AboutOrchids

This month, there are a few virtual orchid events, and two in-person events with clear COVID19 precautions.

These brilliant magenta flowers belong to an unusual orchid subspecies. It’s a little orchid with a big name, Arpophyllum giganteum subspecies alpinum. It bears many similarities to its close relation, Arpophyllum giganteum, whose purple flowers are shown in the final photo below. Both are cool growers. They’ve been reliable bloomers for years, putting up clusters of small, colorful flowers. But the alpinum subspecies is dwarfed by its relative: a single leaf of the main species is larger than the entire subspecies plant. My alpinum plant is about one foot (30 cm) wide by 8 inches (20 cm) tall, with 6 inch (15 cm) leaves. Each leaf of the larger plant can reach 2 feet (61 cm) long or more! My entire plant is about 4 feet (122 cm) wide by 3 feet (91 cm) tall.

The two varieties have different color blooms, but their flower shapes and sizes are very close. As its name suggests, the alpinum subspecies comes from high elevations. It can grow above 10,000 feet (3048 m) in the high mountains of Mexico and Central America. Alpine plants stay small in their harsh, windy environments, resulting in compact versions of plants compared to lower elevations. That explains how two very different plants can be the same species.

Four years ago, many, including me, predicted that Trump would be a catastrophe for the USA. Certainly, he has been. He has failed to face a worsening pandemic, an economic collapse, and climate change disasters. His blatant corruption, incompetence, nepotism, and immorality are on display every day. His poisonous bigotry will continue to do damage to our country long after he is gone. He’s given a green light to bullies and tyrants alike, and the world is much worse off for his example. If you think he’s done a good job, then you have terrible news sources, and they have deceived you.

Specific to this website, the election matters to orchid lovers because this president has dismantled dozens of environmental protections. His actions will result in many extinctions, likely including orchids. If you’re a nature lover, this alone is a deal-breaker for supporting the incumbent. Joe Biden has an extensive, proven record, as a senator and a vice president, of supporting essential environmental laws.

For another opinion, here’s the admiral who oversaw the bin Laden raid, a lifelong Republican, on why he’s voting for Biden.

I’m afraid that 2020 will be the most dangerous election in this country since 1860 because of right wing extremists, abetted by this president. We may have violence during and after election day as a result. If the president wins reelection, he will continue to damage our democracy, this country, and the rest of the world. Please vote for Joe Biden for president.

Orchid-gami lets everyone to create great orchid art. It’s an educational project from the North American Orchid Conservation Center and the United States Botanic Garden. They’re created templates for 3D models of native North American orchids. Download the files for free, then print, cut, fold, and glue. Teachers, parents, and kids will love assembling orchids. In the process, they learn about fascinating native plants and their conservation issues. Put a Ghost Orchid in your window, or a Spotted Lady’s Slipper on your table. There are different difficulty levels indicated in the instructions, so start with easier ones. Many models are available as punch-outs, ready to assemble, so that you don’t need to print them yourself. Happy folding!

I’ve got garden pictures to share, but mostly this post is a chance to brag about my Epidendrum, which has been in constant bloom for over 17 years. It began flowering in early 2003, and has never stopped. Through heat waves, driving rains, light frosts, strong winds, pounding hailstorms, pest attacks, and smoky conditions, it persists. Each red and yellow blossom lasts a week or more. A constant resupply of buds crowns the flower spikes, which grow taller until they exhaust themselves. Then they’re replaced by new growth and fresh spikes. The plant itself is about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall by 3 feet (0.9 m) wide, and it lives outdoors all year. It’s a keiki factory, and for years, I’ve given babies to friends and neighbors.

The other garden pictures begin with a brilliant orange California Poppy. There’s also a bright pink Cochlioda vulcanica. It’s a very reliable miniature cool grower, now known as Oncidium vulcanicum. The last two photos show a praying mantis that’s been happily living in one of my Cymbidiums. No matter its alien appearance, I’m happy to have this predator making its home in our garden. It can help itself to all the pests it wants. Whenever I water, it runs up the leaves like it’s greeting me. Really, it’s just trying to escape the cool shower from the hose.

