Some friends of ours received this orchid as a gift on their ruby wedding anniversary over 2 years ago and it has been flowering continuously ever since. It was chosen for them because of the ruby colour of the markings at the heart of the orchid.
This one I know , Phalaenopsis . This is from wikipedia :
The generic name means "Phalaen[a]-like" and is probably a reference to the genus Phalaena, the name given by Carl Linnaeus to a group of large moths; the flowers of some species supposedly resemble moths in flight.[2] For this reason, the species are sometimes called Moth orchids.
They are native throughout southeast Asia from the Himalayan mountains to the islands of Polillo, Palawan and Zamboanga del Norte in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines and northern Australia. Orchid Island of Taiwan is named after this genus. Little recent information about their habitat and their ecology in nature is available since little field research has been done in the last decades.
Most are epiphytic shade plants; a few are lithophytes[citation needed]. In the wild, some species grow below the canopies of moist and humid lowland forests, protected against direct sunlight; others grow in seasonally dry or cool environments. The species have adapted individually to these three habitats.
Possessing neither pseudobulbs nor rhizome, Phalaenopsis shows a monopodial growth habit: a single growing stem produces one or two alternate, thick, fleshy, elliptical leaves a year from the top while the older, basal leaves drop off at the same rate. If very healthy, a Phalaenopsis plant can have up to ten or more leaves. The inflorescence, either a raceme or panicle, appears from the stem between the leaves. They bloom in their full glory for several weeks. If kept in the home, the flowers may last two to three months[citation needed].
Some Phalaenopsis species in Malaysia are known to use subtle weather cues to coordinate mass flowering[citation needed].
@pyrrhula
Interesting, thank you. I note that I have a orchid with 8 leaves.(the article says it's healthy for an orchid to have several leaves.) Also I wonder if modern centrally heated houses are just a bit too hot for orchids to really thrive. I do get them re-flowering but never as good as the first time I buy them (or sometimes have them given to me!)
@quietpurplehaze In modern centrally heated houses you can store them in a spare or bedroom. They are often not as much heated as the living room.
15-18 degree Celsius ( 59-65 Farhenheit ) is enough
I've had orchids reflower myself, but never one like this which just doesn't stop!
Yes, that little shot of ruby just makes this orchid so nice!
The generic name means "Phalaen[a]-like" and is probably a reference to the genus Phalaena, the name given by Carl Linnaeus to a group of large moths; the flowers of some species supposedly resemble moths in flight.[2] For this reason, the species are sometimes called Moth orchids.
They are native throughout southeast Asia from the Himalayan mountains to the islands of Polillo, Palawan and Zamboanga del Norte in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines and northern Australia. Orchid Island of Taiwan is named after this genus. Little recent information about their habitat and their ecology in nature is available since little field research has been done in the last decades.
Most are epiphytic shade plants; a few are lithophytes[citation needed]. In the wild, some species grow below the canopies of moist and humid lowland forests, protected against direct sunlight; others grow in seasonally dry or cool environments. The species have adapted individually to these three habitats.
Possessing neither pseudobulbs nor rhizome, Phalaenopsis shows a monopodial growth habit: a single growing stem produces one or two alternate, thick, fleshy, elliptical leaves a year from the top while the older, basal leaves drop off at the same rate. If very healthy, a Phalaenopsis plant can have up to ten or more leaves. The inflorescence, either a raceme or panicle, appears from the stem between the leaves. They bloom in their full glory for several weeks. If kept in the home, the flowers may last two to three months[citation needed].
Some Phalaenopsis species in Malaysia are known to use subtle weather cues to coordinate mass flowering[citation needed].
Interesting, thank you. I note that I have a orchid with 8 leaves.(the article says it's healthy for an orchid to have several leaves.) Also I wonder if modern centrally heated houses are just a bit too hot for orchids to really thrive. I do get them re-flowering but never as good as the first time I buy them (or sometimes have them given to me!)
15-18 degree Celsius ( 59-65 Farhenheit ) is enough
Thank you - I do have 3 in a spare bedroom - but it doesn't seem to be having much effect on them!
Well IF they do, I'll certainly post a pic....
Thanks and I was quite pleased with this as I find white flowers the hardest to photograph well.