AboutOrchids

When trying to fight insect pests, remember that some of your best allies are other insects. For every aphid, mite, or beetle munching on a flower bud, there are hungry ladybugs, dragonflies, and spiders looking for lunch. These and many other beneficial insects work for free, have no toxic side effects, and only wish to be left alone to go about their business.

Orchid growers who keep plants outdoors know that bugs are inevitable. It’s easy to reach for the insecticide, but consider that you’ll kill beneficial insects along with pests. With predators gone, the pest population often returns unimpeded, resulting in an expensive and toxic cycle of chemical use. Without insecticides to interfere, Mother Nature can establish a balanced ecosystem. Beneficial insect predators keep plant eaters in check, and you only need to monitor that your bug-catching workforce is doing the job. In the event of a pest invasion, you can supplement natural predator populations by purchasing ladybugs or beneficial nematodes. If you feel that you need to use chemicals, choose pesticides that only target specific insects, like BT for caterpillars and mosquitoes, so beneficials won’t die with the pests. Let those good bugs stick around, and let Mother Nature work for you.

When local meteorologists use the phrase “offshore flow,” it’s going to heat up here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Orchid growers on the coast, like me, normally take advantage of the cool fog flowing off the Northern Pacific to maintain good humidity. Those moderate conditions allow many orchid varieties to grow outdoors all year. But when conditions change to offshore flow, the typical marine influence disappears. Instead of cool, moist breezes blowing from the ocean, hot, dry air flows from inland. For example, today it’s 83F (28C) in the shade, 92F (33C) on the back deck, and a desert-like 13% humidity.

Since I don’t have any automatic watering systems, that means I have my work cut out for me. With my mister bottle for indoor orchids and a hose for outdoor orchids, I spray down the plants numerous times during the day. It’s more about wetting the leaves and roots than watering the potting material. In addition, I wet down any surfaces, like the wood surface of our deck, so the evaporating water can supplement the meager humidity.

Even some delicate orchid varieties, like this Masdevallia which likes to stay below 75F (24C) all year, can handle the heat as long as there’s good humidity. Fortunately, this hot spell is only forecast to last for the weekend, so the fog can take over again soon. But for now, I have to grab my mister bottle and go…

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My own orchid collection has species and hybrids from all over the world, but only one that’s native to San Francisco. It may be less glamorous than its tropical relatives, but this Epipactis, or Stream Orchid, really enjoys the local climate. This species has a large range over western North America, spanning from Canada south to Mexico, and from California east to Texas.

Also known as the False Ladyslipper, the Stream Orchid is not an air plant. It’s a terrestrial orchid that lives in moist soils along streams, on cliff faces, and in mountain bogs. The plant dies back during winter, and re-emerges from underground tubers the next spring.

Many terrestrial orchids are difficult to grow, requiring highly specialized conditions (yet another reason why you should NEVER remove wild orchids from their natural homes.) However, Epipactis gigantea is relatively easy to cultivate, and adapts to a wide range of conditions. I keep mine in regular potting soil, and keep the pot in a tray of water so it never dries out. It loves a good dose of compost fertilizer, which has helped my plant grow into a vigorous specimen. Certainly it seems right at home.

Orchid shows wind down in the Northern Hemisphere, as summer heat complicates orchid logistics. The Native Orchid Conference in Edmonton, Canada is a notable exception. Starting June 12th, the conference includes perfectly timed field-trips to see North American native orchids at peak blooming times. Meanwhile, as winter begins Down Under, Australian orchid lovers can find plenty of shows.

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If you’re in London, there’s still one more day to catch the Chelsea Flower Show. It’s not an orchid show, but it is the most famous flower show in the world. Among the roses and royals, there are lots of orchids. In fact, the Royal Horticultural Society has proclaimed an “Orchid Bonanza” at this year’s show. There are more orchid displays than ever, and a Lady Slipper species, Cypripedium flavum, won third place for Best Flower in Show.

If, like me, you’re very unlikely to make it to London in time, you can still enjoy this article about the show in The Baltimore Sun. They have a nice photo gallery that includes 4 pictures of Phals.

This BBC article features an award-winning Miltonia display. There’s a good photo gallery there, too.

AsiaOne News has a story about Queen Elizabeth admiring some Taiwanese orchids during her visit to the show.

Also check out this article from the Telegraph, “Guns and chainsaws highlight plight of the rainforests” about an award-winning display that pleads for conservation. It’s an essential message, even among all those dazzling flowers.

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.