AboutOrchids

If you’d enjoy having a pet bird, but don’t want the noise, smell, and mess, this little orchid may be your solution. Named Ornithophora, its flowers look like little birds with head, beak, long neck, and wings spread out behind. As an added bonus, it has a light, sweet scent. I’ve been growing this reliable species from Brazil for years, and it’s been a regular bloomer. When Dave zooms in with the camera, you can really admire its intricate flowers.

This Oncidium relative takes up much less space than an aviary. It’s a mini orchid with flowers just 0.4 inches (1 cm) high. The blooms may be small, but there are lots of them, with each spike carrying a dozen or more. They can last as long as 2 months with regular water and high humidity.

Some orchids are undergoing name changes as scientists use DNA analysis to better understand the massive orchid family. This species used to be named Sigmatostalix, but is now called Ornithophora. No matter the name, this easy grower is a great alternative to changing the newspaper in a birdcage.

Britain’s Prince Charles has called for urgent protection for British wildflowers, including native British orchids. His call comes after release of a report by the conservation charity Plantlife, titled “The Ghost Orchid Declaration.” (By the way, the ghost orchid in Britain shares a common name with the ghost orchid I’ve written about in Florida, but they’re actually very different species.) The report raises an alarm that hundreds of species of wildflowers are in danger, and worries that the government neglects wildflowers in its environmental policies. Existing British laws haven’t stopped the loss of native wildflowers from intensive farming, climate change, and habitat destruction. As a result, British orchids such as lady slippers are in danger of dying out. With no time to lose, at least the wildflowers have royalty in their corner.

Orchid Conservation International (OCI) is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes preservation of rare and endangered orchids and their habitats. Orchids have not had a central conservation organization like many endangered animal groups have. OCI was established in the UK to provide a base for worldwide orchid conservation activities. These efforts include public education about orchids, such as this Saturday’s upcoming talk in London. On Saturday, October 17, orchid expert Professor Mark Chase will speak about “Why Orchids Were So Important to Darwin” at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. OCI has a website redesign underway, but you can still support this worthwhile organization by joining as a member, attending their talks, making a donation, or purchasing their posters.

When it comes to the all-time record holders for blooming orchids, look no further than the Epidendrum family. The 3 varieties pictured here share the admirable distinction of staying in bloom all year in our garden. The red ones have been blooming continuously for over 6 years, persisting even in our cool, gray winters. They were growing wild in the backyard of a student of mine in San Francisco’s Twin Peaks neighborhood, and she gave me some cuttings. Much to my delight, they have proven virtually indestructible. The orange and purple varieties are later additions.

These Epidendrums have tall, reed-like stems and stiff leaves that have survived strong winds, rains, heat waves, and even hailstorms. Their durability extends to their ability to grow in a variety of potting media, and they can thrive in regular soil. They’re a favorite lunch stop for hummingbirds and butterflies, too.

Not all varieties of Epidendrum can handle full sun or chilly temperatures, so if you want to find permanent bloomers for your own neck of the woods, it may take some research and experimentation. Since all 3 of these color varieties came to me as cuttings without name tags, I’m left to marvel at their tenacity, but cannot give them due credit. I believe the red variety is Epidendrum radicans, but no matter where they live in the Epidendrum family tree, they’ll always have a home in our garden.

This month there are dozens of orchid shows throughout the world, in cities from Honolulu to Montreal to Lima. There are also large shows in Washington, Dallas, San Diego, and all over Florida.

For orchid lovers who live in tropical areas like Hawaii, and subtropical areas like Florida or the California Coast, attaching orchids to a tree can be a fascinating way to see how they really grow. While it’s true that “Mother Nature intended for orchids to grow in trees,” there are some pitfalls to tying a treasured plant to a branch. Master Gardener Christine Winter Juneau explains the ups and downs of going natural in an article on SunSentinel.com. If you live in a suitable climate and want to try, her article will get you started with the basics. She also suggests creative alternatives and half-measures that can provide some of that air-plant experience. If you want to get serious, though, you need to read Growing Orchids in Your Garden by Robert Friend, which gives helpful and thorough info on growing orchids up a tree.

