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Orchids are considered as exotic flowers because of their different types, vibrant colors and a variety of amazing shapes. Butterfly Orchid is one of such wonderful flowers. It is named as Butterfly Orchid because it resembles to butterfly. It is also called Moth Orchid, and is well known for their night fragrance.
Butterfly Orchids include species of Orchid family like Phalaenopsis, Epidendrum tampense, O. Pupilio, Habenaria psycodes, and Oncidium krameranum. Because of their vibrant and attractive colors, these species are thought to be the most beautiful types.
Butterfly Orchids have two types. They are:
It is a beautiful plant having cream white blooms tinged with green. The good thing about Lesser Butterfly Orchids is that they can easily grow on different types of soil whether it is acidic soil, overlying sand, gravel, or clay.
These Orchids are very tolerant to wet circumstances and are mostly found in meadows, grasslands, open areas, woodland edges, and on highlands and heaths. They bear flowers mostly in June and July. Their flowers are comparatively smaller, are more clustered and somewhat whiter than the Greater Butterfly Orchids.
One flower spike can bear up to 25 white blooms tinged with yellowish green. The Lesser Butterfly Orchid grows to a height of about 30cms.
It is very much alike in shape to the Lesser Butterfly Orchid, but they can be differentiated by examining closely into the spur of the bloom.
In Greater Butterfly Orchid, the spur is wide, opened and down turned, with two pollinia (clumps of pollen) diverging from each other at the tops, whereas in Lesser Butterfly Orchid the spur is horizontal and the pollinia are quite perpendicular. The blossom spike of Greater Butterfly Orchid is also wider in overall look.
The Greater Butterfly Orchids are less tolerant of acid conditions than Lesser Butterfly Orchid, and can only be found on moors and on swampy grounds. They can grow to a height of about 50cms.
Both these Butterfly Orchid types are popular among the most Orchid collectors. Apart from other Orchid varieties, these Orchids are quite easy to grow and cultivate. But they do need specific care and attention.
A novice can start growing Butterfly Orchid by selecting the suitable soil for it. Proper and constant humidity is also essential for these Orchids. Placing the Orchid pot on a tray full of pebbles and pouring water in that tray would be enough to provide the adequate humidity to the plant. These Orchid plants also need to be given regular fertilizers. A dilute solution of fertilizers is considered as the most beneficial for the Orchid plant. You need to mix the fertilizer in the water and feed the plant at least once in a month. Last but not the least, these Orchids require to be placed near a window for proper air circulation.
Butterfly Orchids are fun to grow at home or in the garden. By taking little care of them, you can enjoy having bright colored flowers every year.
