Many regular readers of this blog already know that, for me, heaven has an address. A short drive up from Hilo on the Big Island, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (HTBG) is an earthly paradise. In the natural greenhouse of Onomea Valley, HTBG offers meandering trails through a tropical rainforest. The flowers may look unreal, but […]
A vanilla farmer in Malaysia recounts the challenges of cultivating the world’s second most expensive spice. The Vanilla orchid grows as a vine whose flowers open for just a single day. After pollination by hand, the vanilla beans take months to mature, and then months more to dry and cure. That hasn’t deterred farmer K.K. […]
Scientists have discovered the first orchid that blooms in the dark. British and Dutch botanists found the new species, which they’ve named Bulbophyllum nocturnum, native to a single island off New Guinea. After saving the unknown orchid from a logging area, they brought it back to Europe. They were perplexed when its flower buds seemed […]
A tiger is taking over the Brooklyn Botanic Garden! Native to rainforests of Southeast Asia, the Tiger Orchid makes a big impression. Grammatophyllum speciosum is the world’s largest orchid. This tropical species can grow as heavy as 2 tons (1.8 metric tons,) and believe it or not, it’s an air plant. The Brooklyn specimen has […]
If your Phals, or Moth Orchids, aren’t in bloom right now, here’s a useful, fun fact: 3 weeks of cooler temperatures in early autumn can trigger new flower spikes. Typically, Phals don’t want temps below 65°F (18°C.) To mimic a cool spell in their Southeast Asian homes, let them drop to 60°F (16°C) at night, […]
A South Florida news team is hot on the trail of a blue Phal mystery. Blue Phals sell at major retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s. They’re not naturally blue, but dyed instead. The horticulture industry has been dying other flower varieties for years, but the patented process is relatively new to orchids. Nobody paints […]
During our recent visit to Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Dave and I took lots of Epidendrum photos. Mexico has many native varieties. It was easy to see that they’re tough plants like my own, and reliable bloomers. Some of the most colorful ones were growing in full tropical sun. The Epidendrum species known as the Greenfly […]
Want to buy your valentine an orchid? Try vanilla! Don’t get me wrong; I’m not suggesting you buy a vanilla plant. As you can see from the healthy specimens at Vallarta Botanical Gardens, these heavy vines are best left to climb up tropical trees or hang in greenhouses. However, it is easy to buy a […]
That’s Spanish for “How beautiful!” It’s a frequently heard exclamation at Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens. These three members of the Cattleya family certainly inspire the thought. Vallarta Botanical Gardens contains jungle trails and a clear mountain river where you can cool off (don’t forget your bathing suit!) Surrounded by bougainvilleas of every hue, exotic palms, […]
Sunny beaches and tequila aren’t the only reasons to visit Mexico. Vallarta Botanical Gardens shows off the region’s wonderful biodiversity. It’s an easy bus or taxi ride from downtown Puerto Vallarta. Dave and I just returned from a great visit, and we took lots of pictures. First, of course, are the orchids. A sweetly scented […]
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