AboutOrchids

If you’re in London, there’s still one more day to catch the Chelsea Flower Show. It’s not an orchid show, but it is the most famous flower show in the world. Among the roses and royals, there are lots of orchids. In fact, the Royal Horticultural Society has proclaimed an “Orchid Bonanza” at this year’s […]

With spectacular white blooms and a sweet scent, this Angraecum offers an elegant display. This species is native to the Comoros Islands and Madagascar. It’s easy to see its similarities with orchid relatives like Darwin’s Orchid, Jumellea, and Oeoniella. All have star-shaped white flowers, and produce rich fragrances at night to attract moth pollinators. Those […]

Some varieties of orchids need direct morning sun to grow well and bloom. Morning sun is better than afternoon sun because the afternoon sun is usually hotter, and also dries the air more. Dry air can stress orchid plants. They can make better use of the cooler morning sun for photosynthesis. For the same reason, […]

No, it’s not a sequel to The Orchid Thief, just some encouraging news that a “Rare British orchid gets police protection from overzealous collectors.” The rare orchid is a Lady Slipper species which still exists in other parts of Europe, but this is the last wild specimen of its kind in Britain. It’s under police […]

Along with a striking Ghost Orchid, there were some wonderful blooms at last weekend’s Orchid Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania Show in an Erie ice rink. Since I advise against mixing orchids with ice, you’ll be happy to know that the skating ice was covered, and the ice rink was room temperature. Orchids on display, like […]

A blooming Ghost Orchid is a very rare sight, so imagine my surprise when I spotted this beautiful specimen in an ice rink. Made famous with the bestselling book The Orchid Thief and the movie Adaptation, Ghost Orchids are rare in the wild, tough to grow, and uncommon in cultivation. It’s the holy grail for […]

Motherhood can bring many joys to one’s life, but an orchid gift for Mother’s Day may feel a little daunting. Sure, it’s a beautiful token of appreciation, but if your maternal instincts cause you to fret about its care, that orchid may cause you some anxiety. Take a deep breath and relax. Caring for orchids is much easier than caring for children. With […]

With a bewildering variety of orchid choices for Mother’s Day, it helps to know some basics. Commonly sold orchids have varying charms and care needs, and you wanna pick what mama’s gonna like. For example, if mom likes bright colors, you might try Phals, or Moth Orchids. They can delight with weeks or even months […]

Masdevallias come in many magnificent forms, but few inspire more superlatives than Masdevallia coccinea. Its large flowers sit atop stems up to 2 ft. (60  cm) tall. There are numerous natural color varieties, like eye-catching red, purple, orange, yellow, white, or in this case, hot pink. This form also has a contrasting yellow throat. This […]

Orchid shows take place in every corner of the globe this month, so it’s a great time to grab an orchid fix. Many are perfectly timed on the second weekend of May for Mother’s Day. The schedule will slow down next month, since summer heat complicates orchid logistics in the Northern Hemisphere. You can buy […]