AboutOrchids

Vanilla prices have been so high that some Madagascan farmers are getting rich. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries. It’s also the world’s leading vanilla grower, producing about 80% of all vanilla beans. With the influx of cash from this valuable orchid crop, farmers are buying nicer homes, better farming equipment, and solar panels. They’re also funding schools and community organizations, and diversifying local economies to prepare for a day when vanilla prices go down. The money has brought problems, too, like increased crime. Thieves steal beans from the vines, and a lack of banks in the area leads to people hiding cash in mattresses. But the benefits are outweighing the problems, as vanilla farmers are able to leave poverty and hunger behind, and have hope for the future.

It’s always a pleasure to see orchids growing happily in the wild. During a recent family hike in Colorado’s San Juan National Forest, we spotted a couple of native orchid varieties. The first three rows of photos show the charming Goodyera oblongifolia, or Western Rattlesnake Plaintain. It’s named for its reticulated leaves which resemble snakeskin. Among these small patches of plants, the patterns were most noticeable on the newest leaves. A prominent white stripe remained in the middle of the older leaves. These orchids were finishing up their blooms, with a few small, white flowers at the tops of their spikes. Lots of seedpods were forming below.

The final row of photos shows seedpods from what was probably a Coralroot, or Corallorhiza orchid. Coralroots are strange plants which have no leaves, but instead feed off fungi in the ground. They only appear above ground when they flower and fruit. My guess is that these plants are one of two species that are native to the area, either the Striped Coral Root, Corallorhiza striata, or the Spotted Coral Root, Corallorhiza maculata. Since the flowers were gone by late summer, it’s tough to distinguish them from only their red seedpods. To see more native Colorado species, check out my earlier post with photos of the Fairy Slipper Orchid and Bog Orchid.

Radio New Zealand exposes a tale of botanical deceit. Corybas, also known as Spider Orchids, are strange little plants which inhabit the New Zealand forest floor. Humans can’t smell their mushroom-scented blooms, but fungus gnats can. They’re tricked into pollinating the flowers. To study how that works, orchid researcher Carlos Lehnebach converted his bathtub into an experimental greenhouse. He’s discovered that a single species of orchid is, in reality, five separate species. He’s also found that each one has a slightly different scent, and attracts a different type of fungus gnat. Check out the short video below to see the flowers and insect.

September is busy with orchid events around the globe, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Don’t miss these great opportunities to enjoy incredible flowers, take photos, talk to fellow orchid lovers, and buy plants.

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With Hurricane Dorian barrelling towards landfall, Motes Orchids in Florida offers helpful info about how to prepare orchids for a big storm. Their tips include:

• Keep orchids dry, then saturate them several hours before the storm. The water adds weight to the pots, which may keep them from blowing away. It also prepares plants in case water supplies are disrupted in the following days.
• Bring plants indoors or down to lower locations. Don’t keep them directly on the ground where flood waters may damage them.
• Tarps and shade cloths are usually useless against hurricane-strength winds. Remove or retract them, and replace after the storm.
• It’s possible that trees and other protective shading will be gone, so make plans to protect orchids from the strong post-hurricane sun.

I’ve sorted through more photos from last month’s Orchids in the Park event in San Francisco, and it’s easy to see why I always rave about it. With thousands of flowers, it’s a veritable feast for the eyes, nose, and mind. The vast orchid family provides a constant new supply of wonders, even for those of us who’ve been immersed in them for a long time. Check out my first set of photos in this previous post.

The International Odontoglossum Alliance (IOA) is a great resource for everyone who loves this family of cool growing orchids. Odontoglossums, called Odonts for short, are native to high elevations in the Andes. There are many popular varieties like the species and hybrid in the photos above. Foggy climates, like the San Francisco Bay Area, suit them well. The IOA aims to educate orchid growers and support conservation measures to protect these beautiful blooms. Find helpful info about growing Odonts and the IOA’s newsletters in English and Spanish on their website. Membership is free and open to all who are interested in these cool orchids.

Orchids are not just denizens of the tropics; they live almost everywhere in the world. Even the high elevations of Colorado’s Four Corners region host many native species. Two of them are shown here: the Fairy Slipper, or Calypso bulbosa, and the Bog Orchid, or Platanthera. My mother-in-law took these photos in early July while she was hiking in the Colorado Plateau.

Fairy Slippers are native to Canada, the northern USA, northern Europe, and northern Asia. They’re some of the most colorful little orchids in their cool forests, with bright pink, yellow, and white blossoms.

I’m not sure which type of Bog Orchid shows in the final five pictures because they mostly have buds, and not many flowers are open. There are several species of Platanthera local to the area, and they can be tough to distinguish. They lack the charming colors of the Fairy Slippers, but have tall clusters of small, fascinating blooms. For a detailed look at native Colorado varieties, check out the North American Native Orchid Journal.

Photos courtesy of Brenda Hogue.

Head to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney this week to see a native Australian orchid in its full splendor. Dendrobium teretifolium is sometimes called the Rat’s Tail Orchid because of its long, skinny leaves. However, when it bursts into bloom, it earns another nickname, the Bridal Veil Orchid, with cascades of creamy white flowers. The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney harbors an exceptional old specimen hanging off a fig tree near its Palm House. The garden is open daily from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm during August.

Orchids in the Park is San Francisco’s summer orchid show, and it’s always full of delights. At last month’s event, I heard many visitors gasping in wonder as they walked though the front door. Everyone from novices to experts could find something to marvel at. The weird and wonderful flowers in this post were only a few of the amazing sights. Check back soon for more photos.