Archive for May, 2013

June Orchid Shows

Friday, May 31st, 2013

Orchid shows slow down in the northern half of the globe as summer approaches. However, in the southern half of the planet, events ramp up in Australia and Brazil. No matter where they happen, orchid shows are great places to enjoy beautiful blooms, meet local experts, and find plants for your collection. June 1 – […]

Orchids in Southeast Alaska

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

From the capital of our 49th state, Juneau Empire has a guide to Orchids in Southeast Alaska. With more than two dozen native species, Alaska offers a great reminder that orchids can appear in unexpected places. Many Alaskan varieties are known by their colorful common names, like Frog Orchid, Bog Orchid, Adder’s Tongue, and Rattlesnake […]

Chelsea Flower Show Turns 100

Saturday, May 25th, 2013

The Chelsea Flower Show has celebrated its 100th birthday. London’s biggest gardening event welcomed its next century with typical pomp and floral beauty, and an added element: gnomes. As always, orchids were a big part of the show. Word spread early that one of Britain’s rarest orchids had its own team of bodyguards. The extraordinary […]

Mounted Orchid Care

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

Who needs flowerpots? Orchids can grow attached to wooden mounts or trees, mimicking how they live in the wild as air plants. Despite this more natural look, mounted orchids aren’t as common as potted ones, since mounted orchids need extra care. Potted plants are usually better choices for orchid beginners. For gardeners in tropical and […]

An Orchid Grows in Ithaca

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Take a virtual tour of a large East Coast orchid greenhouse in “An Orchid Grows in Ithaca,” courtesy of Mountain Home magazine. In Ithaca, New York, The Orchid Place is a family operation which supplies blooming orchids to supermarkets from Maine to Maryland. Begun in 2005, it has a 10,000 square foot (929 square meter) […]

Mother’s Day Orchids

Sunday, May 12th, 2013

With endless choices of brilliant colors and magic shapes, orchids have become Mother’s Day favorites. No need to worry if you don’t have a green thumb — most orchids don’t deserve their finicky reputations. With a few care basics, you can enjoy their tropical flowers for weeks or even months. Identify your orchid to learn […]

What To Do After the Orchid Blooms Drop

Friday, May 10th, 2013

Two recent news articles help demystify orchids. Wisconsin’s Journal Times and New York’s Chronogram magazine bring good news about basic orchid care. Both articles make the same point often made on this site: orchids are easy with a few key care points. The Journal Times covers Phals, or Moth Orchids, the most common orchid sold […]

Orchid Specialties

Sunday, May 5th, 2013

As the largest and most diverse flower family, orchids can be overwhelming. To make them more manageable, many growers specialize. With 30,000 species, and over 150,000 hybrids, there are countless ways to find a niche in the orchid world. Here are a few: Collect mini’s – Miniature orchids are short on stature, but full of […]