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.
The most popular orchids sold today are Phals, or Moth Orchids. Since their blooms can last for months, and they grow in the same light and temperature ranges of our homes and offices, their popularity is easy to understand. It’s no wonder that orchid growers have concentrated their attentions on this genus, and created thousands of hybrids. Over the past few years, I’ve seen a great selection of smaller and smaller hybrids, perfectly suited for a windowsill, a crowded desk, or a city apartment. This mini Phal hardly takes up any space at all.
It’s too easy to rationalize bringing home more beautiful blooms when the entire plant is only 8 inches (20 cm) tall. These flowers are just 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) across. Their diminutive size belies how sturdy they are. Like their larger Phal cousins, it’s even possible to force these mini orchids to rebloom.
As promised, here are some additional photos from our trip to San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers. I’ll start with more warm growing orchids, like these 2 gorgeous Paphs, followed by 2 colorful members of the Oncidium family. Among its thousands of tropical plants and flowers, the Conservatory has a resident gecko population to help with pest control. These beautiful, un-eaten blooms are proof that the geckoes are on the job.
When we started to sweat in the displays with warm growing plants, it was great to step into the Highland Tropics Gallery to cool off. The Conservatory has a large collection of cool growing orchids, native to tropical mountain rainforests. These extraordinary members of the Masdevallia family enjoy the cool temperatures. Some are full of color, while others gleam in translucent white.
I’ve saved the strangest flowers for last. Among the more unusual blooms are 2 small, cool growing Masdevallia relatives. The first photo shows a tiny Scaphosepalum flower, seemingly in flight. The second photo may look like a fuzzy caterpillar, but it’s actually a group of miniature Stelis flowers. Finally, a large, weird (non-orchid) flower is known as the Bat Flower, or Cat’s Whiskers. They’re all part of the Conservatory’s remarkable displays.
This is just a partial list of orchid shows happening all over the world this month. They’re great opportunities to see lots of amazing flowers, meet other orchid enthusiasts, and talk to experts. Did I mention you can buy beautiful orchids for your own collection, too?
Millions of tourists visit San Francisco every year to see the sights, but since Golden Gate Park is across town from most hotels, a lot of people miss it. That’s a shame, because the park has plenty to see. The Conservatory of Flowers is a stunningly beautiful building, both inside and out. It’s a quick walk from the orchids at another shining jewel of the park, the Academy of Sciences. Built in 1878, the Conservatory is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its design was inspired by the Palm House at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in London.
Among its thousands of rainforest plants spread between 5 exhibits, the Conservatory keeps lots of orchids on display. These Cattleya hybrids added bright colors and sweet scents during a recent visit.
Large Vanda flowers bloom in the Aquatic Plants Gallery, where the humidity is always high. The last 2 photos show Phal hybrids with plentiful blooms. In case these shots haven’t yet convinced you to visit Golden Gate Park, I’ll have even more Conservatory photos in another post soon.
