There is a vining flower with a rustic, rustic beauty that can attract anyone who sees it – the garlic orchid. This flower is relatively easy to grow, easy to care for, and has many special meanings and uses. However, to grow this flower well, you need to have basic knowledge. In this article, let’s find out with iuHoa !

Garlic orchids

Garlic orchid, also known by many other names such as: pink flower , garlic flower, wistful flower,… scientific name is Pachyptera hymenaea , English name is Garlic Vine, Ajo Sacha, Wild Garlic or Amethyst Vine , is a plant species of the Bignoniaceae family, native to South America, found mainly in countries from Mexico to Brazil.

The garlic orchid is a climbing, bush-like plant, a perennial plant, with an average height of about 2 – 5m.

The stem of the garlic orchid turns woody when mature. The tree has many branches and branches. When growing, the tree produces many young branches. The branches of the garlic orchid are very long and have tendrils for climbing. Because it is a climbing flower, the canopy of the garlic orchid is quite small, with an average width of 10 – 15 cm.

Garlic orchids have a bell shape, the flower head is divided into 5 small petals. The flowers are pink and light purple in color, giving off a garlic scent but not too strong. The petals are soft and thin, with a slight shine.

Flowers grow in clusters, each cluster has up to 10 – 20 flowers.

Bunches of garlic orchids

Garlic orchids bloom very wrongly, growing in the leaf axils, forming many layers with beautiful, brilliant purple-pink tones. Garlic orchids often bloom after heavy rains in the summer. Although so beautiful and brilliant, garlic orchids are a bit easy to fall off and get crushed.

Although there are many flowers, we rarely see garlic orchids.

The leaves of garlic orchids are oblong in shape, green in color, the leaf base is shiny, thick and hard, the edges are whole, and there are clearly visible veins on the leaf surface. The last leaflets of the plant are often transformed into tendrils that help the garlic orchid cling to supports when climbing. Crush the leaves and they will have a strong garlic scent. Garlic orchids cannot stand the cold, so their leaves often fall in winter.

Images of garlic orchids through stages

The purple color of garlic orchids symbolizes fidelity and steadfastness in love and life. In addition, this is also a symbol of romance in love. Furthermore, people believe that flowers growing in clusters symbolize the spirit of solidarity and growing strong in life.

Garlic orchids are grown in families with the hope of bringing luck and fortune into the house, helping the homeowner in business.

Thanks to its garlic-like smell, many countries believe that this flower can neutralize bad luck and ward off evil spirits. They use garlic orchids for both display and decoration, while repelling bad elements such as disease and misfortune.

Specifically, many tribes in the Amazon region consider the garlic orchid to be a plant that brings luck and wards off evil spirits. They will often plant garlic orchids around the house or in front of the door. In addition, they also carry flowers with them on hunting trips to neutralize bad luck.

Garlic orchids are often planted at the gate of the house and have many meanings

Popular in decoration and landscaping

With gentle flower colors and many special meanings, garlic orchids are very popular in growing as decorative ornamental plants in the garden. With malleable characteristics, garlic orchids are often grown as vines in parks. Gardens, fences, and arches to enhance the landscape as well as welcome luck into the house.

In many cases, people often plant garlic orchids in combination with other vines to add color and make the house more eye-catching.

Garlic orchids are popular for growing on house walls

Garlic orchids are effective in repelling snakes

The special use of garlic orchids is to repel snakes. It is the strong scent of garlic that makes snakes stay away from this plant. That’s why many people plant this tree on fences to keep snakes and other dangerous insects out of the home area.

Curative effects

Parts of the garlic orchid plant have a neutral, sweet taste, and are often used to extract sedatives, kidney tonic, cooling, pain relief, anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the leaves of the plant are used to treat coughs, flu, colds and pneumonia. This is also one of the outstanding uses of garlic that we often encounter.

Method of growing garlic orchids

Prepare

If you grow in pots, you can buy pots of your choice or use discarded tools such as cement bags, pots, and styrofoam boxes. For this method of growing in pots, you need to make holes to allow the plant to easily drain water. . But usually, people plant garlic orchids in vacant lands in gardens and fences.

Garlic orchids easily live in many environments and many different soil types. But if you want the plant to grow quickly and produce many flowers, you should choose a soil environment that is fertile, rich in nutrients and has good drainage.

Soil environment for growing garlic orchids

Grow flower

Growing garlic orchids is generally quite simple, you just need to cut a piece of stem with 3 or more nodes. It’s best to choose small pieces of cake near the base, which are easiest to survive. You should choose branches that are 10 – 15cm long, neither too old nor too young.

Choose a place where the soil is moist but has adequate light. Dig a small hole about 10cm deep and as long as the seedling’s length, mix soil with organic fertilizer together, then plant the cut tree into the pre-dug hole and cover with soil.

In about 10 to 15 days, the plant will begin to take root and sprout. When sprouting, you need to create a barrier to prevent insects or animals from breaking it. At this stage, you need to pay attention to regular watering, shading and good care. After the tree grows about 15cm, equip the tree with a climbing trellis.

After the tree grows stably, pull it out and plant it in a place with good soil and lots of nutrients. You can improve the soil by loosening it and adding a little nitrogen + cow manure + organic fertilizer mixed together to create a fertile and ideal place for garlic orchids to grow. If planted in arid places lacking nutrients, the plant will wilt, and if there are flowers, they will fall off more quickly.

How to care for garlic orchids

When planting plants, you must choose a well-ventilated and well-drained place as well as have enough light to create the most suitable conditions for them to grow faster.

In the dry season, the plant should be watered every 2-3 days. In the rainy season, there is no need to provide additional water to the plant.

Fertilize the tree monthly or at least every 3 months. You should increase fertilization and nutrients for the tree after each pruning so that the tree can grow best. Types of fertilizers that can be used include organic fertilizers, manure, and NPK fertilizers.

If planting in pots, change pots to plant garlic flowers depending on the size of the plant at each stage, on average about 2 – 3 years. You should choose a suitable time, such as spring with a warm climate. Then add fertilizer to help the plant grow stably. During the long rainy season, you should move the tree under the eaves or on the balcony, while reducing watering and placing the tree in a well-ventilated place.

In winter, the tree falls into a dormant state, so the branches are softer and lose a lot of leaves, so more care is needed during this time.

Tree pruning is also quite important. But during the flowering stage, the plant’s growth rate decreases, so you should not prune the plant too much. This will affect the growth of new shoots and flowering of the plant. Therefore, only prune trees when pests are present.