AboutOrchids

Pseudo-what? That word is pseudobulb, pronounced “SOO-doh-bulb.” Like the bulbs of tulips and daffodils, orchid pseudobulbs store water and nutrients during the dormant season. Many popular orchids, like Cattleyas, Miltonias, and Oncidiums, have them at the bases of their leaves. Pseudobulbs come in a wide variety of forms. They can be egg-shaped, spherical, or flat. Some are smooth, while others are wrinkly. Dendrobium and Epidendrum pseudobulbs look like swollen stems.

No matter what they look like, pseudobulbs serve the same purpose: to provide a reserve of water and nutrients for the orchid. Some varieties can survive for months during a dry season in their native homes. To mimic this natural dormancy, growers can cut back on watering during fall and winter. Wait and watch for the pseudobulbs to shrivel slightly, and then water. Depending on other factors, such as light, temperature, humidity, and air movement, dormant orchids may only need water once or twice a month during winter.

Unlike tulip bulbs, orchid pseudobulbs need to be kept completely above the potting material. They’ll rot underneath bark or moss. The final picture shows a Cattleya with papery sheaths that are typical for some varieties. The sheaths start out green, but eventually dry and fall off.

Orchid varieties without these storage devices, such as Phals, Paphs, and Masdevallias, do not go truly dormant. However, with less light and cooler temperatures in winter, growers can cut back watering slightly. Maintain high humidity for all orchids during winter, whether they have pseudobulbs or not.

San Francisco’s mild climate has been true to form this fall, with recent warm and sunny November days. Even though we’re lacking red and yellow autumn leaves, the garden has both bright colors and muted tones. Fuchsias in the first 2 photos enjoy our cool, foggy climate. It’s no wonder we always have some in bloom. In the third photo, this succulent doesn’t have flowers at the moment, but its leaves make a great blossom substitute.

We have a 2-story-tall Yucca tree in the back garden that blooms reliably in the fall. Dozens of large, bell-shaped flowers emerge above its large, pointed leaves, making the Yucca even a little taller.

Our downstairs neighbor George has added some great color to the garden with wonderful yellow roses. Up on the deck, a light pink Mandevilla blooms with muted hues. It all goes to show that fall colors come in many forms.

These tiny, charming flowers belong to a Stenoglottis, one of the easiest African orchids to grow. With purple polka dots and fringed lips, the flowers provide an enchanting show from late summer though autumn. Dozens of blooms are crowded onto each flower spike, and open sequentially over a few months.

This Stenoglottis is not an air plant like most commonly cultivated orchids. Instead it’s a terrestrial, and can grow in regular potting soil. In its native South African home, it also grows on rocks and rotting logs. Its blooms remain even as its leaves drop before going dormant in winter. I’ve already curtailed watering, and I’ll let it stay dry for its next few months. Eventually the final blooms will fade as well. In spring, new leaves will start to grow from the fleshy roots, and I’ll increase watering and fertilizing.

If you’re looking for some tropical beauty this month, I’d suggest heading to an orchid show. All over the globe, these shows are great opportunities to dive into orchids. If you’ve never been before, I can guarantee that you’ll see flowers with colors and shapes beyond your imagination.

Ok, maybe that title is a little harsh, but I do get frustrated with orchid advice that misses the mark. In today’s sound-bite culture, oversimplification is a perennial problem, and this video clip produced by a local San Francisco TV show (video no longer available) is a good example. While they give generally accurate info, some of their advice could be fatal to your beloved blooms. For instance, the gardening expert in the video says to water your orchid every 7 days when in bloom, and every 10 days when out of bloom. That’s fine if you have a Cattleya, which likes to dry thoroughly, but if you try that with a Masdevallia or Miltonia, which need daily water, you might as well toss them in the trash. I don’t want to use this post to pick apart a well-intentioned news piece, but I will warn you to beware of one-size-fits-all orchid advice. Remember that there are tens of thousands of varieties of orchids, and the perfect growing conditions for a Moth Orchid will kill a Vanda. So how do you know who to believe? Well, AboutOrchids of course! Also, do some reading, check out orchid shows, and visit your local orchid society. You can still enjoy the pretty orchid pictures in the news.

If cold temperatures are confining your gardening to indoors, your orchids can still keep you busy. In addition to the autumn chores I wrote about recently, this is a good time of year to look at light conditions. Orchids that originate from the tropics do not experience very short days or weak sun in their natural habitats. The sun remains strong in the tropics all year. Farther from the equator, the sun weakens considerably in fall and winter. To compensate, growers in temperature climates can gradually move their orchids into brighter light. Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, and Oncidiums can be slowly acclimated to full sun. Even shade lovers, like Phals, Paphs, and Masdevallias, can tolerate a little direct sun. No matter the variety, increase light gradually to prevent sunburn. It usually takes me 2 weeks of gradual adjustments to move them into the brightest locale. Pay special attention to maintaining high humidity with the extra light.

If the sun isn’t cooperative, you may want to add artificial lights to boost light levels for the dormant season. Fluorescent lights work well since they last a long time, use little electricity, and don’t get very hot. Light bulbs should be close to the leaves, just 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) away, but not so close that leaves can burn. Just like natural light, any increases with artificial light need to be done gradually. Burns can cause large dead spots on leaves, usually starting white and then turning black. If leaves turn reddish at the edges, then the orchid is receiving its maximum light exposure. That’s good because it’s a guarantee the orchid is getting enough light to bloom, but stay vigilant to prevent burns.

Remember that most orchids need enough light to keep their leaves a light green color. Dark green leaves may mean insufficient light, while yellow leaves may mean too much light. Most importantly, when spring arrives don’t forget to move orchids back into the shade.

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.