AboutOrchids

San Francisco Bay Area orchids highlight an article in the Los Gatos Patch. Numerous native species grow in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco, and they call to longtime orchid lover Ed Nazzal like sirens. He braves poison oak and rattlesnakes to find lovely locals like the Steam Orchid, Epipactis gigantea, and the beautiful purple Calypso bulbosa. The article includes good photos so you can enjoy the flowers without the hiking hazards.

Urban gardens are more popular than ever, and our little patch of San Francisco exemplifies the trend. In the back yard, this great Masdevallia species has been blooming for 6 weeks. This flower has faded from its most brilliant, but it’s still a vivid pink. The next photos show a white calla lily and a mass of orange lilies, all enjoying our mild Mediterranean climate.

Fuchsias are a San Francisco standard, and these flowers buds are just peeking open. In the middle photo, delicate flowers interrupt the geometry in a pot of succulents. Bright yellow pollen in the center lights up the paper-thin petals. They’re all part of the action in our urban garden.

OK, I admit it — as a website and blog about orchid basics, it’s past time that I tackled understanding orchid names. Whether reading a plant tag, researching care info, or talking to a fellow orchid grower, we all encounter those long names. So I’ve created a new category, Orchid Names, and this is the first post to help unravel this complex topic. Whether you’ve just bought your first orchid or you’re an experienced grower, consider this as a primer that I’ll build upon.

Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus established biology’s system of binomial nomenclature in the 1700’s. Using Latin names, it allows everyone on the planet to have the same name for the same plant or animal. The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature currently governs the system for all plant species and hybrids, and the names that we see most often are the genus and species.

Let’s start by deciphering the name tags for these 3 orchid varieties:

The first photo is Cattleya loddigesii, an orchid species. The genus name is Cattleya, and the species name is loddigesii. The discoverer of this orchid named it for George Loddiges, an English orchid grower in the 1800’s. Written properly, the genus name is capitalized, and the species name is lowercase: Cattleya loddigesii.

The second is Phalaenopsis Maki Watanabe. It’s a hybrid in the Phal family, named by its creator for someone called Maki Watanabe. The fact that Maki Watanabe is capitalized shows that it’s a hybrid, not a species. This variety is a cross between 2 other hybrids, Phal. Romance Miki and Phal. Otohime. Sometimes a name tag lists a hybrid’s parents with an “x” between them to show the cross: Phal. Romance Miki x Phal. Otohime.

The third is Paphiopedilum Dollgoldi AM/AOS.  This hybrid is a cross between 2 species, Paph. rothschildianum and Paph. armeniacum. The capitalized Dollgoldi shows that it’s a hybrid, not a species, and I’d guess that it’s a reference to the bright yellow flower.  The initials after that, AM/AOS, indicate that this cross has earned an Award of Merit from the American Orchid Society. The AOS grants the AM and other awards to recognize excellence in orchid breeding and cultivation.

The award systems used by orchid societies and the horticulture industry vary in different countries. Besides the AOS, Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society uses the initials RHS in its award system, such as Paphiopedilum Rosy Dawn AGM/RHS. AGM stands for Award of Garden Merit.

The Smithsonian presents “The Orchid in Chinese Painting” at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington DC. With 20 works dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries, the exhibit shows the long history of Cymbidiums in Chinese art and culture. For thousands of years in East Asia, orchids have been symbols of beauty and elegance. They have also represented moral character, friendship, loyalty, and patriotism. The display runs until July 17th.

An intimidating Latin name, Paphiopedilum venustum, threatens to distract from this beautiful Paph. Fortunately, that translates to the very pronounceable “Charming Lady Slipper.” The Latin for “Stunning Lady Slipper” might fit better, but perhaps that name was already taken. Indeed, “charming” seems an understatement for this wonderful species from the southern slopes of the Himalayas. It grows in the shade of dense bamboo jungles in northeastern India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Besides the name Charming Lady Slipper, it’s also known as the Snakeskin Orchid. That’s not inspired by the fascinating veins on the flower pouch, but by the blue and green patterning on the leaves. In the wild, it grows as a terrestrial, and enjoys the monsoon rains, which have just started in southern India. In cultivation, this orchid requires daily watering, and can handle cooler temps during winter dormancy. Several color variations exist. Along with yellow color forms, many have red and maroon hues.

