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 […]
Exquisite! Breathtaking! Romantic! Your valentine orchid is surely an incredible beauty. But now that you have it, what do you do with it? Check the orchid care tips below to keep your gift thriving. What kind is it? – Identify your orchid to learn more about its care needs. You don’t need to find its […]
Wondering what to do with your gift orchid? It’s beautiful, but can you possibly keep such a fragile thing alive? Relax, most orchids sold today are easy to grow. Check the orchid care tips below to learn how to keep your plant happy. What kind is it? – Identify your orchid to learn more about […]
Following up on my earlier post about easy orchid species, here’s my list of easy cool growers. Unlike most orchid species, those listed below are as easy to grow as hybrids. Once again, this is not any sort of complete list, just a few that I know best. I’ve grown all of these varieties outdoors […]
Unlike tough orchid hybrids, many orchid species deserve their finicky reputations. They have exacting care needs, requiring precise temperatures, special potting, or purified water. Fortunately, there are some exceptions to the finicky orchid species rule. These easy warm growers and intermediate growers are great choices for orchid beginners. (I’ll highlight easy cool growers in a […]
This Scaphosepalum species is a mini Masdevallia relative with incredible blooming power. The plant shown in most of these photos flowered continuously for over five years! Its new blooms, each smaller than a pea, continually emerge along a lengthening, zig-zag flower spike. The first photo in this series comes from a plant we recently saw in […]
What do antelopes have to do with orchids? Look at the graceful, spiraling petals on these tropical beauties, and you’ll understand. Antelope Dendrobiums are a popular section of the enormous Dendrobium family. Their upward-twisting petals inspire the antelope horn comparison. There are several dozen species and a growing number of hybrids with these curvy blooms. […]
This fragile-looking Dendrobium species is tougher than it looks. Queen Victoria’s Dendrobium was named to celebrate the British monarch. It’s nicknamed the Blue Orchid, since some specimens have a blue hue, but my plant is decidedly purple. In four years since I bought this orchid, it’s been through the mill, but somehow survived and flowered. […]
I bought this gorgeous Cochleanthes at an orchid show five years ago, and it has been one of my most reliable bloomers ever since. Its captivating white flowers boast great purple highlights. This species is native to the Amazon Rainforest, from Brazil to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The flowers appear fragile, but they’re thick […]
Summer is coming, and it looks like it’s going to be a hot one. Orchids can survive heat waves with some basic care tips. Check these helpful hints when temperatures soar. Give orchids water when they dry out, but be careful not to drown your plants. High humidity is more important than repeated waterings in […]
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