Friday, December 16, 2011

Hybrid Orchids Introduction

Phalaenopsis orchids can be a variety of different colors because the majority of these orchids today are hybrids. The phalaenopsis has become so popular on a global level that many States and countries are producing them on a commercial level because the demand is constantly growing.
More people are interested in purchasing this orchid because it is not only simple to take care of with consistent care, but it is also a rewarding plant that stays in bloom for a long period of time from winter through spring. Orchids originally were only available at speciality orchid shows or floral shops but now it is possible to find them at grocery stores, hardware stores, and even farmer’s markets.
The growing demand for phalaenopsis orchids has inspired different hybrids to be incorporated into the species. There are the standard hybrids which include the large white, pink, or striped flowers. These are the most common amongst the phalaenopsis orchid. There are also different colors that include red, orange, and yellow, as well as different patterns including spots or bars. The varieties can be simply ‘mixed and matched’ to please the consumer who not only wants to purchase an orchid, but one that has individuality based on its appearance.
Certain hybrids vary in size. The largest of the phalaenopsis hybrids are specific forms of the white flowered plants as well as the pink flowered plants. These plants can grow up to twenty five-inch flowers, which means the stem is long enough and sturdy enough to hold twenty large flowers. This basically means that one of these popular hybrids can be very large because of the fact that it is monopodial, or one, upright growing stem.
Some hybrids are smaller with an abundant number of smaller flowers. These hybrids usually include the brighter flowers that might have different patterns. These hybrids originally started with a standard large, white phalaenopsis orchid crossed with a brighter, more unusual orchid. They produce a smaller plant that has dominant bright colors, but the same shape of the phalaenopsis.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Meanings Of Orchids Flowers

Orchids are believed to be the most complex flowers among all whether it’s about growing them at home or if considered in regard to their species. Broadly all the Orchid species are divided into 5 groups.
Epiphyte: This is the type of Orchid that is found to be growing on trees and other plants. But they do get their required nutrients from water and air too; they do not remain dependent on other things only.
Lithophytes: These are strange type of orchids and they grow over rocks. They have also the system same as epiphytes to gain the nutrients necessary for their growth.
Monopodial: This type will have new growths over its stems that grow vertically. (They will need less space horizontally but should be planted at a place that is open and free till high.)
Terrestrial: These are the orchids planted in ground and they gain their nutrients through their roots who extract minerals from the soil they are placed in.
Sympodial: These are the Orchids that grow horizontally and so they spread sideways. They usually spread very quickly.
The flower symbolism associated with the orchid is love, beauty, refinement, many children, thoughtfulness and mature charm. Orchids are found in several colors and bring about different impact every time with a different meaning.
Yellow orchids are amazing, bright and cheerful. Yellow orchids bring a graceful feeling to any floral arrangement. Commonly known as flowers of love, yellow orchids have a rare and delicate beauty. Also, yellow orchids are a symbol of royal elegance.
Black orchids are mysterious flowers. They are described as fantasy flowers that have magical powers. Black orchids are a symbol of power and absolute authority.
White orchids are the rarest type of orchids. Beautiful, elegant and pure, the white orchid stands out in every flower arrangement. White orchid represent delicate beauty. They stand for purity, innocence, virtue and divine beauty.
The pink orchid is a magnificent flower. The pink orchid is the most delicate and interesting flower. Pink orchids are known to be flowers that represent love and pure affection. Pink orchids stand for pure affection.
Red orchids are often described as “an Asian love’s dream”. Radiant and grand, red orchids represent the extraordinary wishes of love. Red orchids stand for passion, energy, power, strength, determinism.
Blue orchids are rare, beautiful and deep meaningful flowers. Blue orchids represent delicate beauty. They are royal in color, and therefore, they represent depth, power and stability.
Purple orchids are stunning and their color is absolutely magnificent and the blooms differ from the brightest shade of royal, mysterious purple to the gentlest shade of lavender. Lavender orchids provoke romance and elegance, while deep purple arouses mystery and suggests uncertainty.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Do You Know The Flower Sexy Yellow Birds of Paradise

