Archive for the 'Watering' Category
Sunday, October 18th, 2015
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. […]
Categories: Cool Growers, Growing, Photos, Watering
Comments: 1 Comment
Saturday, August 29th, 2015
I bought this gorgeous Cochleanthes at an orchid show five years ago, and it has been one of my most reliable bloomers ever since. Its captivating white flowers boast great purple highlights. This species is native to the Amazon Rainforest, from Brazil to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The flowers appear fragile, but they’re thick […]
Categories: Fertilizing, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Photos, Watering
Comments: 4 Comments
Friday, June 5th, 2015
Summer is coming, and it looks like it’s going to be a hot one. Orchids can survive heat waves with some basic care tips. Check these helpful hints when temperatures soar. Give orchids water when they dry out, but be careful not to drown your plants. High humidity is more important than repeated waterings in […]
Categories: Fertilizing, Growing, Photos, Warm Growers, Watering
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Friday, May 15th, 2015
Whatever the Coconut Orchid lacks in showiness, it makes up with fragrance. This tropical species features brilliant red flowers, but they’re often hidden in the foliage. However, their sweet coconut scent always gives them away. Coconut Orchids are easy to grow, and with their delicious aroma, they are popular choices for orchid lovers. Their deep […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fertilizing, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Photos, Watering
Comments: 3 Comments
Friday, January 23rd, 2015
Are they Phals or Dendrobiums? Den Phals are Dendrobiums, and they’re very popular orchids. Also called Phalaenopsis-type Dendrobiums, or Phalanthe-type Dendrobiums, their confusing names derive from their resemblance to Phal flowers. They represent a small section of the large Dendrobium family, but they’ve become some of the most commonly cultivated varieties. Den Phals come in […]
Categories: Growing, Intermediate Growers, Photos, Watering
Comments: 1 Comment
Wednesday, November 26th, 2014
With dense clusters of little purple blooms, this looks like a hyacinth. On closer inspection, however, each flower reveals itself as a tiny, perfect orchid. Known as the Giant Hyacinth Orchid, this has been a very reliable bloomer in our garden, opening in late autumn and continuing for several months into winter. This year’s incredible […]
Categories: Cool Growers, Dormancy, Fertilizing, Growing, Photos, Watering
Comments: 3 Comments
Saturday, July 5th, 2014
These unusual flowers belong to a fascinating orchid. This species has beautiful blooms, a pleasant scent, and a hard-to-pronounce name. Eurychone is Greek for “broad funnel,” which describes the wide, round flower lip. To pronounce Eurychone, say “you-rye-CONE-ee.” Eurychones are native to equatorial rainforests in West and Central Africa. They are related to the Angraecum […]
Categories: Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Mini Orchids, Photos, Warm Growers, Watering
Comments: 4 Comments
Wednesday, May 7th, 2014
It’s important to let orchids dry between waterings. Roots and potting material need time to dry out. This period helps prevent roots from rotting or developing disease. Cattleyas and Oncidiums need to dry well, since damp conditions can kill them. Moth Orchids, Masdevallias, and Lady Slippers want to dry just a little, and need water […]
Categories: Growing, Watering
Comments: 1 Comment
Sunday, April 20th, 2014
With California struggling through another drought, water conservation is essential. For orchid growers, droughts can be a problem. Orchids need moisture, both for watering and for humidity. Even growers who enjoy abundant water should treat it as a precious resource. Some orchids need a lot of water. Lady Slippers and Masdevallias have heavy demands. Cattleyas […]
Categories: Growing Orchids in San Francisco, Problems, Watering
Comments: 3 Comments
Thursday, March 27th, 2014
The Oregon Orchid Society has a helpful webpage about the problems of watering orchids with ice cubes. They offer the same advice as me: don’t use ice with orchids! Their article debunks arguments made by the pro-ice set. Proper orchid culture doesn’t involve freezing. It includes thorough drenchings with room-temperature water and great drainage. Orchids […]
Categories: Problems, Watering
Comments: 1 Comment