AboutOrchids

Our garden has been bursting with spring orchid color. With mild weather and regular rains, these cool growers are loving life on the Northern California coast. When I remember to fertilize, I use 20-20-20 orchid fertilizer, but also alternate with light sprinklings of worm castings or compost. The natural fertilizer often kicks them into flower within a few weeks.

Cymbidiums are reliable bloomers here, so it’s no surprise that this post includes lots of them. Many started blossoming over the winter, even before the worm castings. The nutritional boost extends their blooming period, and prompts additional flower spikes.

Orchids add a lot of life to our back garden. I’m spoiled that beautiful cool growing orchids love this climate.

Check out these links about the orchids pictured above:

• Zygo
• Coelogyne
• Epidendrum
• Masdevallia
• Cymbidium
• Dockrillia
• Sarcochilus
• Holcoglossum
• Giant Hyacinth Orchid

May’s orchid events span the globe. Each month, it’s a challenge to find as many as I can online. I know that I miss a lot, too, due to language barriers or imperfect search algorithms. But there are more than enough events listed here to demonstrate how much orchids are loved all over the world.

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In Virginia, orchid biologist Melissa McCormick searches for the Small Whorled Pogonia, Isotria medeoloides. This endangered orchid is native to eastern areas of the USA and Canada. It’s a small plant with green flowers, it resembles other plants, and it can go dormant underground for years. Humans have a difficult time finding it, but for dogs, it’s pretty easy. Labradors named Encore and Grand have learned to locate the Pogonias. With their powerful sense of smell, the dogs lead scientists to the orchids. So far, they’ve sniffed out previously unknown Pogonias, and areas where there may be dormant plants. Dog detectors like these usually come from shelters, and can be trained to find animals, plants, and even do search and rescue missions. When it’s time for them to retire, they’re adopted by their trainers, or by other dog lovers.

Check out this short video of an excited dog finding an orchid –

Look back at these previous posts about dogs helping with orchid conservation –

• Dogs Are Helping to Save Rare Orchids
• Dogs Are an Orchid’s Best Friend

Being an orchid geek, one of my favorite things is blooming a species for the first time. When this unusual Stenia pushed out a single flower bud, I was excited. Over several weeks, the bud fattened up, and finally opened to reveal a fascinating blossom. Stenia vasquezii has a spotted flower with a lip folded into a pouch. It’s one of the few orchids with a pouch-shaped lip that’s outside the Lady Slipper family.

Stenia qualifies as an orchid name that’s easy to pronounce. I bought this plant a year ago at an orchid show. It’s a Zygo relative, native to Bolivia and Peru. With thin leaves, it needs regular water, good humidity, and bright light. It can tolerate morning sun if temperatures aren’t too warm. The blooms hang from the base of the plant, so it should be potted to sit level with the top of the flower pot. If not, the buds may get stuck inside the pot rim. It could also be mounted.

These photos include flower views from varying angles to better appreciate that intriguing lip. I’m looking forward to coaxing more blooms from this attractive, uncommon orchid.

April features events on six continents, including shows, sales, auctions, talks, and tours. Additionally, check with your local orchid society for meetings, expert speakers, and others events not listed here.

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Celebrate today’s equinox with more pictures from the recent Pacific Orchid Expo in San Francisco. Begin with six terrific Cymbidiums, shown in the photos above. It’s no surprise that they were in abundance at the show. They’re relatively easy to grow on the California coast, and many are blooming at this time of year. The six photos below are a small sample of the other orchid varieties on display. They include a glorious Monja Blanca, or “white nun,” a Lycaste which is the national flower of Guatemala, and revered by the Maya. No matter where in the world you are, enjoy the start of the season.

Last weekend’s Pacific Orchid Expo in San Francisco was spectacular. The theme, “Orchids in the Clouds,” inspired heavenly displays. Dave and I took lots of pictures, and I’m just starting to sort through them. As always, there were amazing flowers, captivating fragrances, and friendly orchid lovers. I came home with a couple of miniatures, a small Dendrobium and a smaller Platystele. Maybe you’ll see these orchids in future blog posts if I can convince them to bloom. Check back soon for more photos from the show.

March is a busy month for orchid events. They’re great opportunities to enjoy incredible flowers, buy plants, take photos, talk to experts, and meet other orchid lovers. Major shows include Tampa, Santa Barbara, Taiwan, Vancouver, Dresden, and Montreal.

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The 72nd Annual Pacific Orchid Expo arrives next week at the SF County Fair Building, 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way, in Golden Gate Park. This year’s theme is “Orchids in the Clouds.” Opening with a special preview night on Thursday, February 27th, the show runs until Sunday, March 2nd. It promises incredible flower displays, dozens of vendors, expert care advice, and kids’ activities. Enjoy more orchids and more orchid varieties than you’ve ever imagined. Buy advance tickets online for a discount, or pay full price at the door. Check out these photos from last year to have a taste of what’s coming.

When is a rose not a rose? Maybe when it’s an orchid that smells like a rose. This mini orchid has small flowers with big fragrance. I’ve blogged before about this beautiful Caucaea species. It’s an easy cool grower with a delicious rose scent.

Last autumn, this plant’s blooms were damaged during a windy storm. Happily, it grew a replacement spike last month. Despite its diminutive size, I can catch its perfume from several steps away in our back garden. It’s proof that a rose by another name can smell just as sweet.