CUISINE & CULTURE
We continue with the National Garden Bureau’s 2023 “Year of the” plants. Each year the National Garden Bureau (NGB) selects one annual, one perennial, one shrub, one edible, one houseplant, and one bulb crop as their “Year of the” crops.
The winning plants for 2023 in each of the six classes are: annual, Celosia; perennial, Rudbeckia; shrub, Spirea; edible, broccoli; houseplant, orchid; bulb, Amaryllis.
Today’s column features orchid as the houseplant of the year.
Books have been written about the orchid. The Orchid family, Orchidaceae, is one of the largest families of flowering plants - an astounding 28,000 species. The National Garden Bureau tells us there are more orchids on the planet than mammals and birds!
Orchid flowers are upward-facing blooms with bilateral symmetry. Flowers that are bilaterally symmetrical can be split into a right half and left half that are mirror images of each other.
In these thousands of species, there are different types: Phalaenopsis, moth orchid, is popular for its easy care and large, long-lasting blooms.
Cattleya, often called the queen of orchids. With proper care, cattleyas can bloom in the home year after year.
Oncidium, the “dancing lady” orchid due because of its ruffled blooms.
Dendrobium, a large group of orchids that boast many pastel-toned blooms.
Vanda orchids have flat flowers and bloom several times a year. They are most well known for their cascading root systems.
Cymbidium flower spikes can last from one to three months with a natural blooming season during the winter; commonly referred to as “boat orchids” because of the shape of their lip.
Sobralia, characterized by short-lived colorful flowers and are often found in hobbyist collections.
Vanilla planifolia, one of the primary sources of vanilla flavoring. Vanilla blooms are small and only appear once per year.
Paphiopedilums, easily grown as houseplants and are more commonly known as the “slipper orchid” due to the slipper shape of its bloom’s lower pouch.
Brassavola orchids have narrow white petals that release a fragrant perfume in the evenings.
Orchids are an easy houseplant to care for when given 10 to 16 hours of indirect light. Do not overwater! Roots look silvery when the plant needs water; wrinkled and tan roots are too dry; dark mushy roots are overwatered. Plump green roots are just right.
Some information from garden.org
Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.
