If you’re thinking that I’ve gone astray with photos from the Zurich Succulent Plant Collection (Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich,) I’ll remind you that orchids often turn up in unexpected places. After all, many orchids share traits with succulent plants, and that’s why they’re included here. Dave took these pictures last month. His work sometimes takes him to […]
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 […]
With the severe drought in California, I can’t complain about today’s chilly solstice rain in the SF Bay Area. However, I can find warm, tropical inspiration in these photos from our summer trip to London. No orchids this time — instead these feature the Waterlily House at Kew Gardens. It’s tough to take a bad […]
Are these blue Moth Orchids too good to be true? Well, yes, they are. There are no true blue Moth Orchids. Instead, these plants have white flowers which have been injected with dye. That info is contained somewhere on the label, but many people don’t spot it, and don’t realize that these aren’t what they […]
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 […]
As fellow air plants, bromeliads are natural orchid companions in the garden. Many tank bromeliads have fascinating blooms. They earn their nickname by holding water in their leaves, which helps them survive dry periods. This one grows in our garden, and its brilliant, hot pink flower spikes reveal small blooms that look like shiny, purple […]
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. […]
You are currently browsing the archives for the Photos category.
