AboutOrchids

Orchids have been staples of office decor since supermarkets and garden centers began selling mass-produced plants in the 1980’s. Tough, modern hybrids can survive, and even thrive, in work environments which often have less than ideal growing conditions. Check the following tips to keep your office orchid blooming: As always, it helps to know what […]

Orchids have drawn the eye of The New York Times Fashion & Style section. The Times laments that becoming a “grocery staple” has dulled the mystique of once-exotic orchids. While Phals have become common, however, tens of thousands of other varieties continue to inspire. From elusive black orchid flowers to custom hybrids, orchids still spawn […]

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 […]

If orchids could read blog posts, I might be suspicious of this Rhynchostele. I complained online that it hadn’t bloomed in 6 years, and a few days later, a pair of new flowers appeared. You can find it noted last in the list at Outdoor Orchids in San Francisco, part 1 under the name Lemboglossum. […]

San Francisco often welcomes the summer solstice with a cool fog, but today’s warm and sunny weather feels more in line with the beginning of the season. The most northerly trek of the sun has been noted throughout human history in every corner of the world. Whether you’re enjoying long hours of sunlight, or marking […]

Dave’s parents keep a beautiful garden at their home in Western Pennsylvania. Certainly, their cold winters aren’t very conducive for orchids, but there’s no shortage of other stunning plants. We visited earlier this month, which was the perfect time to enjoy brilliant blooms and new spring growth. With a great spring display, it’s easy to […]

Thanks to my friend Blake for taking these great photos at last weekend’s New Orleans Orchid Society Show. The society’s 60th annual show was themed “The Mystery of Orchids.”  It featured over 20 exhibits, more than a dozen vendors, a raffle, and lots of gorgeous blooms. These samples from the show obviously enjoy the Big […]

Sure, orchids are great, but wouldn’t it be nice to just stick one in the ground like a regular plant? Well, you can do just that with the Chinese Ground Orchid, or Bletilla. If you can grow a tulip or a daffodil, you can grow a Bletilla. Resembling Cattleyas, their charming flowers have ruffly ridges […]

Lady slippers, aka slipper orchids, amaze and inspire. Many orchid lovers specialize in growing these fascinating beauties. If you received a lady slipper gift for Mother’s Day, it’s most likely a Paph, or Paphiopedilum. Over 100 Paph species have been crossbred into countless hybrids. Their flowers all have a distinctive pouch which makes the blooms […]

Orchids make it easy to celebrate Mother’s Day. Whether given as potted plants or cut flowers, orchids elicit delight and wonder. With a few orchid care basics, many types can stay in bloom for weeks or months. In addition, they rarely cause allergy problems. To help flowers last their longest, check out these tips on […]