AboutOrchids

With spectacular white blooms and a sweet scent, this Angraecum offers an elegant display. This species is native to the Comoros Islands and Madagascar. It’s easy to see its similarities with orchid relatives like Darwin’s Orchid, Jumellea, and Oeoniella. All have star-shaped white flowers, and produce rich fragrances at night to attract moth pollinators.

Those moth pollinators have long tongues, so the orchid completes its lure with a drop of nectar at the bottom of a narrow tube called a nectar spur. The flowers have evolved to entice the moth perfectly into position against the sticky yellow pollen. While the moth reaches to receive a nectar reward, it picks up or deposits pollen, and helps the orchid to reproduce.

This Angraecum has a graceful nectar spur up to 4 inches (10 cm) long, more than twice the size of the flower itself. As they develop, the unopened flower buds are dwarfed by their lengthening spurs. Blooms can last a month or more. Like most of its tropical African relatives, this species requires bright light, warm temps, regular water, and high humidity.

Some varieties of orchids need direct morning sun to grow well and bloom. Morning sun is better than afternoon sun because the afternoon sun is usually hotter, and also dries the air more. Dry air can stress orchid plants. They can make better use of the cooler morning sun for photosynthesis. For the same reason, if it’s an unusually hot or dry day, it’s a good idea to shade the orchid from any direct sunlight, and pay extra attention to maintaining good humidity. Common varieties that enjoy morning sun include:

• Cattleyas
• Cymbidiums
• Dendrobiums
• Epidendrums
• Odontoglossums
• Oncidiums
• Vandas

Move plants into brighter light gradually. To prevent sunburn, slowly introduce plants to morning sun over 2 weeks.

No, it’s not a sequel to The Orchid Thief, just some encouraging news that a “Rare British orchid gets police protection from overzealous collectors.” The rare orchid is a Lady Slipper species which still exists in other parts of Europe, but this is the last wild specimen of its kind in Britain. It’s under police protection to prevent irresponsible and selfish orchid collectors from trying to steal it again. Last year, thieves stole part of the plant, but this year, regular police patrols should ensure its safety. Take the legal threat as one of many good reasons why you should never remove an orchid from the wild or cut its flowers.

Of course, orchid conservation doesn’t require a badge. Illinois College students are hoping to return a rare Hawaiian orchid to the wild. Although it’s home to innumerable orchids today, Hawaii’s remoteness meant that only 3 orchid species existed in the islands before humans arrived. Now all 3 native species are seriously endangered, and there are only 36 Platanthera holochila plants remaining in the wild. Hope is coming from an Illinois lab, where hundreds of this species’ seedlings are slowly growing, destined for reintroduction to native habitats in Hawaii. If all goes well, the Illinois College students and their biology professor are hoping to bring the first batch home next March. From colleges to cops, orchids can use everybody’s help in their struggle for survival.

Along with a striking Ghost Orchid, there were some wonderful blooms at last weekend’s Orchid Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania Show in an Erie ice rink. Since I advise against mixing orchids with ice, you’ll be happy to know that the skating ice was covered, and the ice rink was room temperature. Orchids on display, like this Phal, Vanda, and Oncidium, were perfectly comfortable.

There were lots of Lady Slippers on display, too. The next photo shows a Paphiopedilum, or Paph, with the pouch that gives it a classic Lady Slipper shape. The second photo shows a Phragmipedium, or Phrag (pronounced “frag,”) another genus that falls in the Lady Slipper family. This species’ petals can hang down 2.5 feet (76 cm,) making them some of the largest flowers in the world. The third photo shows a Cypripedium, or Cyp (pronouced “sip.”) This species is commonly called the Kentucky Lady Slipper, and has a native range that stretches from Louisiana and Texas north to Ohio.

A few members of the bizarre Bulbophyllum family were also on display. Many flowers from this genus have unusual shapes and moving parts. Some species have foul scents to attract pollinating flies. Admire the flowers, but stick your nose in at your own risk!

Of course, most of the orchids smelled just fine. Other varieties on display included a Laelia, a Masdevallia, and another Vanda. Maybe I’ll need to rethink this orchids-with-ice thing after all.

A blooming Ghost Orchid is a very rare sight, so imagine my surprise when I spotted this beautiful specimen in an ice rink. Made famous with the bestselling book The Orchid Thief and the movie Adaptation, Ghost Orchids are rare in the wild, tough to grow, and uncommon in cultivation. It’s the holy grail for orchid geeks like me. I’d never seen one in bloom at any orchid show, botanical garden, or greenhouse, so it was quite an unexpected discovery last weekend at the Orchid Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania Show in Erie.

This Ghost Orchid was part of an exhibit by Kim and Edgar Stehli of Windswept in Time Orchids. They’re located in Broadview Heights, Ohio, and can be reached by phone for sales at 440-838-5757. Ghost Orchids amaze with their stunning, fragrant white flowers and lack of leaves. They grow by using chlorophyll in their roots. Some of these photos show the greenish-white tangle of roots dangling behind the exotic flower. Ghost Orchids are native to swamps and coastal forests in South Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba.

