Archive for the 'Fertilizing' Category

Orchid Care in Winter

Saturday, November 26th, 2011

Orchid care changes with the seasons. Growers need to adjust for winter’s approach in the Northern Hemisphere.

Orchids with pseudobulbs are entering dormancy. If they sport swollen stems like those in the first photo below, they may only need water once or twice per month over winter. Too much water can cause rot, or mess up [...]

Cymbidiums

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

Here on the California coast, the Cymbidiums spoil us. I’ve seen luxuriant blooms on neglected orchids stuffed into sidewalk planters. Gardeners inherit abandoned plants from earlier tenants, sometimes without even realizing that the strap-like leaves belong to orchids. It turns out that our mild climate mimics the slopes of the Himalayas where these orchids grow [...]

Autumn Orchid Tips

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

As temperatures cool in autumn, the orchid that sat there doing nothing for months may surprise you with a burst of new growth. Relieved of oppressive summer heat, many varieties take this opportunity to grow or bloom. The change of season also requires changes in your orchid care regimen, so here are a few autumn [...]

Cyrtochilum

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

This hardy orchid is a Cyrtochilum, a reliable bloomer in the Oncidium family. It has spectacular yellow, white, and purple flowers. Dozens of blossoms emerge from long, vining flower spikes, which can extend up to 10 ft. (3 m.) These spikes grow for months, and like to wind around my tall Epidendrums. Blooms as wide [...]

Masdevallia

Saturday, August 20th, 2011

No, it’s not winter — it’s just another cool, foggy San Francisco summer. Fortunately, it’s the perfect climate for this Bolivian beauty. Dozens of delightful pink and purple Masdevallia flowers opened more than a month ago in our back garden, and they’re still going strong.

This species is native to elevations of 8000 – 9000 ft. [...]

Spring Orchid Checklist

Saturday, May 28th, 2011

By the end of May, San Francisco’s rainy season has usually given way to the dry season, but this year’s weather seems anything but typical. Fortunately we’ve had nothing like the violent storms in other parts of the country. Instead, a cool, wet spring is keeping the garden well hydrated. The light rains and mild [...]

How to Kill An Orchid

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

Most people prefer to keep their orchids alive, but some people are dead-set on killing them. If that’s you, then you’ll enjoy this handy list of tried-and-true orchid destruction tips. If you prefer to keep your orchids alive, avoid these common mistakes:

Overwatering — This is a quick, easy, and common assassination method. Excess water rots [...]

Equinox

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

To celebrate the arrival of fall, here are some garden beauties:

Autumn arrives in the Northern Hemisphere with a chill, shorter days, and some orchid chores. As temperatures drop, bring warm growers inside. Remove any dead leaves or weeds. Check for pests, especially those hiding on the undersides of leaves. I spray orchid plants and potting [...]

Stream Orchid

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

My own orchid collection has species and hybrids from all over the world, but only one that’s native to San Francisco. It may be less glamorous than its tropical relatives, but this Epipactis, or Stream Orchid, really enjoys the local climate. This species has a large range over western North America, spanning from Canada south [...]

Jumellea

Friday, April 9th, 2010

Native to the Comoros Islands near Madagascar, this species of Jumellea is an easy grower with delightful flowers. It holds crystal white blooms on long stems, giving the appearance that they’re floating around the plant.

Nectar spurs are long, narrow tubes with a drop of nectar at the bottom, and they’re good clues that this orchid [...]