How to cultivate Vanda orchids
Summary: This article introduces the topic of how to cultivate Vanda orchids and the methods of growing them. Corrections are welcome if there are any mistakes!
Not all plants are born with Chinese names. With the exchange of cultures, an increasing number of plants with transliterated names have entered our vision—such as "Jasmine," "Cocoa," "Carnation," and "Passion Fruit." Many plants' transliterated names are very distinctive and can be considered a form of recreation. However, my favorite remains "Huji flower."
An exotic orchid from foreign lands
Vanda (Vanda) is a major family in the orchid kingdom, with over 70 native species. It is distributed in some tropical regions of Asia, Oceania, and South America, as well as in Yunnan, Guangdong, Hainan, and Taiwan in China. The varieties currently sold in the market are hybrid improved ones, which are numerous.
An exotic orchid from foreign lands
"Huji flower" is a transliteration of the English name for orchids, "orchid," in the Minnan dialect. Although it is not used in mainland China, the term "Huji" carries a strong exotic feel and has underlying meanings of extraordinary beauty. This translation from Southeast Asian Chinese is indeed clever.
The reason for abandoning the name "Huji flower" is that orchid plants have been cultivated in China for a long time, and the major "national orchids" such as Chun, Hui, Jian, Mo, and Han have already occupied an extremely important position in Chinese cultural life.
How to cultivate Vanda orchids
A magical plant that grows "suspended in the air"
The name "Vanda" is actually a transliteration, derived from the generic name "Vanda" of this type of orchid. If we continue to trace the etymology, this generic name comes from the Urdu language in the Indian region, which means something like "attached to a big tree." As the meaning of its generic name suggests, Vanda is a typical epiphytic orchid. In fact, most orchid species are epiphytic. They can completely脱离 soil, thriving on other plants or soilless rocks.
Friends who enjoy growing orchids must understand that many ornamental orchids cannot be planted in ordinary soil due to their epiphytic habits. Their roots have evolved to have more complex functions to meet the growth needs of orchids.
For example, Vanda's roots are no longer thin but have become thick and fleshy. This is because the actual roots of Vanda are surrounded by a layer of absorbent tissue similar to a sponge. Within the cells of this tissue, there are many capillary channels that can absorb moisture from the humid air; the cells in the sponge tissue contain chloroplasts, allowing the exposed roots to perform photosynthesis in the sunlight; and in the outer sponge tissue, there are a large number of symbiotic bacteria that can fix nitrogen from the air to meet the plant's nutrient needs.
Vanda's roots are extremely developed, eliminating the need for soil. Living on the top of trees, Vanda has evolved extraordinary stems and leaves. Vanda's leaves are not broad but long and narrow. Both the front and back of the leaves have a thick waxy layer to protect the internal moisture.
Under epiphytic conditions, orchid roots cannot directly absorb water from the soil, so they must "save water" instead of "creating a new source." Ensuring that the hard-earned water is not lost becomes a top priority. This has even led to the development of a new type of photosynthesis, different from ordinary plants, known as Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM).