Orchids are the most beautiful and wondrous among all flowering plants in the world.
They exhibit a wide range of diversity in size, shape, structure, form, adaptability, colour and fragrance of flowers which are unmatched by any other kind of flowering plant.
The peculiar shape and manifold forms and unique size of flowers are the features of orchids
In the world of ornamental plants, orchids constitute an order of royalty and they are of immense horticultural importance and play an useful role of balance in the forest ecosystem.
They belong to the family orchidaceae, in the plant group of monocotyledons.
The orchids with their 22,000 to 35,000 species in some 700 to 800 genera constitute probably the largest family among flowering plants.
Orchids are the top ranking spectacular flower producing plants, and are grown commercially all over the world.
They grow in areas of widely differing environments. India is the home of a large number of orchid species.
Owing to the enormous extent of elevations and varied climatic conditions, the North – Eastern Hill regions contain a large number of diverse orchid flora.
Orchids are usually divided into three temperature groups as
Orchids do well in an atmosphere of free circulating fresh air, slightly acidic water with optimum temperature.
Besides multiplication by seeds, commercial method of vegetative propagation of the hybrid is done.
Cut flowers
Each kind of orchid has got its own requirements for potting and compost.
A great amount of drainage material is necessary for majority of the plants.
Watering requires the grower’s personal attention and experience.