In this article, we would like to share with you some interesting facts about the most valuable orchid in the world that you would love to know about: Shenzhen Nongke orchid. Orchids are indeed a fascinating topic, especially for plant lovers, who never get bored of talking about them.
Orchids have an elegance and beauty that no one can deny. There are some orchids that can surprise you both in their beauty and in their price tag. Shenzhen Nongke orchid is an ideal example of them.
What is Shenzhen Nongke orchid?
Among the family of Orchidacea, the Shenzhen Nongke orchid is well known for its precious beauty. This is the first and most expensive genetically modified man-made orchid. In fact, you won’t be able to see Shenzhen orchids in abundance since only a few people can afford them.
This is one reason why this Shenzhen orchid is extremely rare. Once every 4 to 5 years, Shenzhen Nongke orchid blooms . The flowers of the orchid are unique and delicate. The petals and sepals of the flower are yellow with a burgundy labellum. You will be surprised to hear that if this orchid is well tended under optimal environmental conditions, it will live for 100 years or more.
Why is the Shenzhen Nongke orchid so expensive?
The Shenzhen Nongke orchids’ price is really jaw-dropping. This orchid is extremely expensive, not only because of its stunning beauty but also due to the time and intense effort it took to create and the rarity of the orchid. Since this orchid is not naturally occurring, and it is extraordinarily rare.
Even Shenzhen Nongke orchids may not be seen among the plant collections of most dedicated orchid enthusiasts. This orchid was recognized as the most expensive orchid in 2005. In 2005, when the orchid was put up for auction, an anonymous bidder bought this orchid flower for £160,000, making it the most expensive flower ever sold. One plant of Shenzhen Nongke orchid now costs over $200,000.
Who developed the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid flower and where was it made?
As mentioned earlier, the Shenzhen Nongke orchid is not a gift from nature. This orchid was a result of an extensive research study conducted by a group of agricultural scientists at a university in China. The orchid, Shenzhen Nongke, is named after the University of Shenzhen Nongke, where the orchid was developed. It has taken almost 8 years to create these exquisite and luxury orchids, making them even more precious.
How long does Shenzhen Nongke Orchid last?
Typically, Shenzhen Nongke orchid flowers last from 6 weeks to several months under excellent care. However, the flower stem should not be damaged in any way to preserve the vibrant flowers to their fullest.
How to grow a Shenzhen Nongke Orchid?
Shenzhen orchids, like other plants, have their own set of requirements for optimal growth and development. The most important elements that govern orchid growth are light, water, temperature, humidity, and availability of nutrients.
Light
Shenzhen Nongke orchid, like other orchids, prefers indirect bright light for the best performance. Thus, when the orchid is grown indoors the plant should be placed near windows as it receives plenty of light. However, it is crucial to use sheer curtains if the plant is determined to spot on the windowsills.
Alternatively, the plant can be placed about a few steps away from the sunny window to protect it from the harsh sunlight. The orchid should never be exposed to the direct sun as it can scorch the leaves and thereby seriously hurt the plant.
Obviously, we are often used to keeping the plants near a window to ensure they’re getting enough light. Anyway, the location of the window can have a huge impact on the orchid’s performance. Southern-facing and west-facing windows are not very suitable for spotting your orchids.
In sunny climates, especially during the summer and spring, through such types of windows, plants may get exposed to strong sunlight, making the plant unnecessarily stressed. In such situations, the orchid will stunt its growth. For this reason, north-facing and east-facing windows are ideal to keep the orchid plant nearby.
Water
When it comes to irrigation, the plant is supposed to be watered once per week as long as the growing substrate is dry. Daily watering of the orchid is not necessary. Wait until the growing medium becomes dry before watering the orchid again. Too much water will put the orchid at risk of root rot, which will cause serious damage to the plant.
Here, excess water can interfere with the nourishment of the plant and cause leaves to droop. If this happened you would lose the most precious and highly rare orchid plant on the planet within a short period of time! If you are not sure when to water the orchid, simply feel the wetness of the potting mix. If you feel it is damp, the orchid is probably not thirsty.
When the potting mix is dry, irrigate the plant by submerging it in water for a few minutes or placing a few ice cubes on the potting mix.
Temperature
This orchid prefers warm temperatures (between 60 to 80 degrees) to thrive. Anyway, for the sake of a happy and healthy orchid plant, the plant should not be placed near heater vents, air conditioners or any form of heat radiator.
Humidity
In fact, orchids are native to rainforests. There they grow in a moist environment. So, no matter what the species is, it is essential to mimic such a natural environment for the indoor orchid plants too. Well, Shenzhen Nongke is not a naturally occurring orchid but is a man-made orchid.
Yet, it needs an environment like the other orchids in its family for the best growth. Maintaining a damp environment in the plant’s surroundings is advisable. During arid climates, you can enhance the humidity level around the plant with a humidifier, water tray, or misting the plant.
Fertilizers
There is no doubt that you should feed your plants with a rich diet in order to see their fullest execution. The orchid plant consistently absorbs nutrient elements from its growth medium, so the nutrient reservoirs will be depleted over time unless you replenish them.
The use of fertilizers is the most efficient way to accomplish this. There are a lot of fertilizers on the market that are especially formulated for orchids. You can apply these fertilizers to your orchid weekly or as recommended by the manufacturer to favor its growth and development.
Can you propagate Shenzhen Nongke Orchid?
Yes, absolutely you can propagate Shenzhen Nongke Orchids at home. As this orchid is valuable, the division and the use of seeds is the best way to propagate it. Propagation of orchids from seeds is a time consuming process so patience is highly required.
Seeds may take a minimum 2 years to emerge into a new plant. Furthermore, to grow into a matured plant that is ready to bloom, the seeds would take nearly 4 to 8 years.
In addition, there is supposed to be a highly sterile environment for the seeds to germinate. Creating such a sterile environment in your home might be somewhat tricky, but feasible to do. Microbial invasion, including bacteria, fungi or algae is the major threat of orchid seed germination.
Thus, it is essential to take steps to expel them from your working space of the seed propagation. Propagation via division is comparatively simpler, than it is from seeds. Even a beginner can do this with the proper instructions.
It involves separating the orchid rhizome. Propagation by division should only be done when the orchid plant is healthy and it is not blooming. You should use a healthy adult orchid plant with ample pseudo bulbs or canes for the propagation.
These canes or pseudo bulbs can be separately planted in suitable growth media to get individual orchid plants. To wrap up, Shenzhen Nongke, a man-made orchid, is exquisitely rare and expensive. Thus, especially for orchid lovers, having this unique and wonderful orchid in the houseplant collection would be a prestige. Gifting such a valuable orchid will tell all about the love, care, and affection for the recipient.
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