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Orchid Wikimedia Commons
Orchidaceae

Orchid

Orchidaceae

Love, luxury, beauty, strength.

Family
Orchidaceae
Genus
various
Native to
Worldwide, especially tropics
Bloom season
Year-Round Depending On Species
Type
perennial (epiphytic or terrestrial)
Height
5 cm – 3 m
Sunlight
Bright indirect light
Soil
Bark, sphagnum, or specialized orchid mix
Water
Sparingly; allow drying between waterings
Hardiness
Varies; mostly indoor in temperate climates
Lifespan
Perennial; some plants live 100+ years

Did you know

  • Orchidaceae is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with over 28,000 accepted species and 100,000+ hybrids.
  • Vanilla comes from the seed pods of the orchid Vanilla planifolia — the only orchid grown commercially for food.
  • Some orchid seeds are so tiny that a single pod can hold up to 3 million of them.
  • Orchids exist on every continent except Antarctica.
  • Many orchids mimic female insects to trick males into pollinating them — a strategy called pseudocopulation.

Uses

  • Ornamental
  • Vanilla flavoring
  • Traditional medicine