AboutOrchids

These orchids I can’t kill, because they’re part of a coloring book. In lieu of water and fertilizer, I’ll need crayons. And while I appreciate the subject matter, I think I’ll leave the coloring to a visiting niece or nephew. There’s a helpful glossary in the back for all the big botanical words in the orchid descriptions. Since there’s no pronunciation guide, though, we might be in trouble when the kids ask us how to pronounce “Coelogyne pandurata.” Pass the purple crayon, please.

Orchids of the World Coloring Book, by Virginie Fowler Elbert, Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1983.

Here are some more pictures from our recent visit to Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA.

Cymbidium flowers

Originally I mis-identified this orchid. Its correct name is Bifrenaria harrisoniae. The center looks like a smiley face with a fuzzy beard.

In high humidity at Phipps, orchid roots grow exposed to the open air. The roots growing around a wooden basket show how an orchid attaches to a tree branch in the wild.

Dendrobium nobile is a fragrant orchid native to the Himalayas.

We took a trip with Dave’s parents to beautiful Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA. Among the wonderful gardens in their enormous Victorian greenhouses, Phipps has an orchid room and a Thai rainforest exhibit. Lots were in bloom in the orchid room, but none were in bloom in the Thai exhibit.

Yellow Phals

This Paphiopedilum has petals 2 ft (0.6 m) long

A statue of the goddess Hebe presides over a spring garden inside Phipps.

It’s a sign of springtime that I have so many orchids starting to bloom. This little red Maxillaria tenuifolia may not look as impressive as larger orchids, but it packs a big scent. This single flower fills our front room with a sweet coconut aroma. It is native to Central American jungles, and enjoys warm temperatures and bright light.

This Dockrillia striolata flower opened today. This orchid is a small Dendrobium relative from Australia. It was a pleasant surprise this morning, because I’ve had this orchid for 6 years, but it’s never bloomed for me. I’m not sure what I finally did right to help it bloom. Yes, that’s a fat aphid in the flower, but I try to avoid using pesticides, so a few bugs are inevitable.

Orchid shows are a great way to enjoy beautiful flowers, even if you don’t have a green thumb. Here’s a list of some shows happening in North America this month. There are many more in the USA and all over the world this spring, so keep your eyes open for shows near you.

April 3-6

Genesee Region Orchid Society Show, Eisenhart Auditorium, Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Ave, Rochester, NY, 14450, (585) 377-5895

April 4-6

Jamaica Orchid Society Show, Assembly Hall, Mona Campus, Univ. of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica

April 4-6

San Diego County Orchid Society Show, Scottish Rite Temple, 1895 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA, (858) 748-0731

April 11-13

Central Vancouver Island Orchid Society Show, Country Club Mall, 3200 N Island Hwy, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, (250) 248-3478

April 19-20

Sacramento Orchid Society Spring Show, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 6151 H St., Sacramento, CA, (530) 672-0776

April 19-20

Toronto Artistic Orchid Assoc. Show, Chinese Cultural Center of Greater Toronto, 5183 Sheppard Ave., E Scarborough, Ont, Canada

April 25-27

Terrebonne Orchid Society Show, Southland Mall, 3038 West Park Ave., Houma, LA, (985) 594-4050

April 26-27

Vero Beach Orchid Society Show, McKee Botanical Gardens, Vero Beach, FL, (772) 563-0070

There is no simple formula for how many times a week an orchid should be watered. I give some estimates on the pages that describe orchid care for common species, but they are really meant as general guidelines, not a strict set of watering rules. You have to factor in temperature, humidity, light, and time of year. As any of these factors vary, watering is affected. For instance, a warm or windy day will dry out an orchid faster, and require an increase in water. A cool, gray winter day dictates less water. So start by following a formula if you must, but start to notice weather and seasonal variations. Then adjust your watering accordingly.

… and the day is the first day of Spring. These beautiful Jumellea arachnantha blooms made for a great equinox celebration. It’s native to the Comoros Islands by Madagascar, and the flowers have a strong fragrance during the day.

Spring is on the way, which means I am already busy repotting. With the season bringing stronger sunlight and more warmth, most orchids start a cycle of growth. It’s the best time to replace old potting material and provide an open, fresh environment for new roots.

Years ago, I was shocked when I first saw an orchid expert repotting a plant. He pulled the orchid from the pot, and shook it clean of potting material. Then he took out a scissors and started cutting away, removing unhealthy and dead parts of the plant, including dead roots. It looked like the plant was being butchered! Of course, rough treatment like this takes a skilled hand so that healthy leaves and roots are not damaged. Nonetheless, repotting orchids creates a new respect for their toughness.

This beautiful Helcia sanguinolenta flower has been open for a few days. They live as epiphytes at elevations as high as 10,000 feet (3000 meters) in the Andes of Ecuador. Its native climate is similar to San Francisco’s, with mild temperatures and foggy days.