Archive for the 'Dormancy' Category
Monday, April 18th, 2016
If you have a warm, sunny windowsill, and sometimes forget to water, Tolumnias may be perfect for you. These mini orchids have eye-catching colors and patterns. I bought this Tolumnia hybrid at last year’s Pacific Orchid Expo, and this year, it put on a great show with lots of brilliant blooms. Tolumnias are native to […]
Categories: Dormancy, Growing, Mini Orchids, Photos, Warm Growers, Watering
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Friday, May 15th, 2015
Whatever the Coconut Orchid lacks in showiness, it makes up with fragrance. This tropical species features brilliant red flowers, but they’re often hidden in the foliage. However, their sweet coconut scent always gives them away. Coconut Orchids are easy to grow, and with their delicious aroma, they are popular choices for orchid lovers. Their deep […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fertilizing, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Photos, Watering
Comments: 3 Comments
Tuesday, January 13th, 2015
Cynorkis fastigiata is an unusual orchid from some unusual islands. It would be easy to mistake for a couple blades of grass, except for its strange flowers hovering above. This small species is native to Madagascar and nearby islands in the Indian Ocean: the Seychelles, the Comoros, Mauritius, and Reunion. This species can grow as […]
Categories: Dormancy, Intermediate Growers, Mini Orchids, Photos, Warm Growers
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2014
With dense clusters of little purple blooms, this looks like a hyacinth. On closer inspection, however, each flower reveals itself as a tiny, perfect orchid. Known as the Giant Hyacinth Orchid, this has been a very reliable bloomer in our garden, opening in late autumn and continuing for several months into winter. This year’s incredible […]
Categories: Cool Growers, Dormancy, Fertilizing, Growing, Photos, Watering
Comments: 3 Comments
Tuesday, January 14th, 2014
If you think all orchids need warmth, then these beautiful Odonts will surprise you. Odont is a conveniently shortened nickname for Odontoglossum. The pink hybrid pictured in the first row and the yellow hybrid pictured in the second row are great examples of this cool growing orchid family. They are reliable bloomers on our back […]
Categories: Cool Growers, Dormancy, Growing, Photos, Watering
Comments: 3 Comments
Thursday, November 21st, 2013
Orchid care changes with the seasons, and many orchids begin dormancy as winter approaches. During this rest period, they need less water and fertilizer. Winter dormancy mimics a dry season in the orchids’ native habitats. Orchids like the Cattleya, Dendrobium, and Oncidium in the pictures below won’t bloom without a dry period. Cut back on watering […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fertilizing, Growing, Photos, Watering
Comments: 1 Comment
Saturday, October 12th, 2013
Autumn’s chill brings changes to orchid care. Check these tips to keep plants healthy. Many orchids begin to enter dormancy in the fall. Start to reduce watering frequency for Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, Oncidiums, and Odonts. Begin to cut back fertilizer, too. Moth Orchids, Lady Slippers, and Pleurothallids do not go dormant, but with autumn’s shorter, […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fertilizing, Growing, Watering
Comments: 3 Comments
Friday, September 13th, 2013
Considering its tiny flowers, this unusual Domingoa can really put on a show. Its thick, speckled leaves produce long stems with tiny purple blossoms. This plant can stay in bloom for more than two months, putting out successive flowers over late summer and early autumn. I’ve had this Domingoa growing outdoors and blooming well for […]
Categories: Dormancy, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Mini Orchids, Photos, Watering
Comments: 4 Comments
Wednesday, August 21st, 2013
From forests in the mountains of Japan and Taiwan, the Yellow Pine Orchid boasts clusters of colorful flowers. This cute mini orchid is Gastrochilus japonicus, a Vanda relative. This species blooms with tiny flowers dangling beneath its leaves. The entire flower cluster is only 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide. Since the blossoms hang below the […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Mini Orchids, Photos, Watering
Comments: 5 Comments
Friday, June 14th, 2013
With their incredible diversity, orchids take many forms. These Thunia flowers may resemble Cattleyas, but this large Thunia plant looks more like a cornstalk than an orchid. Possibly the fastest growing orchid, new Thunia stalks grow 3 feet (0.9 m) or more during spring. This fascinating species has lived in a west-facing room of our […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fertilizing, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Photos, Watering
Comments: 4 Comments