We got home late last night from our brief trip to the Northeastern and Northwestern parts of North America… An hour before departing from our hotel in Seattle, we ducked into the Pike Place Market and loaded up two small boxes with assorted produce to take back as checked baggage. Then we texted some friends in Manila to invite them to Sunday lunch, and on the menu, whatever cleared customs inspection at NAIA (the Manila airport). I was up at 5am with jet lag, and headed to the Centris market in Quezon City to pick up some herbs and other greens and I spotted these unusually stunning yellow birds of paradise (a member of the heliconia family, is that right?).
At PHP100 for three blooms, they were a bargain.I asked the vendor what they were called, and he answered “Sexy Yellow” and that was that. If you happen to know the scientific name, please leave a comment as my gardening skills are almost non-existent.As we were on our final approach into Manila last night, I couldn’t help but think that the city was pretty dark and gloomy, a zoning nightmare, a fairly ugly place. It was an extremely negative viewpoint, I know, but fairly objective I think. We had just come from some visually stunning places, and it was inevitable that I would compare Manila vs. Vancouver vs. Seattle vs. New England vs. any major international city that I would personally like to visit and revisit again and again. I can’t imagine that droves of tourists would come to Manila simply to visit the city (as opposed to visiting family, friends or conducting business) as say millions would do so for Paris, Hong Kong or New York… I suspect if there were direct international flights to Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, etc. folks would bypass Manila altogether.
Some of these reflections probably hark back to some of our conversations during the recent eyeball in Vancouver. It was wonderful to meet folks who read the blog, but more importantly, Filipinos from all walks of life who have chosen to make a foreign city/country their adopted homes. They have raised their families there, and their children, while identifying themselves as ethnically Filipino, will be for the most part, proudly Canadian, American, etc. as well. There are perhaps more than 10+ million Filipinos who have migrated to various parts of the world in the past 50-60 years, and millions of their children will have been born and raised in a new environment, many of them rarely or never coming back to the Philippines to visit. And yet when you meet them, there is that instant spark, that affinity, that streak of Pinoy that doesn’t fully disappear… And it is wonderful.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Magnolia Flowers

Magnolia Trees are intricately linked to visions of the South. The film Steel Magnolias is a superb instance of this linkage. Magnolia timber are often trimmed into the acquainted Christmas tree shape, but they grow immediately and real when left alone. They will develop as tall as pines below ideally suited conditions.
The most important Magnolia found in the South is the Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora. This tree grows throughout the South in creek and river bottoms, swamps, and round other hardwood trees. It is an evergreen tree, losing outdated leaves in the spring and seed pods in late summer. You must plant it in a place the place the previous leaves, blossoms, and seed pods will not make too much of a huge number, or be very diligent approximately choosing up the clutter from the tree. Nevertheless, the big, glossy leaves, lovely tree, and fantastic smelling white blossoms make up for any hassle the tree muddle may cause.
Magnolia trees grow best in free, acidic soils. They're tolerate of high moisture levels and will be planted in areas vulnerable to moist/dry fluctuations in soil moisture. They don't like black, clay soils.. Generally a tree will grow for several years, then decline and die whilst the roots hit the compacted clay substrate. Magnolia trees will develop in partial shade, however will not grow as quick and could have fewer blooms than a tree planted in full sun.
Magnolia trees are propagated from cuttings taken off of older bushes or from seed. The bushes grown from cuttings grow significantly better than the timber grown from seed. The seeds are exhausting to germinate, and the cuttings are laborious to root. It is best to purchase a tree from a nursery as a substitute of making an attempt to develop one from seed or a reducing yourself.
The best time to plant Magnolia timber varies with the climate. It may be as early as is October and November or as late as February. It is best to dig a hole two times as vast as the basis ball or container wherein the plant is growing, and as deep as the foundation ball. Be certain the highest of the root ball is degree with the soil floor, then backfill with the local soil you just dug from your hole. Water totally to settle the soil. Then observe 3 to five inches of mulch at the soil surface to conserve moisture and stop weeds.
The tree will should be watered 3 times per week, with one inch of water a time, the first two weeks. After that, water the tree one inch every week once a week. Too much water will kill your tree quicker than too little water. Don't fertilize at planting or in the winter. Wait until spring arrives and the tree has new progress before fertilizing.
For the primary 3 years, fertilize lightly in March, May, July, and September. Through the fourth growing season, you perhaps can scale back that to March and September for the remainder of the lifetime of the tree. You will need to check the soil around the tree to know what nutrients to feed your plant. It'll definitely want Nitrogen, but may no longer need Phosphorus or Potassium.
Most individuals shape their Magnolia tree right into a pyramidal shape. You should leave the lower branches at the Magnolia, in order that the cover extends to the ground and hides the tree litter. You have to to selectively prune the facet branches in December to take care of the pyramidal shape. When you chose not to trim the tree, it'll develop instantly and might attain eighty to one hundred feet in height. It goes to nonetheless have the foliage and blossoms, but there won't be as lots of them as if it have been pruned into the pyramidal shape.
There are completely different cultivators of Magnolia trees. Some grow solely 20 toes tall, some grow 80 ft tall. You may be able to do a little research and discover the perfect cultivator for the location you have chosen on your tree. While planting, be certain you enable for the mature dimension of the tree and avoid overhead traces, sidewalks, and other plants. The tree will colour out such a lot crops which can be beneath the canopy, so maintain that during mind.