Diseases and Orchids

Author: Orchid Geeks

Article: Orchids, despite their delicate appearance and reputation, are quite hardy plants that are resistant to diseases and pests - as long as they have the right growing conditions. Your best defense against the diseases and pests that affect orchids is to make sure that you keep humidity, light, temperature and ventilation levels within the optimal levels for the orchids you're growing.

Water problems are one of the key causes of problems that affect orchids. Standing water on the leaves or around the roots can encourage root rot and invite bacteria and fungi to attack the plant. Controlling the humidity level around your orchids can help prevent many of the most common pest infestations and diseases that damage and kill orchids.

Spider mites, mealy worms and scale are insect pests that are attracted to orchids. Many orchid enthusiasts recommend a monthly spraying with an insecticide like orthene or Malathion to discourage infestation. Carefully wiping leaves with a soft, soapy cloth will also help remove pests and bacteria that may cause orchid diseases and injury, <a href=""http://www.orchidgeeks.com"">orchid care </a>

Bacteria and viral infections can take hold in one orchid and spread to others. If you notice black sooty fungus, brown or black spots of decay on leaves or flowers, or broken discoloration on leaves or stems of your orchids, they may be harboring a fungus, bacteria or virus. While most fungi and bacterial infections are treatable, an orchid infected with a virus can't be cured - and should be burned to prevent the spread of the virus to any other orchids in your home.

To prevent the spread of virus and bacteria, practice good plant hygiene. Sterilize any cutting blades or instruments between plants to avoid carrying disease from one plant to another.

About the author: OrchidGeeks.com is a leading authority in orchid information, http://www.orchidgeeks.com Join a community of fellow orchid enthusiasts today!

Japanese Gardens vs. Western Gardens

Author: Abbey Terreno

Article:

<B><A HREF=""http://www.completelandscapedesign.com/japanese_garden.html "">Japanese Gardens </A>vs Western Gardens</B>

Japanese gardens can be found at Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines but they are finding their way into many famous western landmarks such as the Japanese Tea Gardens in San Franciso, California and the Chicago Botanic Garden. These beautiful gardens are also popular in private homes.

<b>What is the difference between a Japanese garden and a Western garden?</b>

The Western garden usually has more of a utilitarian purpose. The Japanese garden is intended to represent nature.

The Western garden may use a variety of colors, such as in a floral border. The Japanese garden focuses mainly on the color green with trees and shrubs providing a subtle variety of shades. If color is used at all, it is usually in a solid block.

Western gardens often have large trees along with smaller shrubs that may have been trimmed into geometric shapes. Japanese gardens like to train plants and trees to try and capture the essential shape of the plant.

Most Western gardeners tend to employ a 50-50 symmetrical balance with a central focus point. Japanese gardens have a 60-40 or 70-30 balance and the focal point is never in the center of the garden.

While both Western and Japanese gardens use water, stone and other garden elements, the Western gardens typically feature fountains, benches and statuary that are meant to stand out against the natural background. The Japanese gardens will contain rustic stone, lanterns, water basins and bamboo fences which blend in with their natural surroundings.

Whether for viewing from a path or for sitting in contemplation, the Japanese garden will provide a beautiful Eastern oasis to the hurried Western world.

About the author: Abbey Terreno loves to share her extensive knowledge on gardening and landscape design. See more of her articles at http://www.completelandscapedesign.com.

Where Orchids Originally Came From

Author: Orchid Geeks

Article: Where did orchids originate? One may as well ask where man originated, for like man, the ubiquitous orchid is found on nearly every continent in nearly every climate. Also like man, the orchid has a myriad varieties and forms - so many that one botanist has stated, ""There is no such thing as a typical orchid.""

There are over 30,000 varieties of orchid not including manmade hybrids. Most people think of orchids as tropical plants, but there are mentions of orchids in Chinese writings as early as 500 B.C. In the Western world, the Greek botanist Theophrastus mentioned Orchis in manuscripts around 300 B.C. An Aztec herbal dating from the 1600s mentions vanilla, a type of orchid. From Egypt to the Americas, from the South Seas to the mountains of Switzerland, there are native varieties of orchids that grow in the woods, the rain forests, the mountains and even the seashore.

The modern day history of orchid cultivation, however, begins in the 1880s when William Cattley of England received a shipment of ornamental plants from the Brazilian jungles. The plants were packed in bulbs of another plant for protection, and out of curiosity, Cattley placed one of those plants into his glass house (what we now call a greenhouse). That plant was the Cattleya labiata orchid - the plant that most people think of as the 'orchid'.

Some of the most enchanting members of the orchid family are far less showy. The delicate lady slipper and brightly colored Calypso fairy slipper are found in the Northern woods from New England through Canada, and the Thai spider (bulbophyllum medusae) with its mane of 'hair' grows in the lowlands of Thailand. To learn more about orchids and other plants please visit www.orchidgeeks.com

About the author: OrchidGeeks.com is a leading authority in orchid information, http://www.orchidgeeks.com Join a community of fellow orchid enthusiasts today!