Divine queen of flowers - lady's slipper
Who would not agree that orchids are one of the most unusual flowers on earth. Especially admirable is the lady's slipper. Interestingly, as long as the plant does not bloom, it does not draw attention to itself. But when the buds begin to open, graceful masterpieces appear against the background of green leaves. Each of them miraculously reflects the wisdom and creativity of the Creator.
When you look at the lady's slipper, you involuntarily notice the original combination of pretentiousness with subtle grace. Unusual gradation of shades smoothly passes one into another. Some species are embellished with delicate stripes and spots that resemble an intricate sketch. Often you want to take and give someone a charming divine flower.
See what exist types of orchids with photos!
Looking at the plant from the side
Thanks to the painstaking work of fans of an exotic flower, today there are many of its species. Caught under the patronage of flower growers, orchids thrive far from their homeland. Over the past few years, many hybrid varieties have been bred that are not inferior in beauty to their ancient relatives.
A graceful flower - a lady's slipper, a photo and description of which lead caring people to extraordinary delight, is truly beautiful. It has a bizarre shape that resembles an elegant shoe. For such an unusual shape, the orchid is sometimes called cuckoo shoes, Adam's grass or Mary's shoes. In nature, the flower grows on the islands of southern Asia, in European countries and even in Siberia. The unearthly beauty of the flower has prompted many gardeners of the past to dig it out of its natural environment to grow it in front gardens. This led to the degeneration of the plant. To preserve what is left, the lady's slipper orchid was listed in the Red Book.
The flower is considered a perennial plant. The leaves are characterized by the following shades:
- light greens;
- dark tones;
- grayish or marble options.
The length of the leaf plate reaches 30 cm.In general, it is similar to lily of the valley leavesbut thicker and fleshy. Usually one rosette produces a peduncle about 40 cm in height. It can be single-flowered or multi-flowered. The buds can be up to 12 cm in diameter and are varied in color. It is quite difficult to describe in words what a lady's slipper looks like, it is much easier to see it in the photo.
Generally speaking, the plant has a straight stem 60 cm high. 3 or 4 folded leaves extend from it. The buds are petals and sepals gathered together, which form a miniature sac. It also resembles a lady's shoe. Above him hang, like ribbons, original stipules.
Depending on the type and place where the lady's slipper grows, the flowering time changes. The plant loves bright diffused light or moderate partial shade. The optimum temperature for active growth ranges from 8 to 30 degrees.
If you plant a lady's slipper in an outdoor garden, it will bloom only after 15 long years. Although it retains its properties for about 30 years.
The secret of the unusual name is revealed
When you look at the fancy buds of a delicate orchid, you involuntarily wonder: where does this name come from - the lady's slipper. Interesting facts show that the secret lies in ancient legends.
Once the Roman goddess Venus went hunting with her beloved Adonis. It started to rain quite unexpectedly. To hide from him, they went into a cave, where it was dry and warm. The goddess threw her wet shoes at the entrance and was carried away by communication with Adonis. At this time, a poor peasant passed by. Seeing the beautiful shoes, he wanted to take them for himself. But as soon as he touched them, they turned into graceful flowers. He realized that the gods were hiding in the cave. Having thrown the orchids near the cave, he left. Since then, Venus shoes of various colors and shades have been growing on the earth. Of course, this story was made up by people, but the beautiful name matches the original colors.
The adorable varieties of the divine plant
It is incredibly difficult to imagine the planet Earth without a variety of colors. Life would be dull and not interesting if there weren't cute orchids around. Therefore, new varieties of the divine flower appear. Here is some of them.
Lady's slipper is real
The original plant grows up to half a meter in height. It has a short and strong rhizome, which consists of 2 internodes. It grows adventitious roots about 30 cm long. On the flower stem, short hairs of a glandular nature are visible. Elliptical leaf plates, alternate. They are slightly pointed and hairy at the edges. They grow up to 18 cm in length.
This lady's slipper is distinguished by its original buds. The perianth leaves are colored red or brown, which is harmoniously combined with a yellowish swollen lip.
Stemless type of shoe
This species is distinguished by terrestrial shoots with two oblong leaves about 20 cm in length. The bud is on a 35 cm high peduncle. Usually it is large in size and has a pleasant aroma. Blooms in spring or early June.
California lady's slipper
The flower grows up to 80 cm in height. On a strong stem there are 4 leaves 10 cm long. They are oval in shape, with sharp tips. The buds are composed of several small flowers. In general, they look very funny.
Large-flowered species
The variety is characterized by a short, thick rhizome, on which filamentous winding roots grow. Brown shoes are located at the base of the 45 cm stem. The leaves usually reach 15 cm in length and about 8 cm in width. The lady's slipper has an intricate coloring due to different shades of purple.
Secrets of flowering lady's shoe - video
Grow a divine flower in your own home
Recently, many connoisseurs of exotic flowers have been growing orchids at home. They began to appear everywhere on the windows of private houses and apartments, striking in their beauty. Despite their capricious disposition, they take root well indoors. And in gratitude for the thorough care at home, the lady's slipper orchids will give a bouquet of beautiful flowers.
In order for the plant to actively develop, it is important to choose the right place for it. The main condition is diffused light. In principle, this goal can be achieved on any window.
As practice shows, a plant needs light for at least 14 hours a day. Therefore, in winter, it is advisable to use artificial lighting.
The lady's slipper orchid requires regular watering. It should be the same throughout the year. Before watering the plant, the water is settled and filtered. It is better to slightly warm it up so as not to harm the flower. Pour the liquid gently into the root area of the orchid, trying to avoid getting water on the leaves.If this happens, it will lead to their death.
Some color lovers moisten the flower soil in a different way. They immerse the pot in a container of warm water for a while. When the soil has absorbed moisture, remove and put on a pallet. After a while, drain the excess water. When the soil is noticeably dry, you can perform this procedure again.
Depending on the type of soil in the pot, the time of this moisture will be different. With peat, 15 minutes is enough to completely feed the soil. If there are large pieces of bark in the substrate, it is best to hold the flower in water for about 40 minutes.
Since the lady's slipper loves stable moisture, it is advisable to create it artificially. For this, a humidifier is placed near the flower. You can also put a layer of wet moss and expanded clay on the pallet in which the orchid stands. Stable moisture for the shoe is provided.
Like any living plant, the divine flower needs feeding. For this, it is better to use special fertilizers. They are diluted with water, in accordance with the instructions and watered monthly.
I wonder what such orchids there are also frost-resistant varieties. They successfully take root in flower beds. They are planted in shaded areas, even under deciduous trees. Drainage in the form of gravel or broken bricks is added to the soil. Water the exotic plant in moderation. By following these simple rules of caring for the artsy queen of flowers, you can surround yourself with a whole garden of orchids.