This is the first events post since March. These are virtual except for the Singapore show, which promises to follow COVID19 safety guidelines. Check with your local orchid society for more shows, meetings, talks, and sales which have gone online.

In The Guardian, British botanist James Wong offers tips on figuring out if that rare plant you’re buying is illegal. Rare plants, including endangered orchids, are taken from the wild by unscrupulous sellers. It’s illegal, and contributes to extinctions. In addition, wild plants are unlikely to survive in cultivation. So how can responsible gardeners know if a purchase is legal? Wong’s advice includes buying plants with mass-produced perfection, with all leaves and flowers in great shape.

Plants grown in nursery “captivity” will be cosseted, meaning perfectly symmetrical growth, an upright habit, and zero damage from pests or diseases; in other words, an incredibly standardised, “showroom-new” look. But wild-collected plants have a contorted, asymmetrical character that being grown in a harsher environment gives – which is precisely why they are considered so valuable; and this is a sign that you may be viewing something illegal.

Be especially wary of online purchases from unknown vendors and social media sites. Illegal plants may be included among listings of legitimate plants. Some sellers are blatant enough to show photos of the plants they’ve removed from the wild. If the seller is in another country but doesn’t mention plant import or export certificates, that could be a red flag that the sale is illicit. Additionally, it’s important to hold tech companies responsible for illegal plants listed on their sites. Demand that they responsibly police their sellers to root out illegal plant sales.

We’ve got the equinox blues. No, no, there aren’t any blue flowers here. These blues are the sadness kind, arising from a pandemic, climate change catastrophes, and a fascist government in this country that’s already cheating in the next election. Fortunately, pretty flowers are a great distraction. Celebrate today’s equinox, and enjoy these stunning blooms from an old orchid show. They’re a momentary respite from all the bad things that are happening. Draw strength from them. We all need it.

Fuchsias have lots of flower power, and are perennial garden favorites for humans and hummingbirds. They feature charming blooms which dangle like bells in soft pastel colors, or bright reds, pinks, or purples. They’re great companion plants for orchids, too. Our fuchsias, shown in the first two photos above, grow happily in the sun alongside the cool-growing Cymbidiums, Epidendrums, and Dendrobiums that live on our back patio all year.

Fuchsias are native to mountains from South America into Mexico, with a few varieties from New Zealand and South Pacific islands. They need cool summers, high humidity, and regular waterings, which is why they do well in the San Francisco Bay Area, Pacific Northwest, and other locales with mild temperatures and cooling fog. In warmer climates, give these plants more shade, with little or no full sun. In colder climates, they should be brought indoors over winter, or treated as annuals. They’re fairly easy to start from cuttings, making them ideal for sharing with fellow gardeners.

Fuchsia gall mites can be a big problem, causing deformed and stunted leaves and flowers. These pests are difficult to control, but fortunately some varieties are resistant. I find that it’s easier to grow resistant ones than it is to constantly spray insecticides.

Beyond the colorful hybrids grown by most gardeners, there are some fascinating species. The first two photos in the row above show Fuchsia procubens, a marvelous New Zealand native that I’ve kept for many years. Its petite blossoms are bright green, yellow, and red, capped off with blue pollen. The final photo shows another remarkable variety, Fuchsia paniculata, also known as the Fuchsia Tree. When we lived in San Francisco, our garden had a vigorous Fuchsia Tree which was two stories tall. Its clusters of small flowers were much beloved by butterflies, birds, and bees. Both of these species are resistant to mites.

Orchids are one of the largest plant families in existence, and that family is still growing. There’s always a steady stream of orchids which are new to science. Recent discoveries include a Vanilla species from Vietnam, a Palmorchis from the Amazon, and a bright orange Dendrochilum from the Philippines. There’s also a fascinating little Corybas, or Helmut Orchid, with bright pink stripes on its leaves.

Most scientists are clearer nowadays about saying that these species are “new to science,” not “new discoveries.” This is, of course, because many of these plants have long been known to indigenous peoples. Indeed, botanical papers describing new finds often talk about traditional uses of those plants by native peoples, for food, medicine, or cultural purposes. That’s proof that many “undiscovered” species were well known by locals long before they were found by botanists. Catch up on more orchids new to science at Novataxa.com.