AboutOrchids

Why is a weird, parasitic orchid from Japan growing near Philadelphia? The Asian species, Cyrtosia septentrionalis, has popped up on the grounds of Longwood Gardens, and nobody really knows why. This strange orchid is a parasite on a soil fungus, and is considered impossible to cultivate. It could be that some seeds hitchhiked with other Japanese plants being grown in Longwood’s experimental greenhouses. Even so, it’s remarkable that the seeds encountered the right growing conditions, and the right fungus, in the nearby forest. It’s not likely to become an invasive species in the area, but for now, Longwood’s scientists will monitor this misplaced orchid.

During our recent visit to Buenos Aires, it was great to see lots of vertical gardens. We spotted green walls above stores, banks, and inside office buildings. With ongoing efforts to add green spaces to the city, it’s certainly an effective way to include more plant life in crowded neighborhoods. Ferns, vines, and even Split Leaf Philodendrons happily climb towards the sun in these photos.

There are so many benefits to adding greenery to cities. Plants improve air quality, save energy, and ease stress for city residents. That’s why sights like these vertical gardens are increasingly common around the world. During this trip, we didn’t spot any orchids hanging from the walls, but I’ve blogged how they’re well suited for vertical gardens, too. They’re all great antidotes for an excess of concrete and steel. Check out more green spaces in Buenos Aires at the city’s Botanical Garden and Japanese Gardens.

Unlike the shows in this blog’s monthly listings, these events are long-term winter exhibits. Prominent botanical gardens show off their tropical collections, and visitors enjoy welcome respites from the cold weather.

January 6- February 22
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Filoli’s Orchid Show highlights floral beauty at the historic Filoli Estate & Gardens. Local orchid societies will augment the garden’s plant display. An accompanying photo exhibition will use large prints to magnify delicate flower details.

January 10 – February 17
Escape the winter cold at Denver Botanic Gardens’ annual Orchid Showcase. Among the hundreds of flowers will be some rare orchids from the garden’s collections.

January 12 – March 10
Marvel at the Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The floral eye candy will be complemented by many deliciously fragrant blooms.

January 19 – March 24
Connect with nature at Longwood Gardens’ Orchid Extravaganza near Philadelphia. Thousands of orchids, large and small, will fill lush, warm glasshouses.

Ring in the new year with orchids! This month, there are big events in Tokyo and Miami, but even the smallest show is full of fantastic flowers. They’re all great opportunities to take pictures, talk to experts, buy plants, and fall in love with orchids.

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Check out the video below for expert tips on how to attach orchids to trees. As part of Florida’s Million Orchid Project, biologists are trying to teach the public how to mount orchids. Whether it’s a native species, or a favorite non-native variety, growers can mount them using the techniques explained in the video.

In addition to restoring native species, the Million Orchid Project has also strengthened science education in South Florida schools. Botany instruction has increased, and a mobile science lab in a school bus has generated interest with schoolchildren. As the public learns more about orchids, South Florida residents will be able to grow native species at home.

Orchids can even make the shortest day of the year feel tropical. Enjoy these marvelous blooms in honor of today’s solstice. They are all a reminder that flowers will bud, open, and fade. Long nights will give way to long days. Light will return. The cycles of the earth spiral on.

Late autumn gives rise to a lot of outdoor orchid blooms at our home in Pacifica. Some of the flowers may be a little battered by the elements, but they can still survive for many weeks. In the past couple months, these plants have endured heavy rains, strong winds, and two weeks of bad, smoky air.

Regular readers may recognize some of my old orchids from past posts — an Odont, Masdevallias, Epidendrums, a Cymbidium, a Cochlioda, and a Coelia starting to bud. In addition, there’s a tough Mexican species, Laelia gouldiana, which I bought a couple years ago. It’s a close relative of Laelia anceps, which I’ve grown outdoors for a long time. I’m happy that these sturdy orchids are well suited for life by the sea.

All of these organizations have been highlighted before on this blog as great conservation groups, doing the herculean work of saving plants on our increasingly imperiled planet. Please consider giving to them this holiday season. They are all non-profits, so donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

• American Orchid Society
• Australian Orchid Foundation
• Botanic Gardens Conservation International
• Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation
• Center for Biological Diversity
• Conservatory of Flowers
• National Tropical Botanical Garden
• North American Orchid Conservation Center
• Orchid Conservation Alliance
• Orchid Digest
• Pleurothallid Alliance (link no longer works)
• Rainforest Alliance
• Smithsonian Gardens
• Vallarta Botanical Garden

How small are orchid seeds? They’re the smallest seeds in the world, like specks of dust. In fact, those little black dots in vanilla ice cream are seeds, and they’re considered large for the orchid family. The photos below show greatly enlarged images of Epidendrum seeds. Each tiny white thread is actually an individual seed.

When an orchid flower is pollinated, it starts to curl up and fade, and an area below the flower starts to swell. That pod may take months to mature. Depending on the variety, it may contain tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of minuscule seeds. Eventually, the pod splits, and the seeds disperse in the wind. Vanilla beans are the best known examples of orchid pods which have been dried and cured.

In the wild, seeds must land in a spot that’s just right. Not only do they need a location with sufficient light, temperature, humidity, and water, but they need to land on the right fungus. With almost no nutrient reserves, these microscopic seeds rely on mycorrhizal fungi to supply their food. Orchids needs this fungal help for germination.

Why do orchids make so many seeds with minimal chances of surviving? It’s a numbers game — most will not live, but a few will germinate, grow, and flower to repeat the process.

In 1922, Cornell University botanist Lewis Knudson figured out how to germinate orchid seeds using a special nutrient solution instead of fungi. That revolutionized the orchid industry, and allowed mass production of some varieties. Since this method involves sterile conditions, lab equipment, and years of work, it’s not an option for most amateur growers. For those brave enough to try, check out this link with a home method. Most advanced growers pay labs to do the work for them.

For home growers, it’s important to consider that a seedpod is a drain on the orchid’s energy. If your goal is flowers, remove any seedpods to encourage more blooms. If you’d like to try your luck, let the pod stay on the plant and mature. Wait for it to split up the side. Scatter the seed in pots with the right growing conditions. Be sure to include the pot with the orchid mother plant, on the assumption that the necessary fungi are there. Only a very few may germinate. And be patient. It may take many months before you can spot any seedlings, and many more years before they reach blooming size. And marvel how these amazing flowers come from the smallest seeds.

Since this is the slowest month of the year for orchid shows, I’ve added a few conference and sale listings. Many orchid societies have holiday parties this month as well, so check with your local group for more.