AboutOrchids

February may be the shortest month, but it’s jammed-packed with orchid shows to enjoy. Don’t miss these opportunities to see amazing flowers, meet other orchid enthusiasts, and learn lots about growing fascinating plants.
February 4 – 8
Asociacion de Orquideologia de Quito Show, Itchimbia Cultural Center, Quito, Ecuador
February 5 – 8
Deep Cut Orchid Society Show, Dearborn Market, [...]

The Big Island of Hawaii has perfect growing conditions for many tropical orchids. One type frequently found there is Spathoglottis plicata, or the Philippine ground orchid. Unlike most commonly cultivated varieties, it’s a terrestrial, meaning that it grows in soil.

This orchid is native to a large area of south Asia, stretching from India through Thailand, [...]

I can’t think of any better way to escape the winter doldrums than to head to a warm and beautiful tropical paradise. Dave and I just returned home from such a place, the Big Island of Hawaii. We stayed at Art & Orchids Bed and Breakfast in Kea’au, south of Hilo. True to their word, [...]

While the rest of the country has been frozen, California is having a winter heatwave. Yesterday San Francisco set a new record high for the date at 74F (23C,) and there may be another record high today. Since I’m fortunate to live someplace with a mild climate, and I’m able to grow orchids outdoors all [...]

Dave and I decided to welcome the new year with a visit to Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park. The Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum has thousands of varieties of plants from all over the world. We didn’t see any orchids, but we enjoyed some of the other sites of the park.
First, there’s a beautiful [...]

Looking more like a hyacinth than an orchid, Arpophyllum giganteum has dense clusters of pretty purple blooms. This orchid can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, but needs cool nights in  winter in order to bloom. Here in San Francisco, I grow it outdoors all year with bright light and regular water. Its native habitat [...]