AboutOrchids

The Species Identification Task Force (SITF) sorts out difficult orchid identities. There are about 30,000 orchid species, and experts with the American Orchid Society work to verify whether awarded plants’ nametags are accurate. Whenever a species receives its first award, it’s automatically reviewed to authenticate its identity. Orchid judges may also ask for confirmation of […]

If we find life on Mars, will it be as strange as Australia’s Underground Orchids? These bizarre plants, also known as Rhizanthellas, live their whole lives below ground. They even bloom underground, and smell like vanilla. Known to science since 1928, there are now five identified species around the continent. All five are endangered, and […]

Orchids have become a big part of Valentine’s Day. If you’ve received one as a gift, here are a few tips to keep your orchid happy and healthy: To help flowers last longer, place the orchid in an area with high humidity. You can raise humidity levels by grouping plants together, placing them in a […]

Daisy Orchids, or Cirrhopetalums, earn their nickname from their resemblance to daisies. However, with Daisy Orchids, what looks like separate petals of one large flower are actually separate flowers, each magnificently complex. These blooms are arranged in a circle or semicircle around a center stalk. Many varieties have long, tapering sepals, adding to their charms. […]

In the Himalayan foothills of northeastern India, the country’s only orchid sanctuary has had a facelift. Founded in 1989, Sessa Orchid Sanctuary covers 39 square miles (100 square km) in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, a biodiversity hotspot which is known as the “Orchid State of India.” Sessa villagers and government forest officials have installed a […]

In addition to this short list of online events, many orchid societies have moved all their gatherings online. Monthly meetings, sales, auctions, and expert talks are easy to access with an internet connection. Check with your local society for more. February 2 Orchid Mini Symposium, Advances in Australian Orchid Research (free webcast) February 6 Virtual […]