Meet the Tacámbaro Orchidarium: the most exotic version of a botanical garden

Tacámbaro, as a magical village, is a place surrounded with mysticism and unforgettable places, churches dating from the sixteenth century with great cultural and historical value, it is also a territory of important eco-tourist stops with no equal, for example: “La Laguna” (the Lagoon), site recommended for water sports and having the best picnic lunches; “La Alberca” (The Pool), body of water formed within the crater of a volcano; “El Cerro Hueco”, transformed into an area for sports and having fun; There is also the beautiful “Cascada de Santa Paula” (waterfall of Santa Paula), valuable for its pure nature.
 
Besides these places not jet intervened by the human hand, Tacámbaro keeps part of its natural wealth in a botanical garden specialized in cultivation, preservation and exhibition of orchids, monocotyledonous plants that stand out for the complexity, variety and beauty of their flowers, as well as their variety of sizes and aromas.
 
Among the flowers cultivated by the Quinta Sauz hotel orchidarium, there are four main types for exhibition:
 

• Oncidium: Also known as “oreja de burro” (donkey’s ear). It is a species that grows naturally in almost every type of ecosystem and develops on the bark of trees. Its flowering is small sized and opens in large groups. It has a brown coloration (yellow with purple spots on the petals).
• Encyclia Adenocaula: Common name “trompillos”, its flowers have a very soft and pleasant aroma. It is a small orchid that develops easily in climates that vary between fresh and warm, on the bark and the branches of the trees.
• Laelia Autumnalis: Known as “flor de los muertos” (the flower of the dead) because it blossoms on “día de muertos” (day of the dead), but also known as the flower of the animas and San Francisco lily, it grows on tree barks and its bloom is a small star shape.
• Oncidium Pavorreal: Not a very demanding orchid, it adapts very easily at home. They develop in places with little direct sunlight and good ventilation; they live on branches and trunks of trees taking advantage of them as support.

 
Likewise, the orchidarium has a second module with eleven varieties of hybrid orchids for sale:

• Vanda: Most of them grow on the bark of trees. It is characterized by aerial roots with fleshy texture that develop strongly to provide nutrients to the plant. Their roots have small pores for absorbing moisture and dissolved nutrients. Its flowering is developed by rods of 8 flowers approximately.
• Phaleapnosis: Also known as “orqídea mariposa” (butterfly orchid), it comes from the most popular and commercialized family of orchids. They grow on the bark of trees. They have up to 6 large, fleshy green leaves that play an important role in the life of the plant as they constitute true water and nutrient storages. Its flowering is given by branches with large numbers of flowers.
• Phiopedilum: Known as “zapatilla de la dama” (Lady’s Shoe), these flowers are terrestrial plants that rarely grow on trees. The shape and beauty of its flowers are its main characteristic. Their flowering is one of great duration if maintained in suitable places and can last up to two months.
• Cattleya: It also grows on the bark of trees. Its flowering develops on the bulbs which have a fleshy appearance like its leaves. The plant uses these two means, along with its root, for the uptake of moisture and nutrients.
• The flower of the cattleya, compared to other species, has a large size, is very colorful and the petals and sepals are generally the same color, while the labellum is usually a different color. One characteristic that makes it very distinctive from the great majority of orchids is the perfume of its flowers.
• Odontoclidium: This genus is also popularly known as “la dama danzante” (the dancing lady). The plant grows several flowers with different branches and a multitude of flowers of relatively small size. They originate in the tropics of the American continent and grow on branches and tree trunks.
• Cymbidium: Named “orquídeas barco” (ship orchids) because of the shape of the flower, they are native to Asia and appreciated for their shape. Also for the duration of the flower. Its flowering can last up to 10 weeks. This plant can adapt to terrestrial environment.
• Dendrobium: The main characteristic of this orchid is the pseudobulbs that protrude from the ground and nourish the plant all year long. This plant shows great beauty when it opens up its flowers and become surrounded by their color.
• Dendrobium Nobile Rosa and Dendrobium Nobile Blanca: These two orchids, which share some characteristics, are appreciated for the beauty of their flowers and for their use as decoration. They are often used for making flower arrangements. They are originated in Asia and develop mainly in the bark of trees because they feed on them. They can also develop on rocks or less frequently on land. They lose all their leaves when they are in vegetative period.
• Vanilla Planifolia: An orchid whose flowering is used in the kitchen and in the manufacture of perfumes. It is a climbing plant that emits a large number of aerial roots used for getting on top of trees and finding the light it needs. It originates in the tropical areas of México and Paraguay.
• Empidenrum: Also known as “espíritu santo” (Holy Spirit). It is characterized by a large number of very tiny but very complex inflorescences. It can withstand a great temperature difference compared to other species and grow outdoors.
 
The climate of Tacámbaro favors the cultivation of all these species in one of the best orchidariums in the region. Do you know all these species? Enjoy one of the most exotic flower families of nature and one of the best spaces for natural conservation. Discover first hand why our garden has no comparison.