing in new pot, don’t water the plant for about 2 weeks – in this time the wounds will close.
If you will use the same pot or the new one – wash it carefully before placing your Phalaenopsis there. On the bottom of the pot place first the drainage – bigger pieces of substratum, then place gently the roots wrapping them around inside. Do not push substratum inside between the roots, rather tap the pot gently, and pieces of substratum will find its place.

How to fertilize Phalaenopsis

There is many different producers of the fertilizers – my advice is to switch them – don’t get stuck with just one, until you see the difference – this make take few years of experience. You don’t need to buy all of them at the same time, but if you finish one, buy different next time.
General rules of fertilizing orchid:

==> Use only ¼ of dose recommended by producer and fertilize every 2 weeks up to every 4 weeks. If you water your orchid every 2 weeks add ¼ of dose to every watering, sometimes every second watering.

==> It is better to fertilize your orchid seldom than too much. It is very difficult for an orchid to recover after too much fertilizing.

==> Every 4th fertilizing, rinse the substratum, so the water flowing through will remove sediments remained after fertilizing.

Happy Repotting!
If you are looking for information on what’s most important factor for reblooming your orchidea, you will find my post covering that topic here.

PS ==> I found also interesting publication, that you may want to read. Click here to have a look.

Orchid care - Phalaenopsis - how much light it needs?

If your orchid is not reblooming - this doesn't mean you don't have hand for orchids. It only means that probably your orchid doesn't get enough light.

If new leaves grow longer and darker - it means there is not enough light.

There is a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to amount of light that orchids need.

I will cover most important issues like watering, fertilising in the next posts, so everyone can enjoy at home reblooming orchids.

As Phalaenopsis is most popular and easy to grow I will mainly write about them.

First of all - don't be fooled 'orchid needs half shadow' is not true in many countries.

In natural conditions Phalaenopsis grows in the tropics in half shadow, sheltered by big trees, because too strong direct sunlight can burn the leaves.

This applies to tropics and countries where sun is really strong for most of the year.

In countries which are more far from the equator sun operates much lighter. In many countries there is not enought light for people from October until March. Do you think, that this amount of light is enough for your orchid?

My orchids grow indoor in zone 6. Without special artificial light, they grow strong and rebloom voluntarily placed on southern windowsill, on direct sunlight except July - when I move it little away form the glass. Sun is so high, that I don't need move my orchids to different spot.

How to tell if your orchid has enough or too much light?

Look at the leaves - slight clared coloured leaves show you need to move the plant to shadow immediately, cos it is close to be burned.

Touch the leaf - this is good way to check whether the amount of light is proper. If its hot, means there little too much light.

Another easy to grow orchids suitable for beginners is Odontonia - fragrant, that I bought lately - see it here.

If you are looking for practical guide which covers all you need to know about orchid care Click Here!

Happy reblooming orchids!

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January in flowers - what's in bloom here?

Everything is covered with snow in my garden and for the first time ever, there is not even a single bloom outdoor - I joined the club.

This is the time, when house plants can cheer us up! On the honrable place there is - of course - my new orchid Odontonia Samourai - level of easiness to grow similar to Phalaenopsis.

The major difference is that Odontonia does not grow flowers again on the same stem, so after flowers are gone, you may cut back as low as you can reach it.

You know what I like most about it? It is FRAGRANT! but only in certain hours - there is no scent in the evenings.

I am sorry to make you bored with repeating the fregrance issue again and again, but I believe that beautiful fragrance of flowers at home make our living space better.

Orchids are special - they may combine beautiful flowers with beautiful fragrance.

Odontonia is a hybrid intergenera plant belonging to Oncidium group, its parents are Miltonia and Odontoglossum.

I read often, that even people with green thumbs have problems to make Phalaenopsis it rebloom. Maybe because in media there is often misleading information about how to care about them. I read that orchids don't like direct sunlight - maybe this is true in the countries, where temperature gets high and sun is really strong. They need a lot of light, so if you don't plan to make for them a special spot with artificial light, your orchid should be standing as close to south window as possible. Mine are placed directly on the southern windowsill.

I experinced, that in zone 6 only July's sun can be little too strong - for that month I move my orchids away from direct sunlight, but not to shadowy place.

Another critical point for orchid is starting the heating indoor - if placed too close, should be moved to cooler and less dry spots.

There is also a lot misinformation about how wet you should keep it - at the base it has to get dry, so watering 1 time a week/or 2 is enough.

Your orchid will be really happy!

Calanchoe grown from little cutting 'stolen' from doctor's room one year ago - grows surprisingly fast and it blooms since over one month! That's really cheering up! I just placed the cutting in the soil and PURE compost made the rest.

Poinsettia will be growing in my house untill next Christmas, because it is much more beautiful while older - just have a look here.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is kindly hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Odontonia Samourai - fragrant orchid

Do you think it is beautiful? I couldn't resist to buy it, because when I smelled it, I discovered it is fragrant! Just to make sure, I asked my friend that was shopping with me and after she confirmed, there was no other way - only to cashier!
After coming home, I was so happy, I sniffed the flowers and ...all the scent was gone!!
I suspected the shop tricked me or plant is in shock.
Kathryn on Twitter told me, that it could smell at certain hours of the day - and she was right! Thank you!!.
This orchid is NOT fragrant only in the evening. Scent is very delicate.

It came labelled Cambria, but after comparing many sources and many pictures, I am sure it is misabelled. This is also mentioned in some sources, that producer labelled Odontonia by mistake as Cambria.

Odontonia is intergenera hybrid and easy to take care of - recommended for beginners (same level as Phalaenopsis).

Any other fragrant orchid kind you know and would like to recommend?