AboutOrchids

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.

No, they were not functional during the show. These hand-made porcelain urinals are the work of California artist Clark Sorensen, and were featured at last week’s Pacific Orchid Expo here in San Francisco. If anyone is in doubt about your love of orchids, these would certainly prove your devotion, and then some.

I’m also including a few more pictures of real, non-porcelain orchids from last week’s show.

Since we don’t own a car (a big hassle here in San Francisco,) Dave and I usually head to the SF orchid show with our friend Kim. She’s kind enough to give us a ride and help us transport our new orchid purchases home. But this year Kim couldn’t make it, so Dave brought me on the motorcycle. Getting there was no problem, but getting half a dozen orchids home on the motorcycle takes some planning. So, armed with an array of knapsacks and tank bags, after the show we carefully packed the orchids we’d bought, and hoped for the best. I’m happy to report complete success this year — Dave safely drove us home, half way across San Francisco, and the orchids survived just fine. We also packed our cameras, and took lots of pictures. Enjoy some of Dave’s amazing photos. I’ll save some others for another post.

Unconventional orchid transport

There’s a great article in the New York Sun about the NY Botanical Garden’s annual orchid show. It lasts for 6 weeks, Feb. 23rd to April 6, so those of you lucky enough to be in NYC, you have no excuse to miss it.

You’ll definitely find me at the San Francisco Orchid Society’s annual show, the Pacific Orchid Exposition, held at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion. This year’s theme is “Orchids Gone Wild,” and the show runs February 28 – March 2. There will be thousands of stunning orchids on display and for sale. You’ll also find lots of great orchid books, artwork, potting demos, and docent tours. Here are some pics from last year’s show. Advance tickets and more info at www.orchidsanfrancisco.org.