Archive for the 'In the News' Category

Repotting Orchids Is Easier Than You Think

Tuesday, September 27th, 2016

Orchid lovers know that orchids have different potting needs than most other houseplants. Check out some helpful orchid potting tips from the the Tri-City Herald in southeastern Washington state.

A Delightfully Variable Moth Orchid Species

Sunday, September 11th, 2016

The Manila Bulletin highlights some of the delightful color variations found in a favorite local orchid. Phalaenopsis equestris is a Moth Orchid species which is usually white and pink. However, many other color forms exist in white, yellow, orange, or purple. Scroll through their photos to explore the color array.

Beetles Pollinated Orchids 20 Million Years Ago

Thursday, August 25th, 2016

Frozen inside ancient amber from Mexico and the Dominican Republic, tiny beetles are carrying orchid pollen. Their modern beetle relatives are not known to help pollinate any orchids, but 20-million-year-old amber proves that they once did. Some of the amber may be 45 million years old, stretching their connection back even further.

Ghost Orchid Scientists Aim to Restore Rare Florida Flowers

Tuesday, August 9th, 2016

Scientists are working to restore wild populations of Florida’s native orchids, including the famous Ghost Orchid. Seedlings grown in labs are being transplanted in the Everglades. So far, results have been promising, with many young plants surviving the move. For most of the year, these bizarre, leafless orchids are simply masses of roots attached to […]

The Rarest Plant in Britain Makes a Ghostly Appearance

Thursday, July 28th, 2016

A British ghost haunts the forests. National Geographic details the reappearance of the bizarre Ghost Orchid (different than the famous Ghost Orchid native to Florida.) This spectral orchid, Epipogium aphyllum, only seems to show up in Britain once every few decades. It has no chlorophyll, but instead lives as a parasite on a fungus. The Ghost […]

Devilish Orchid Discovery

Friday, July 15th, 2016

Scientists have discovered a devilish new orchid in Colombia. Telipogon diabolicus earns its species name from a dark maroon coloration that resembles a little demon head. So far, it’s only been found in a small patch of land in southern Colombia, and the species is considered critically endangered.

Vanilla: From Concern to Crisis

Saturday, June 25th, 2016

Vanilla, the world’s most delicious orchid, has been going up in price. The beans are more expensive due to several factors, including a poor crop in Madagascar, the world’s biggest producer. Other problems include speculators who hoard the beans, previous years of low prices when farmers switched to other crops, and criminals who use the […]

Gold Medal Orchids at the Chelsea Flower Show

Wednesday, May 25th, 2016

McBean’s Orchids has won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show once again. It’s a welcome victory, especially since the venerable, 137-year-old British nursery almost went out of business recently. The Chelsea Flower Show runs through May 28th.

Millions of Native Orchids Flourish at Former Mining Waste Site

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016

In New York’s Adirondack Mountains, millions of native orchids are flourishing near an old iron mine. The wetland area is now home to local orchids like Grass Pinks, Rose Pogonias, and Ladies’ Tresses. Since the mine closed in 1978, the site has recovered to become the perfect home for six native New York orchid species […]

Colorful Photos of Orchids for Spring

Sunday, April 3rd, 2016

National Geographic offers 12 wonderful orchid photos for spring. These aren’t your everyday orchids. Instead, they’re unusual Mediterranean terrestrial species, like Helleborines, Tongue Orchids, and Elder-Flowered Orchids. Aren’t they just as stunning as their better-known, tropical relatives?