“Alba” is Latin for white or pale. With lighter leaves than its close Jewel Orchid relative, this beautiful variant from Vietnam is known as Ludisia discolor alba, or the Alba Jewel Orchid. Instead of dark green leaves with bright pink stripes, it has light green leaves with white stripes. Ludisias are easy to grow. These […]
Many orchid beginners are afraid of winter dormancy. Withholding water seems like a risky proposition, a surefire way to kill a plant. But don’t worry — dormancy actually mimics normal seasonal changes for orchids in the wild. Humidity and light levels stay high, but rains become infrequent. Many orchids take advantage of these dry spells […]
Here on the California coast, the winter chill helps to create a perfect home for this unusual Arpophyllum. Tall spikes with small purple flowers give this species its nickname, the Hyacinth Orchid. It blooms reliably on our back deck in late autumn, and usually stays in flower for a couple months over winter. This season’s blooms […]
Orchids amaze and inspire, but they also intimidate many gardeners. As flowering houseplants, orchids share basic care needs with other plants, like light, water, and fertilizer. However, as air plants, orchid care differs in a few important ways. Watering – Some other plants can tolerate light waterings, but orchids need thorough soakings. Even dormant orchids […]
With today’s change of season, it seems appropriate to take an apocalyptic tone. While the latest end-of-the-world fad will pass with tomorrow’s sunrise, many plant and animal species are facing the real thing. Climate change has begun, a danger not only to orchids, but to every species on the planet. Sadly, climate change is only […]
Vertical gardening has been a hot trend in the gardening world, but it’s old news for orchids. As air plants in the wild, orchids grow vertically on trees. In cultivation, some growers keep them attached to mounts or tree trunks, as in the photos below. Taking the idea further to create living walls, this concept […]
This Spiranthes hardly looks like an orchid. Out of bloom, its thin, skinny leaves look like they belong to a weed. Even in bloom, the tiny white flowers bear little resemblance to its grand tropical relatives. Spiranthes’ name hints at its spiral arrangement of flowers. These scented blooms, just over half an inch (1.3 cm) […]
Considering the incredible diversity of the orchid family, it’s surprising how the same few mistakes crop up over and over. Try to avoid these five common problems: Too much water — Orchid roots and potting material should dry out between regular waterings. Kept too wet, they’ll rot. Most orchids sold today are Phals, or Moth […]
Lots of butterflies enjoy visiting our garden, but they’re usually flitting around too quickly to capture them in photos. A couple days ago this Gulf Fritillary took a while to warm up in the autumn chill, so Dave had a chance to take these great shots. The butterfly even found a sunny perch on a […]
Food52.com takes a close look at the tastiest orchid, vanilla. Just a few drops or seeds add magic to baked goods, candy, and chocolate. Did you know that the vanilla pod itself has more flavor than its seeds? Pods can be used repeatedly to infuse sugar or any liquid. To enjoy vanilla’s flavor without the […]
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