AboutOrchids

If you’re thinking that I’ve gone astray with photos from the Zurich Succulent Plant Collection (Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich,) I’ll remind you that orchids often turn up in unexpected places. After all, many orchids share traits with succulent plants, and that’s why they’re included here. Dave took these pictures last month. His work sometimes takes him to Zurich, but usually he’s too busy to play tourist. However, a few weeks ago he had an extra day to explore the city. He wasn’t expecting to find orchids in Zurich, but he’d heard there were nice cactus and succulent greenhouses.

Even on a cold December day, lots of orchids were blooming inside the glasshouses. The Zurich Succulent Plant Collection has an Epiphyte House devoted to air plants, like orchids and bromeliads. Many orchids are succulents, with thickened leaves, stems, roots, or pseudobulbs that effectively store water. While they can’t survive in dry air like cactus or agave, they are able to survive rainless periods or annual dormancy.

The Zurich Succulent Plant Collection is a world-renowned center for succulent plant research. Their glasshouses display thousands of varieties, including many unusual and rare species from different climate zones. More plants can be found in the outdoor Rockery and Cold Frames. Entry is free, and the greenhouses are open daily.

Kew scientists discovered over 140 plant species last year, twice as many as they found the year before. Their discoveries include some fascinating new orchids, like a 10 foot (3 m) tall Lady Slipper from Ecuador!

It’s no surprise to find orchid events in California, Florida, and Puerto Rico this month. But it’s a little surprising to see shows during the frigid winters of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. Visitors to these events will quickly defrost to enjoy an instant tropical getaway.

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Wondering what to do with your gift orchid? It’s beautiful, but can you possibly keep such a fragile thing alive? Relax, most orchids sold today are easy to grow. Check the orchid care tips below to learn how to keep your plant happy.

What kind is it? –  Identify your orchid to learn more about its care needs. Phals, or Moth Orchids, are the most common types (see the first photo above for one example.) Other favorites include Cymbidiums, Oncidiums, and Lady Slippers.

Light – Place your orchid in bright light. Many varieties enjoy morning sun, especially while light levels are low in winter. Some types, like Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, and Vandas, will eventually need direct sun to flower again, but you can keep them in the shade while you’re enjoying the current blooms.

Humidity – Orchids hate dry air, which can wilt flowers, damage leaves, and attract pests. Raise humidity by grouping plants together, or placing your orchid in a humid bathroom or kitchen. To increase humidity, spray leaves regularly with a mister, or use a cool mist humidifier. Many growers place flowerpots atop pebbles in trays of shallow water, always keeping the pots above the water level.

Watering – Use room-temperature water to completely soak the roots and potting material. Let all the water drain out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. Don’t let plants sit in water for too long, or their roots may rot. Whenever you water, remove wrappers, ribbons, or decorative containers which block the drainage holes.

Cut flowers – Give orchids the same care as other cut flowers. Place in lukewarm water, and keep the vase out of direct sun. Change their water every couple days. High humidity will help the flowers last longer.

The photos for today’s post are a small fraction of a fraction of the wonderful sights at the Pacific Orchid Expo. These are a few of Dave’s pictures from the 2015 show. You can buy tickets online for next year’s show, happening February 26 – 28, 2016 at Fort Mason in San Francisco.

With the severe drought in California, I can’t complain about today’s chilly solstice rain in the SF Bay Area. However, I can find warm, tropical inspiration in these photos from our summer trip to London. No orchids this time — instead these feature the Waterlily House at Kew Gardens.

It’s tough to take a bad picture in the Waterlily House. This small, enchanting glasshouse feels warm and humid inside. It’s just a few steps from the much larger Palm House, and a short walk from the Princess of Wales Conservatory, where most of Kew’s orchids can be found. The Waterlily House centers around a large, shallow pool, full of lily pads and flowers. Algae-eating fish and a harmless black dye in the water stop algae problems. The black dye also creates beautiful glasshouse reflections on the water’s surface.

These brilliantly-hued flowers and fascinating aquatic plants are the epitome of tropical. There are also blooming plants around the perimeter of the pool, and enormous carnivorous pitcher plants hanging above. I’m sure that most of the flying insects which sneak through the doors on a warm summer day don’t get back out. Enjoy this tropical water lily paradise. I can still remember its warmth and sunshine.

Kiwi orchid lovers have a great new app to help them identify native New Zealand species. With over 1500 images, users can identify over 120 varieties. The app is available for both Android and Apple devices.

In the Indian state of Odisha, a new orchid project is starting. India is jumping into the commercial orchid market. Those are Den Phals in the article’s photos.

Are these blue Moth Orchids too good to be true? Well, yes, they are. There are no true blue Moth Orchids. Instead, these plants have white flowers which have been injected with dye. That info is contained somewhere on the label, but many people don’t spot it, and don’t realize that these aren’t what they seem. Some customers have felt cheated when the color fades on subsequent blooms, and eventually dims to white.

Dyed flowers are nothing new. Florists have long sold dyed cut flowers (I’ve even seen green roses and mums for St. Patrick’s Day!) The technology to inject dye into living orchid plants, however, has only been around for a few years. Other colors are used, too, but blue seems to be the most popular.

Many orchid lovers despise these artificial color flowers. Certainly, the criticism that this is “gilding the lily” seems fitting. Personally, I prefer more natural beauty, and less chemical tricks. But, to each their own. Meanwhile, orchid hybridizers and geneticists are racing to make true blue Moth Orchids. For now, these dye jobs are the only way to own one.

Following up on my earlier post about easy orchid species, here’s my list of easy cool growers. Unlike most orchid species, those listed below are as easy to grow as hybrids. Once again, this is not any sort of complete list, just a few that I know best. I’ve grown all of these varieties outdoors in the San Francisco Bay Area (although not all the plants in these photos are mine. A few are photos we took at orchid shows and botanical gardens.)

• Bletilla striata – Often sold in bulb catalogs alongside tulips and daffodils, the Chinese Ground Orchid (first photo below) usually has purple flowers. The pink bloom in the photo below is one of many pastel color forms.
  
• Brassia aurantiaca – Also known as Ada aurantiaca (second photo below,) this bright orange species from the Andes blooms reliably every winter.
• Dendrobium kingianum – This tough Australian native (third photo below) flowers with a honey fragrance, as long as it has sun and a dry winter dormancy.

• Dendrobium victoriae-reginae – This species (first photo below) is native to mountain jungles in the Philippines. Some varieties have a more blue hue.
• Epipactis gigantea – The Stream Orchid (second photo below) has the distinction of being an easy-to-grow orchid species which is native to western North America, from Canada south through the USA to Mexico.
• Laelia anceps – This sturdy Mexican native (third photo below) can handle hot temps as well as cool ones. Happy plants can bloom repeatedly during the year.

• Pleione formosana – Commonly called the Windowsill Orchid, this Chinese species (first photo below) needs a winter dormancy before it flowers. It can grow in rock gardens, alpine gardens, and seaside gardens.
• Sarcochilus hartmannii – This tough Australian species (second photo below) is a reliable bloomer. Each flower spike can boast dozens of sparkly white blossoms.
• Scaphosepalum verrucosum – This mini (third photo below) is one of the easiest Pleurothallids to grow. These small, yellow flowers can continue to open for months on end.

Even during a slow month for orchid shows, the events still span the globe. Many orchid societies also have holiday sales and auctions, so check with your local group for more orchid happenings.

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