AboutOrchids

Thanks to Patti R., who recently sent me a question about a confusing orchid care article. Patti was understandably stumped by a gardening column in a normally reliable California newspaper. The column has repeatedly advised Phal growers to water their plants only once every 3 weeks. Patti asked:
I know this can’t be right. I grow [...]

Coelia bella has a graceful beauty, a rich fragrance, and a musical name. Its delightful purple, white, and yellow flowers emerge like little trumpets, and have the sweet scent of marzipan or almond oil. This species is native to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras.

Coelia is easy to pronounce; just ignore the “o” and [...]

I’ve already blogged about my objections to watering orchids with ice cubes. It doesn’t take a degree in botany to see that tropical plants, especially warm growers like the Phal in the first photo below, don’t like cold temps. But there’s another, less obvious reason why ice isn’t right for orchids — ice cubes don’t [...]

Orchid care changes with the seasons. Growers need to adjust for winter’s approach in the Northern Hemisphere.

Orchids with pseudobulbs are entering dormancy. If they sport swollen stems like those in the first photo below, they may only need water once or twice per month over winter. Too much water can cause rot, or mess up [...]

Here on the California coast, the Cymbidiums spoil us. I’ve seen luxuriant blooms on neglected orchids stuffed into sidewalk planters. Gardeners inherit abandoned plants from earlier tenants, sometimes without even realizing that the strap-like leaves belong to orchids. It turns out that our mild climate mimics the slopes of the Himalayas where these orchids grow [...]

Flying bird? Incredible insect? Angel from above? The wonderful flowers of this Cochleanthes have a power to captivate. Its large white and purple blooms can be 4 inches (10 cm) tall.

This species is native to a vast area of the Amazon Rainforest, across Brazil, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The flowers may look delicate, [...]

As temperatures cool in autumn, the orchid that sat there doing nothing for months may surprise you with a burst of new growth. Relieved of oppressive summer heat, many varieties take this opportunity to grow or bloom. The change of season also requires changes in your orchid care regimen, so here are a few autumn [...]

This hardy orchid is a Cyrtochilum, a reliable bloomer in the Oncidium family. It has spectacular yellow, white, and purple flowers. Dozens of blossoms emerge from long, vining flower spikes, which can extend up to 10 ft. (3 m.) These spikes grow for months, and like to wind around my tall Epidendrums. Blooms as wide [...]

No, it’s not winter — it’s just another cool, foggy San Francisco summer. Fortunately, it’s the perfect climate for this Bolivian beauty. Dozens of delightful pink and purple Masdevallia flowers opened more than a month ago in our back garden, and they’re still going strong.

This species is native to elevations of 8000 – 9000 ft. [...]

Fortunately, it’s easier to grow a Coelogyne than it is to figure out how to say it. Each of these pure white flowers has a bright orange lip, and delights with a sweet scent. Blooms can last a month or more.

To pronounce it, say “see-LODGE-in-ee.” This species originates in the mountains of Vietnam, where it [...]