Depending on your local climate, autumn brings shorter days, cool temperatures, and some corresponding autumn chores. As temperatures dip, you’ll need to bring warm growing orchids inside.  Take the opportunity to clean off dead leaves and weeds. Check for pests, paying attention to the undersides of leaves and the potting media. Although I try to keep pesticide use to a minimum, a little prevention now can save a lot of headaches later. I give my orchids a dose of mild insecticidal soap before they come inside.

If you fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer, like 30-10-10, its time to switch to a low nitrogen variety, such as 10-30-30. No matter what kind of fertilizer you use, start to taper off with weaker solution and less frequent doses. Many orchids are beginning to enter a dormant stage. Start to reduce watering for Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, Miltonias, Odontoglossums, Oncidiums, and Vandas. This mimics the start of the dry season in their jungle homes, and it’s part of the annual cycle they need to bloom. Maintain good humidity as always, and compensate for the dry air of home and office heating.

If a few lower leaves yellow or drop, don’t panic. Some Dendrobium varieties completely shed their leaves, but they’re just dormant, not dead. Continue to give them good light and humidity, and they’ll spring back to life in a few months.

If your Phals aren’t blooming right now, give them a few weeks of cooler nighttime temperatures. This can cause them to start growing a flower spike. Then you’ll really have some fall color to enjoy.

From the equator to the poles, today the entire planet has 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. As the seasons cycle on, our garden is still in full swing. We’re enjoying these sunflowers, passionflowers, and amaryllis. The amaryllis originally came from Dave’s garden in New Orleans, where it bloomed during the summer heat in July. With lots of warm days typical of California in September, it’s now blooming on a West Coast schedule.

Masses of blooms multiply the beauty in these groups of flowers. Clusters of Lantana, Iochroma, and Hesperanthes attract butterflies and hummingbirds into our urban garden.

In the first shot below, Mediterranean hibiscus is a bumblebee favorite. You can see how they’ve knocked orange pollen onto the white petals. Next, the tiny Sweet Alyssum flowers give off a sweet scent, and lots of little seeds guarantee that this annual returns each year. Finally, the Epipactis seedpod I mentioned at the beginning of the summer split open on a hot day. With thousands of microscopic seeds blown by the wind, a few may land in good spots and start to grow. Since this orchid is a San Francisco native, it’ll be right at home.

Flower Power is the story of an orchid skeptic. In the article published in a New Zealand paper, the writer ventures from disinterest in orchids to finally falling under their spell. On the way, he wonders if orchids are a form of higher intelligence, worries about their possible sinister intentions, and marvels at their evolutionary prowess. It’s an enjoyable cautionary tale that “be it love or lunacy, [orchids] seem to enslave their fanciers.” If you’re in New Zealand, don’t miss the Auckland Museum’s Mystery of the Orchid exhibition that inspired the article.

The phrase “stiff upper lip” usually describes the resolve of the British people, but it’s also an apt description for this Cyrtochilum. This orchid is an Oncidium relative from high-elevation cloud forests in the South American Andes, and it looks like it has teeth. The white “teeth” are actually part of the flower’s lip. It may appear delicate, but the lip is quite sturdy, and feels stiff to the touch.

The 3 inch (7.6 cm) flowers show off beautiful shades of yellow and purple, and the fascinating 3-D lip really gives the Brits some competition. Dave took photos at a variety of angles, so you can better appreciate the strange flower structure.

As proof of its fortitude, in the wild this species can handle freezes down to 25F (-4C.) However, if you have one in your collection, try to avoid letting the plant freeze. It should survive, but it may suffer some damage or not bloom as well. This plant lives outdoors all year here in San Francisco, and I try to keep it on the dry side during its winter dormancy.