AboutOrchids

Scientists studying the large and diverse orchid family continue to find bizarre pollination tricks. An endangered orchid species from southern China is the first orchid known to use both flowers and leaves as part of its deception. This rare lady slipper looks and smells like it has a fungal infection. Cypripedium fargesii lives as high as 10,500 ft. (3200m) in the mountains of Sichuan and Hubei. Along with moldy smelling flowers, its leaves have reddish-brown splotches that make it look sick. To complete the illusion, the splotches even have microscopic hairs which resemble fungal spores. It’s a convincing deception for fungus-eating, flat-footed flies. They think they’ve found a feast, but instead leave with orchid pollen on their backs. Scientists from St. Louis University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences hope to learn how the orchid can mimic the fungus so well without becoming infected itself.

Orchids are top picks for Mother’s Day gifts. Whether you’re buying an orchid for mom to keep short-term or long-term, there’s no lack of choices. Those sold in supermarkets and department stores are hybrids, bred to be tough. Phals are the most common variety. Their blooms can last for months with good basic orchid care. Mini Phals can fit into tight spots; larger varieties can make big splashes.

Phals are just the tip of the iceberg for orchid gift choices. Cattleyas, like those in the next two photos, also make elegant presents. They’re the classic corsage orchid, and many have wonderful fragrances. Paphs, or lady slippers, present a whole new catalog of possibilities. They don’t have scents, but offer a wide range of dramatic shapes and colors.

Another lady slipper and two very different Epidendrums show a small sample of the orchid family’s incredible diversity. Check out how to choose the right orchid variety, how to pick a healthy plant, and more orchid buying tips to help you find the best gift. Tropical blossoms like these are a sure way to inspire lots of Mother’s Day smiles.

Good watering practices are essential for healthy orchids. Unfortunately, there’s no single formula for how often to water. Instead, growers must account for many interrelated factors. Knowing what kind of orchid you have provides a basic schedule. Then, consider growing conditions which demand additional water:

• When orchids are actively growing, emerging leaves, roots, and flowers need regular hydration.
• High temps, above 85°F (29°C,) dry plants faster. For cool growers, days above 75°F (24°C) demand more water.
• Plants in full sun or exposed conditions can lose moisture rapidly.
• Longer days of spring and summer mean that plants are working longer hours to photosynthesize.
• Extra water helps orchids to cope with low humidity. In hot, arid weather, it’s good to splash water on leaves and roots.
• Orchids need moving air, but strong air movement dries plants quickly. Windy days or powerful fans can desiccate orchids.
• Plants in small pots dry out faster, and may wither on warm or windy days.
• Plants in clay pots dry faster than those in plastic or ceramic. Clay is porous, and water quickly evaporates through the sides of the pot.

The UK is anticipating a wild orchid summer. With 50 fascinating British species, The Independent has blooming schedules and helpful info for finding orchids in the wild. The article has good photos, including shots of some European relations to the Epipactis and Orchis that I grow. The Wildlife Trusts, a conservation group, has more info online. Go to their Orchid Sites page to download “40 Places to See Orchids.” This colorful guide highlights nature reserves all over the UK.

Enjoy wild orchids if you find them, but take away only memories and photos. Never remove orchid species from the wild, or damage them in any way. It’s illegal, and it endangers the plants.

You didn’t think I could fit all our great photos from the Conservatory of Flowers into one post, did you? Even with another post, it just scratches the surface. There’s so much to inspire and admire; it’s a spoil of photographic riches.

Botanical beauty takes many forms, especially in the orchid world. I don’t know what Dracula variety is in the next photo, but it’s easy to see why some kinds have the Spanish nickname “monkey face” (“cara de mono.”) A hairy Bulbophyllum bloom in the middle photo also seems more like a mammal than a plant. The maidenhair fern in the last shot imparts a leafier impression.

The spoils for our cameras also include more common orchid varieties, like a Miltonia, a Cymbidium, and a Masdevallia. They’re just a sampling of the wonders at the Conservatory of Flowers.

