Surely, each of us at least once admired the beauty and grace of a wonderful and unusual plant - an orchid.
Currently, a huge number of varieties are bred: there are dwarf orchids, gigantic, blooming for several months in a row, with all sorts of colors that just hit the eye.
But truly amazing looks orchid, which is recognized as the largest in the world.
Variety and appearance
The largest orchid of the planet grows in Indonesia. It belongs to the Grammatophyllum speciosum variety, it is also called the "Tiger Orchid". The plant got its name due to an unusual coloring: its flowers are yellow, covered with red-brown spots.
In appearance, the tropical beauty resembles sugarcane. Therefore, one of its unofficial names is “sugarcane orchid”.
This is not the only name of an orchid. It is also called the "Queen of Orchids". This is a well-deserved title, as the flower really shakes the imagination with its beauty and gigantic size.
Flower photo
The photos below are giant orchids:
Dimensions
An unusual flower grows on ficus. Each of its inflorescences reaches up to three meters in length. Flowers covering the inflorescence, up to 15 centimeters in diameter. Incredibly, there may be a very large number of flowers - from 60 to 100. The giant does not bloom annually, but the flowering period may be delayed for several months. Orchid weighs - giant about 2000 kilograms.
Where is found in nature?
The plant grows in Indonesia and Malaysia, likes a humid hot tropical climate. It loves higher places. The best option for flowering is the height of 1000 - 1200 meters above sea level.
The largest flower of the planet is located in the Indonesian Botanical Garden near Jakarta. As mentioned above, he lives in a ficus, but does not parasitize on it. The orchid queen receives nutrients from the environment.
Is it possible to purchase?
Of course, in the modern world you can buy almost anything. So with the giant orchid. This can be done in large specialized stores. Another option to purchase is an online store.
Important! When buying an orchid via the Internet, do not rush. You can become a victim of fraudsters and for an unjustified price to purchase a flower that will not differ in size.
The price of the enterprise may vary. It depends on the place of purchase, as well as on the time of flowering and the age of the plant. The content of a rare plant in the home requires compliance with certain rules. If they are neglected, the flower will die.
Care features
Immediately say that in room conditions, the giant flower will not reach the same size as in the natural environment. But it will still look very impressive next to other plants.
The main condition for successful cultivation is lighting. Since the orchid grows in tropical latitudes, it needs a lot of light, but it must be scattered. Do not allow direct sunlight in the spring and summer, otherwise the plant will lose foliage.
In order to provide the flower with enough light, you must follow these rules:
- On hot days, you need to protect the plant with a film or mesh fixed on the glass.
- In the rest period, which begins in the fall, blackout is not necessary.
- If the daylight is not long enough - less than 12 hours - it is necessary to use artificial lighting.
Another important factor is temperature. Large varieties of plants like a warm climate. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure a temperature minimum of 20 degrees. When watering should consider the soil moisture. Do not water the orchid very often, it can die due to rotting roots. Insufficient watering is also harmful to the flower.
The difficulties and problems of growing plants
- The main difficulty lies in the fact that for a large plant you need to find a suitable pot. It must be large enough to accommodate the bulk root system.
- In addition, when planting, it is necessary to lay stones on the bottom of the pot for a counterweight, otherwise it will simply not sustain the weight of the flower and overturn.
- Very often, the owners are faced with such a problem as leaf fall. This may be caused by a lack of light or low temperature.
- With an excess of light, the leaves may shrink. This is a signal to darken the room.
- Should protect the orchid from drafts. Otherwise, all the work that has been spent on cultivation will be in vain.
- Replant the plant should only be at the moment when the roots no longer fit in the pot. It is important to know that it does not tolerate this procedure well; you should not abuse it.
Observing these simple rules you can get a beautiful plant that will delight the owner with exotic flowering for a long time. At the same time, before you buy an orchid of this variety, you need to carefully weigh everything. After all, only love and attention will bear fruit.
