e-5th
Orchids can grow in almost all environments, and there are numerous types. Some are as small as a button. Others are seven meters high. Some produce flowers no bigger than an ant, others as large as a dinner plate.
Orchids require a daytime temperature between 13 and 32 degrees Celsius and a night-time temperature from 10 to 21 degrees Celsius. They are divided in three cultivation categories -- cold environment (night-time minimums around 10｡・), temperate (night-time minimums around 13-16｡・) and hot (night-time minimums between 18-21｡・). Many, though by no means all, common orchids can be cultivated indoors or with artificial lighting. Those capable of surviving in cold climates can be cultivated outdoors and do best in settings with slightly humid air.
Their natural habitats can be divided into four types, according to the types of growth. Many live up high on trees. They do not take anything from the host plant and do not cause damage. Others live on rocks. Still others live off of dead and decomposing elements in the forests. Finally, there are those that live in soil and sand.
They are not short-lived plants -- some species are practically "immortal" if they receive the required attention. Some orchids that were discovered in the 19th century are still growing and producing flowers even now. Some come from the jungle, but every part of the world, including Alaska, has its species of orchids. Some bloom once a year, others a few times a year, and still others continuously. Some attract insects with their smell. Orchids can be so fragrant that their perfume can be smelled in the entire greenhouse or home. Others have no fragrance and attract insects or birds with their shape or colors. Whatever the type, these beautiful flowering plants can add a touch of elegance to any setting.
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