Here are more orchid-growing tips (continued from my last post)...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Although the flowers differ in their insect-attracting characteristics, there is one feature common to all: the insect must always pass the empty receptive stigmatic cavity first, thus depositing his load of pollen before feeding and picking up more pollen.
In most of the flowers the exaggerated labellum twists from normal to flatten out and form a welcome mat to the feast within.
After pollination, this mat is lifted or twisted back to normal to prevent further intrusion.
The ovary lies just behind the column and part-way down the stem.
After pollination the male pollen cells travel down a long passage to fertilize the waiting egg.
This requires a period of twenty-four hours or longer, and sometimes fails entirely.
If fertilization has taken place, the ovary begins to swell and the fruit or seed pod begins to form below the flower.
Maturation will require from nine to eighteen months, depending on the species.
Seeds require five to seven years or more to produce blooming plants, although some of the so-called 'botanicals' may require less.
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I'll post more orchid care tips soon!
- Sara
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