I’ll post more photos from Erie soon, but this remarkable bloom is my choice as the highlight of the show held in an ice rink. Even if I’m lucky enough to see another Ghost Orchid flower again, I’ll bet it won’t be so close to a Zamboni.

Motherhood can bring many joys to one’s life, but an orchid gift for Mother’s Day may feel a little daunting. Sure, it’s a beautiful token of appreciation, but if your maternal instincts cause you to fret about its care, that orchid may cause you some anxiety.

Take a deep breath and relax. Caring for orchids is much easier than caring for children. With a few basic care tips, you’ll find that most common orchid varieties don’t deserve their finicky reputation. Many are resilient plants that can take some neglect or mistreatment. With some care, they can keep their exotic tropical flowers for extended periods. They may even surprise you and bloom again in just a few months. And once more, you’ll know that special parental pride, maybe similar to when your child brings home an “A” on their report card. So enjoy that orchid gift as a token of love like it was intended, and trust that your maternal skills can allow it to flourish.

With a bewildering variety of orchid choices for Mother’s Day, it helps to know some basics. Commonly sold orchids have varying charms and care needs, and you wanna pick what mama’s gonna like. For example, if mom likes bright colors, you might try Phals, or Moth Orchids. They can delight with weeks or even months of blooms, and don’t mind low light. Or, she may prefer bright yellow Oncidiums, with masses of small flowers. The nickname “Dancing Lady Orchids” aptly describes their arching sprays of flowers moving in a breeze.

Maybe mom’s style is better suited for Paphs, or Lady Slippers, which have solitary flowers that make a bold statement. They’re as exotic as they come, and can grow in low light. Epidendrums also make bold statements with colorful balls of flowers, but they need brighter light.

Does mom prefer fragrant flowers? Elegant Cattleyas are the classic corsage orchids, with large blooms and sweet scents. Dendrobiums offer exotic flowers in a wide range of dramatic shapes and colors, and some varieties are fragrant.

Finally, if mom prefers really low maintenance, there are many beautiful orchid books. A few of my favorites include:

• Orchids
• Moth Orchids: The Complete Guide to Phalaenopsis
• Rainforest

Masdevallias come in many magnificent forms, but few inspire more superlatives than Masdevallia coccinea. Its large flowers sit atop stems up to 2 ft. (60  cm) tall. There are numerous natural color varieties, like eye-catching red, purple, orange, yellow, white, or in this case, hot pink. This form also has a contrasting yellow throat.

This species grows at high elevations  in the Andes of Colombia and Peru. Said to grace the rainforests around Machu Picchu, it thrives with cool temps, regular water, high humidity, and constant air movement. In the past, mine has sulked on hot summer days when San Francisco has lost its air-conditioning fog layer. Fortunately, Dave was able to capture this wonderful flush of blooms on camera before temperatures warmed.

Masdevallia coccinea has been used as a hybrid parent for decades, and its characteristics appear in many modern orchid hybrids. The final photos show flower close-ups and an unopened flower bud with pink and yellow showing through. It’s no surprise that it lends some magic to the Lost City of the Incas.

Orchid shows take place in every corner of the globe this month, so it’s a great time to grab an orchid fix. Many are perfectly timed on the second weekend of May for Mother’s Day. The schedule will slow down next month, since summer heat complicates orchid logistics in the Northern Hemisphere. You can buy a gift for Mom, and scratch that orchid itch at the same time.

Read the rest of this post »

One of the best questions to ask before buying an orchid is “what kind should I buy?”  Many people buy an orchid because they like the flowers, without regard for its care needs. However, different orchids can require different temperature ranges, light levels, and watering schedules. If it’s not the right orchid for the available conditions, the plant suffers. I’ve succumbed to floral temptation even when I know better, so I can’t point fingers, but I can suggest that you plan ahead. If you want to keep your orchid long-term, first figure out what conditions you can provide, and then select a suitable variety. The orchid family is large and diverse, and you can find one for almost any environment.

• For warm temps, try Phals, Paphs, Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, or Oncidiums.
• For cooler temps, look at Cymbidiums, Masdevallias, Miltonias, or Odontoglossums.
• In low light conditions, use Phals, Paphs, or Masdevallias.
• In high light (direct sun for part of the day,) Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, Oncidiums, and Vandas can thrive.
• Cymbidiums, Masdevallias, Miltonias, Paphs, Phals, and Vandas need water frequently.
• Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, and Oncidiums like to dry out, so they don’t need water as often.
• All orchids need good humidity and air movement.
• If you’re buying an orchid for Mother’s Day, mom will probably want to keep it blooming as long as possible, and maybe even try to make it re-bloom. Think about what growing conditions she can provide in her home or office. If your mom is online, you can send her to AboutOrchids to learn the basics. And it wouldn’t hurt to buy her a nice orchid book that she can enjoy, no matter how the plant fares.
• Check out my previous posts with orchid buying tips.