AboutOrchids

We’ve suffered through the COVID19 pandemic for over a year, and there are still in-person shows listed online without any mention of basic safety precautions. It’s ridiculous, and I won’t have any part of their irresponsibility. You won’t find those shows in my list. Below are New Zealand and Australian shows which do have precautions, and one really big online event. The World Orchid Conference is also known as the Orchid Olympics. It happens every three years, and was postponed last year. This month, a limited, in-person exhibit with COVID19 precautions will happen in Taiwan, and much of the conference will happen online. It’s pricey at about $100 (USD) registration fee, but it is a great opportunity for everybody around the world who would like to participate in this major orchid event.

In the UK, Awards of Garden Merit (AGMs) are given to worthy plants, including orchids, by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS.) AGMs are varieties which are reliable, easy to grow, and commonly sold in the UK. The three photos above represent orchids which currently have AGMs. They are Pleione formosana, Stenoglottis longifolia, and Oncidium Sharry Baby, the chocolate scented orchid.

Unlike other orchid awards, these are not given to individual plants. They are presented to species or hybrids which are found to be tough, dependable bloomers with appropriate care. Dozens of orchids have AGMs, such as Jewel Orchids, Lady Slippers, and Cymbidiums. The RHS list has hardiness info, and which kinds can be used alpine or rock gardens. Outside the UK, these plants may not be available for sale.

Lots of orchids have been blooming in our late winter garden, eager for today’s change of season. My favorite purple Zygo reliably boasts stunning flowers, shown in the first row of photos above. Their beauty is surpassed by their sweet fragrance, which is one of my favorites. The second row features a wonderful Coelogyne, which was a gift from a neighbor’s garden. The crystal white flowers have a rich orange lip. In the last Coelogyne photo, there’s a small spider hiding in the petals.

The last two rows of photos contrast two different Cymbidiums. The first row is a hybrid with Cymbidium tracyanum in its parentage, and the second row is Cymbidium tracyanum itself. It’s easy to see the patterns and colors shared between the two. They’re great sights to greet springtime.

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center explains the life lessons offered by North American orchids. If the Queen’s Lady Slipper can take 16 years to bloom, certainly we humans can learn to take our time. When Three Bird Orchids bloom en masse to better attract pollinators, they are exemplifying the importance of teamwork. For all that there is to learn from our native species, it’s important to protect them. Support the fight to save our native plants at the North American Orchid Conservation Center.

The science of orchids is marching forwards. Taipei Times reports on cutting edge genetic discoveries that will change orchid commerce. Researchers in Taiwan, which has a large orchid industry, have identified genes to control flower color, and to prolong the life of blooms. In time, they will be able to create varieties with new colors, quicker growth, and tougher plants. Scientists may be able to extend flowering times, and produce new strains faster. In the future, genetically engineered orchids may be coming to a market near you.

Fortunately, I still have plenty of pictures to enjoy from last year’s orchid show. The Pacific Orchid Expo was spectacular, as always, in late February, 2020. A few weeks later, the San Francisco Bay Area was the first part of the nation to go into lockdown for COVID19.

This year’s show was cancelled, of course. I missed taking loads of pictures, buying a few plants, and chatting with old friends. Last year, I wrote that it’s a shame that San Francisco’s big orchid show only comes around once a year. Now, I’m just hoping that it will happen again. The annual summer show, Orchids in the Park, has already been cancelled for 2021. Meanwhile, it’s easier than ever to stay connected digitally. The San Francisco Orchid Society, like many others, has moved all its activities online, making them accessible from anywhere in the world. Till we meet again…

This month features several online events and a Bay Area Cymbidium sale with COVID19 precautions.

The Species Identification Task Force (SITF) sorts out difficult orchid identities. There are about 30,000 orchid species, and experts with the American Orchid Society work to verify whether awarded plants’ nametags are accurate. Whenever a species receives its first award, it’s automatically reviewed to authenticate its identity. Orchid judges may also ask for confirmation of previously awarded varieties. The SITF examines detailed photos and measurements of the flowers and plants. You can track their progress as they make tricky determinations at the SITF blog. Check out the high quality photos, and see which details help distinguish one orchid from another.

If we find life on Mars, will it be as strange as Australia’s Underground Orchids? These bizarre plants, also known as Rhizanthellas, live their whole lives below ground. They even bloom underground, and smell like vanilla. Known to science since 1928, there are now five identified species around the continent. All five are endangered, and pose unusual conservation challenges, since it’s tough just to find them. Their small tubers and weird pink flowers rarely break the soil surface.

Almost all other orchids have tiny, dust-like seeds which blow in the wind, but Rhizanthella seeds are like little, vanilla-scented ball bearings. They’re probably eaten and dispersed by wallabies and bandicoots, but those animals are extinct in some areas. Reestablishing their populations may be necessary for the long-term survival of these orchids. For now, these alien flowers are still among us.

Orchids have become a big part of Valentine’s Day. If you’ve received one as a gift, here are a few tips to keep your orchid happy and healthy:

To help flowers last longer, place the orchid in an area with high humidity. You can raise humidity levels by grouping plants together, placing them in a bathroom or kitchen, spraying with a mister, or using a cool mist humidifier.

When watering, remove wrappers or decorative containers, at least temporarily, if they block drainage holes. Soak the plant thoroughly with room-temperature water, and let all excess drain from the pot. Don’t let the flowerpot sit in water for too long, or the roots may rot.

Place cut flowers in lukewarm water, and keep out of direct sun. Change the water every couple of days. High humidity can help the blooms last longer.