http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog Basic Orchid Care for Beginners Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:58:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en It's pronounced like "epic fight" without the "c," and it means "air plant." Rather than growing in soil, epiphytic plants grow with their roots attached to tree branches and tree trunks. Many orchids, ferns, bromeliads, and mosses grow as air plants, taking advantage of brighter light above the shaded forest ... http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/08/27/word-of-the-day-epiphyte/ As the long days of late summer unwind, most orchids should be enjoying a period of growth. Besides light and fertilizer, water is an essential element for healthy new growth. These watering tips can help you avoid some of the most common orchid care problems. - When you water, use more ... http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/08/22/watering-tips/ To my wonderful husband Dave, With you in my life, the scent of orchids is even sweeter. I'd marry you over and over again (but I hope that won't be necessary!) All my love, Marc http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/08/18/mi-amor/ The Orchid Conservation Alliance (OCA) believes that the best hope to preserve orchid species is to preserve their native habitats. As tropical rainforests all over the world continue to be cut, burned, and paved, orchids are losing their homes. OCA funds orchid conservation by working to purchase and protect vital ... http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/08/13/orchid-conservation-alliance/ We're preempting your regular orchid programming to bring you some non-orchid photos to enjoy. After a few notable heat waves in the spring, it's been a cool and foggy summer here on the California coast. It's perfect weather for this unusual Fuchsia procumbens, native to New Zealand. The small, colorful ... http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/08/08/summer-garden-blooms/ Say "sah-LODGE-en-ee." Kind of rhymes with "progeny." It may have a tough name, but these fragrant white and yellow flowers make up for it. This Coelogyne mooreana originates in the cloud forests of the mountains of Vietnam, and can handle a wide range of temperatures. Mine lives outside all year long ... http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/08/04/try-saying-coelogyne/ Besides lots of beautiful flowers to enjoy, orchid shows provide great opportunities to meet local growers and experts. There’s no better way to find good information about local growing conditions, and learn the best places to buy orchids and orchid supplies. August 2-August 29 American Orchid Society Open House for South ... http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/08/01/august-orchid-shows/ If an orchid refuses to bloom over the course of a year, one of the most common culprits is insufficient light. Here are a few tips to keep in mind: • Light green or medium green leaves are a good indication that an orchid is receiving sufficient light. ... http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/07/30/light/ Living in a city where space is at a premium, I can always appreciate the virtues of a small orchid. If it doesn't need much room, it's so much easier to rationalize why I should buy it. Many an orchid purchase has been preceded by the statement "I can squeeze ... http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/07/25/mini-orchid-gastrochilus/ One of the most common questions I receive about orchids is how to force them to re-bloom ahead of their natural schedules. There is only one method I know to accomplish this, and it only works with Phalaenopsis. As soon as the last flower fades, cut the flower spike (the ... http://www.aboutorchids.com/blog/2008/07/20/forcing-an-orchid-to-re-bloom/