Archive for the 'Mini Orchids' Category
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
Sunday, July 21st, 2013
South Africa has so many fascinating native orchids that they seem to overshadow this mini species. Maybe that’s why this charming Mystacidium isn’t common in cultivation. However, it is one of the most common orchids found in South Africa. Last summer, I blogged about my plant’s impressive display, and this year, it’s unfurled an even bigger […]
Categories: Fragrant Orchids, Mini Orchids, Photos, Warm Growers
Comments: 5 Comments
Sunday, May 5th, 2013
As the largest and most diverse flower family, orchids can be overwhelming. To make them more manageable, many growers specialize. With 30,000 species, and over 150,000 hybrids, there are countless ways to find a niche in the orchid world. Here are a few: Collect mini’s – Miniature orchids are short on stature, but full of […]
Categories: Buying Tips, Fragrant Orchids, Mini Orchids, Photos
Comments: 4 Comments
Sunday, October 28th, 2012
As a large, diverse orchid family, Dendrobiums are popular choices for hybridizers. While larger Dendrobium varieties are more common, there are also many miniatures. I couldn’t resist the charms of this mini when I found it for sale at this year’s Orchids in the Park. Named Dendrobium Aussie’s Hi Lo, this hybrid combines traits from […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fertilizing, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Mini Orchids, Photos, Watering
Comments: 4 Comments
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012
Since August, these charming Samurai Orchid blooms have been brightening our home. Their enchanting flowers don’t have any fragrance during the day, but when evening arrives, they produce a strong, sweet perfume which belies their small size. Native to mountainside forests in Japan, Korea, and China, these prized orchids have been cultivated for centuries in […]
Categories: Fragrant Orchids, Growing Orchids in San Francisco, Intermediate Growers, Mini Orchids, Photos
Comments: 5 Comments
Saturday, September 22nd, 2012
Celebrate today’s change of season with these gems from last weekend’s Orchids in the Park. The annual event put on by the San Francisco Orchid Society featured a multitude of treasures. Here’s a small sample — The colors, scents, and shapes of orchids are certainly spectacular. Unexpected patterns emerge, like those of the Phal species […]
Categories: Events, Growing Orchids in San Francisco, Mini Orchids, Photos
Comments: 4 Comments
Friday, August 10th, 2012
As a city dweller with limited growing space, I can always appreciate a mini orchid. I was immediately intrigued by this charmer in a 2-inch (5-cm) flowerpot for sale at last winter’s Pacific Orchid Expo. My reward came a few months later with these tiny, light pink blooms. While this species’ flower spike can reach […]
Categories: Dormancy, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Mini Orchids, Photos
Comments: 3 Comments
Monday, July 9th, 2012
Mysta-what? With a name bigger than its tiny white flowers, this mini orchid doesn’t look tough. However, looks can be deceiving. Despite its delicate facade, this species survives attached to thorny Acacia trees in the heat of South Africa’s savannas, where few other orchids can live. It can also handle light winter frosts. This toughness […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Mini Orchids, Photos, Warm Growers
Comments: 7 Comments
Saturday, May 5th, 2012
A sunny yellow Mexican orchid is here to celebrate today’s Cinco de Mayo fiesta. This mini Oncidium relative takes its name from its home country, and it’s easy to pronounce: say “Mexico” and add “-ah” to the end. Mexicoas grow on oak trees in mountain forests in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Michoacan, Guerrero, Mexico, […]
Categories: Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Mini Orchids, Photos
Comments: 2 Comments