Scaphosepalums aren’t very popular orchids. Having small flowers and long names doesn’t help. That’s a shame, because they’re beautiful and fascinating. Some have blooms which look like mustaches. Some resemble birds in flight, and some look like they have fangs. They can flower sequentially on the same spike, so happy plants may continue blooming for years. […]
This mini Dresslerella is fuzzy all over. Its flowers, stems, and leaves are hairy. Dresslerella lasiocampa could even be described as shaggy. This orchid may be hairy because it likes morning sun, and the fuzz offers some protection from burning. Or it may be a way to collect water from fog, with dew drops condensing […]
Meet Elleanthus amethystinus, a fascinating orchid from the Andes. Out of bloom, the plant looks like a small clump of bamboo, with pointed leaves on thin stems. But when clusters of bright pink flowers emerge, it’s obviously an orchid. The charming blossoms boast fringed lips, and resemble little joyous birds. Each flower is only about […]
Given the right growing conditions, some orchids can flower for a really long time. I have bragging rights for a few reliable and consistent plants in my collection. Pictured in the first row of photos above, my grand champion is the red Epidendrum which has bloomed continuously for 23 years. Living outdoors, it endures strong […]
Pleurothallis orchids don’t have the largest or most colorful flowers, but they can be fascinating. These two species exemplify their charms. In the photos above, the first is Pleurothallis viduata, a miniature from Ecuador. I bought it at Orchids in the Park this past July. Its white and purple flowers bob in the breeze on thin, […]
Being an orchid geek, one of my favorite things is blooming a species for the first time. When this unusual Stenia pushed out a single flower bud, I was excited. Over several weeks, the bud fattened up, and finally opened to reveal a fascinating blossom. Stenia vasquezii has a spotted flower with a lip folded […]
This Vanda is a flower machine. It keeps blooming, and it’s grown well enough to need a bigger vase. I blogged before about the handy Vanda trick I use. These orchids are normally kept mounted, in baskets, or bare root. Those methods can be challenging for home growers outside the tropics. They’re much easier to […]
These stunning white Masdevallia flowers are remarkable for their beauty, and also for what they show about orchid variability. Masdevallia coccinea is native to Colombia, where it lives high in the Andes from 8000-11,000 feet (approx. 2500-3500 m.) Known in Spanish as la banderita (little flag,) this species comes in a range of distinct colors. […]
For years, I’ve needed glasses to see small things. Despite that, I bought this lovable little Lepanthes orchid at February’s Pacific Orchid Expo. I knew that its blossoms would be tiny, colorful specks. A month after bringing it home, it popped open a flower, then another, and another. It’s kept going ever since. The charming […]
Pansy Orchids, or Miltoniopsis, have brilliant colors, sweet scents, and delightful waterfalls. This popular genus resembles pansies, and features pink, yellow, red, purple, or white blooms. Colorful patterns on their flower lips appear to flow downwards, and are called waterfalls. There’s lots of confusion between Miltoniopsis and Miltonia. Miltonias are a closely related genus, requiring […]
You are currently browsing the archives for the Growing category.
