Archive for October, 2008

November Orchid Shows

Friday, October 31st, 2008

If an autumn chill already has you feeling blue, there is no better pick-me-up than lots of tropical and exotic orchid flowers. I suggest a visit to a local orchid show. Here is a sampling of November shows. November 1 – 2 Kansas Orchid Society Show, Botanica, the Wichita Gardens, 701 Amidon, Wichita, Kansas November […]

Ionocidium

Monday, October 27th, 2008

I’m  not quite sure what I did right to coax this Ionocidium into bloom, but I’m not complaining. This hybrid is a cross between 2 kinds of closely related orchids, an Ionopsis and an Oncidium. The lip of the flower is light yellow when it starts to open, and then turns white after a couple […]

World Land Trust

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Founded in 1989 in England, the World Land Trust (WLT) has been working to preserve the world’s most biologically important and threatened lands. So far, the WLT has saved over 375,000 acres (1518 square km) of wildlife habitats, including tropical forests, coastal steppes, and wetlands. Many of these habitats are orchid hot-spots, such as rainforests […]

Myoxanthus

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Say what? You don’t need to be able to pronounce Myoxanthus to enjoy its funky flowers. If you do want to pronounce it, say “MY-oh-zan-this,” rhymes with “try go Kansas.” This orchid is a relative of Masdevallias, and enjoys high humidity, cool temperatures, and constant air circulation. Its native home is Peru and Ecuador on […]

Warm October Days

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

San Francisco is often covered in chilly fog in the spring and summer, but warms up when the fog disappears in the fall. True to form, we’ve been having warm October days. Today the backyard thermometer reads 86 F (30 C.) The garden is enjoying this latest warm spell, and there are lots of orchids […]

Orchid Housekeeping

Monday, October 13th, 2008

It feels like an embarrassment of riches to say that some of my orchid flowers last so long that they get dusty. Under ideal conditions, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Epidendrum, and Cymbidium flowers can last for months, and dust can be a problem. Most orchid flowers can handle a gentle touch with clean hands or a clean […]

South African Orchid

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

If you saw this unusual Stenoglottis orchid growing in its native home in South Africa, and it wasn’t in bloom, you would probably think it was an ugly weed. If you saw it in bloom, though, I’d bet you would be amazed at its masses of dainty purple polka-dotted flowers with fringed lips. Stenoglottis longifolia […]

Healthy Orchid Roots

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Like all plants, orchids need a healthy root system to survive and thrive. At least once a year, orchids enter a growth cycle when they generate new roots. These new roots are light green at the tips, and turn white with time. As they age over several months, they may turn brown. Since orchids are […]

Easy Orchids

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

When people ask me to recommend a good book for basic orchid care, I usually suggest Easy Orchids: Simple Secrets for Glorious Gardens–Indoors and Out by Mimi Luebbermann. With clear writing, the author demystifies orchid care, explaining what you need, how to buy, and essential details for some common orchids. Her aim is to prove […]