Archive for December, 2012

January Orchid Shows

Monday, December 31st, 2012

Orchid shows welcome the new year with the best of the orchid world. Many shows are in tropical and subtropical areas with conducive climates, but lots of northern locales offer these events as respites from winter. Orchids bring some tropical warmth to Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, the UK, France, and Germany. January 5 North […]

How Orchid Care Differs From Other Houseplants

Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

Orchids amaze and inspire, but they also intimidate many gardeners. As flowering houseplants, orchids share basic care needs with other plants, like light, water, and fertilizer. However, as air plants, orchid care differs in a few important ways. Watering – Some other plants can tolerate light waterings, but orchids need thorough soakings. Even dormant orchids […]

Orchid Apocalypse

Friday, December 21st, 2012

With today’s change of season, it seems appropriate to take an apocalyptic tone. While the latest end-of-the-world fad will pass with tomorrow’s sunrise, many plant and animal species are facing the real thing.  Climate change has begun, a danger not only to orchids, but to every species on the planet. Sadly, climate change is only […]

Vertical Orchids

Monday, December 17th, 2012

Vertical gardening has been a hot trend in the gardening world, but it’s old news for orchids. As air plants in the wild, orchids grow vertically on trees. In cultivation, some growers keep them attached to mounts or tree trunks, as in the photos below. Taking the idea further to create living walls, this concept […]

Vanilla Orchids: Natural History and Cultivation

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

As the most important orchid crop, vanilla is everywhere. Beyond its rich flavor, however, is the story of a surprising plant. Vanilla Orchids: Natural History and Cultivation provides a broad survey of this fascinating orchid. Author Ken Cameron, a botany professor from Wisconsin, unravels the tale of the world’s most popular flavor and fragrance. The […]

Orchids of Australia

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Australian Geographic proudly displays that nation’s most beautiful orchids. The article includes a gallery of brilliant illustrations which bring Australia’s most “stunning, mysterious and diverse” orchids to life. Starting with the bizarre underground Rhizanthella orchid, the detailed botanical drawings feature the flamboyant Queen of Sheba orchid, the weird Large Duck Orchid, and many more. Images […]

Spiranthes

Thursday, December 6th, 2012

This Spiranthes hardly looks like an orchid. Out of bloom, its thin, skinny leaves look like they belong to a weed. Even in bloom, the tiny white flowers bear little resemblance to its grand tropical relatives. Spiranthes’ name hints at its spiral arrangement of flowers. These scented blooms, just over half an inch (1.3 cm) […]