Shows wind down in the Northern Hemisphere as summer approaches, but orchid lovers down under have lots of choices. In Canada, the Bruce Peninsula Orchid Festival is not a show, but a chance to enjoy Ontario’s native orchids blooming in the wild. It includes presentations and tours with orchid experts (reservations required.)

Read the rest of this post »

By the end of May, San Francisco’s rainy season has usually given way to the dry season, but this year’s weather seems anything but typical. Fortunately we’ve had nothing like the violent storms in other parts of the country. Instead, a cool, wet spring is keeping the garden well hydrated. The light rains and mild temps have eased my watering duties, allowing me to concentrate on other seasonal chores:

• The end of winter dormancy means regular and thorough watering. Cymbidiums, Paphs, Masdevallias, and Miltonias need daily watering, but for others, there’s no single formula for how often to water. New leaves and roots, longer hours of light, and warm days all require extra water.
• Only the most sun-loving Vandas and Epidendrums should remain in direct midday or afternoon sun. Many orchids will enjoy morning sun. All need extra shade during hot summer days.
• Fertilize regularly. Standard orchid advice is “weakly, weekly,” which means a dilute solution repeated on a regular schedule.
• Most orchids need repotting every 2 – 3 years. Spring is the ideal time, as flowers fade and new leaves and roots start to grow. Check here to see if you need to repot your orchid.

Costa Rica has added even more orchids to its remarkable biodiversity. Near the border with Panama, in a previously unexplored region of La Amistad International Park, scientists from Lankester Botanical Garden have discovered 10 new species. Finding new orchids isn’t unusual, but it’s astounding that researchers found so many in a small area during a single 4-hour expedition.

Costa Rica is home to over 1300 orchid species. For comparison, the country is smaller than West Virginia, which has 35 native orchid species. Costa Rica’s national flower is a variety of Cattleya, the beautiful purple Guaria morada.

The story’s been told many times before, e.g. The Orchid Thief, but tragically, it never dies. The BBC has an update on the “Invasion of the orchid snatchers,” collectors who illegally take orchids from the wild. The article includes info about several orchids, including Phrag kovachii, the giant purple lady slipper discovered in Peru in 2001. That tale is one of many which illustrates the sad history of irresponsible orchid collectors, whose greed and selfishness endanger the survival of rare species. Dr. Richard Thomas of Traffic International, a group that monitors wildlife trade, explains “The loss of any one species is a tragedy – the world needs rich biological diversity to survive. Species have taken millennia to evolve, but can be lost in days.” Responsible growers should never take orchids from the wild, or buy wild-collected plants. Purchase only from reputable vendors to enjoy orchids without endangering them. If you’re not sure, ask.

Over the years, I’ve looked at lots of pictures of Stanhopeas to try to figure them out. It’s easy to see that the blossoms are large, showy, and unusual. It’s harder to make sense of their incredible shapes. They could be fantastic birds, weird bugs, or strange humanoids. So if these photos leave you somewhat mystified, you’re not alone.

These flowers don’t last long, only 2 or 3 days. They have a strong, sweet fragrance. Blooms descend from the bottom of the plant. That’s not a problem when growing as epiphytes, but in cultivation, Stanhopeas require a basket or mount. They need fairly bright light, heavy water, regular fertilizer, and winter dormancy. I haven’t been able to grow them myself (the first 6 photos are from the Conservatory of Flowers, 2 are from local orchid shows, and the last one is from Phipps Conservatory.)  Most are large plants, and they’re best suited for growers with a greenhouse, or those who can keep them outdoors in tropical areas.

Different Stanhopea varieties below show more diversity in the family. They’re native to Central and South American rainforests, from Mexico south to Brazil. Most types want intermediate temps, but there are also warm and cool growers. If these flowers have left you a little befuddled, explore more Stanhopea photos online, and maybe you can figure them out.