The Center for Conservation of Amazonian Flora began 3 decades ago with one man’s dream and a little patch of land. In 1980, an Ecuadoran accountant named Omar Tello bought 15 acres (6 hectares) of pasture, and began to restore it to tropical rainforest. He had no formal schooling in horticulture or biology, but that little patch is now a thriving botanical garden. It has over 1200 native plant species, including 200 orchid species, like Cattleyas, Masdevallias, and Vanillas. Check out an incredible slideshow of some of these orchids. The garden also has become a vital home for Amazon birds, insects, and animals. Known by its Spanish acronym CERFA (Centro de Rescate de la Flora Amazónica,) it’s attracting support from volunteers and international conservation groups.

Tello is working with these groups to expand his little patch by the foothills of the Andes. CERFA is trying to buy a 62 acre (25 hectare) parcel next door, before a growing nearby town swallows it up. With the additional land, the garden would be big enough for larger animals like monkeys, sloths, and anteaters to move in. You can help by supporting the garden directly, or by donating to EcoMinga or other CERFA friends. Dollars, Pounds, and Euros go far in Ecuador, so even a small contribution can make a big difference to save Amazonian flora.

From the outside, San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers is a fascinating building. Completed in 1878, it’s the oldest building in Golden Gate Park, and it’s on the National Register of Historic Places. It was one of the first municipal conservatories in the USA, and has a central dome that’s almost 60 ft. (18m) high. However, I’m more interested in the inside, where details of history and architecture give way to tropical flowers. Of course, there are plenty of orchid blooms on display.

The Conservatory is an elegant Victorian glasshouse, but inside it feels like a huge terrarium. Incredible, exotic flowers fill the plant galleries. Colorful bromeliads, strange gingers, and bright anthuriums give the orchids plenty of competition.

For years, there have been myths and debates about the Conservatory’s origins. I’d often heard that its pieces were manufactured in England, and then it was imported and put together here. It turns out that there’s no proof of this. In fact, it was built from California’s Coast Redwoods, which suggests local construction.  The Conservatory’s mysteries complement its great botanical collection. However it was built, it’s the perfect home for lots of fascinating tropical beauty.

A small Australian lab is offering new hope for the Brilliant Sun Orchid. This endangered species is one of 15 rare Aussie natives that the lab is trying to grow from seed to bolster wild populations. Thelymitra mackibbinii, a.k.a. the Brilliant Sun Orchid, has suffered from habitat destruction, competition from alien plants, and damage from introduced animals. “The total number of wild plants is less than 30 and the future for this plant was thought to be bleak,” says Dr. Noushka Reiter. The Australian government, volunteer groups, and the Australian Native Orchid Society are sponsoring her lab in the state of Victoria. “Some of the species that we’re growing here, it’s the first time that they’ve ever been germinated and grown so it’s an exciting process with lots of firsts.” The news article includes great photos of the orchids in the wild and in the lab.

It’s no surprise to find major orchid shows in Sydney, Houston, Montreal, and Dresden. But there are orchid lovers, too, in Slovenia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Haiti. No matter where on the globe, orchid shows are a great way to enjoy amazing flowers, meet locals growers and experts, and feed your orchid addiction.

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Moving orchids into shadier areas is standard spring care, but don’t put them in the dark! Seeing orchids growing wild in the tropics, I’ve been amazed how many grow in full sun. Sure, Vandas and Epidendrums love sun, but even lower light varieties, like Phals and Paphs, can handle direct sun for part of the day. Sometimes, their leaves turn red from the strong light. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, leaves may be completely purple-red, have red on the edges, or have a subtle reddish tint.

While some orchid varieties will sunburn and fry in these bright conditions, a surprising number can manage if they have regular water and good humidity. Red leaves are a defense from burning, but also a guarantee that the orchid is receiving sufficient light to thrive. Contrast these high light levels with those found in many homes and offices. In dim conditions, most orchids won’t flower. If yours won’t bloom, consider letting the sunshine in. Morning sun is best, since it’s less likely to burn the leaves. Move the plant into brighter light gradually, over 2 weeks or more. Always maintain good humidity and air movement, and provide extra shade on hot days. Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, and Oncidiums are a few kinds that like some sunshine. Their leaves don’t need to turn red; a light green color usually indicates that the plant is receiving enough light.