AboutOrchids

No matter how cold it is outside, it’ll be warm inside all of these winter orchid exhibitions. Check my earlier list for more of these events which run for weeks.

January 30 – March 6
Cleveland Botanical Garden features the sights and sounds of Cuba for Orchid Mania. Don’t miss Orchids After Dark on Wednesdays evenings when the garden stays open until 9 p.m.

February 6 – March 6
Kew Gardens in London celebrates dazzling Brazilian colors in an orchid carnival. The Princess of Wales Conservatory will highlight Brazilian orchids and other tropical plants.

February 6 – March 27
Explore “Where the Wild Things Grow” with the Missouri Botanical Garden’s historic orchid collection. Hundreds of blooming orchids will create a tropical oasis inside the Orthwein Floral Display Hall in St. Louis.

February 13 – March 13
Enjoy Wonderful & Weird orchids at the Chicago Botanic Garden. There will be thousands of orchids on display, and special orchid events, too.

Disposable orchids are part of modern life. Once the blooms finish, the plant goes into the trash or the compost bin. If you want more flowers, then buy a new plant. That’s the idea behind most orchids sold today, like these modern hybrids in today’s photos. Each new and improved variety is a glorious work of art, but then the beauty fades. Of course, you don’t need to believe the marketing. Many orchid lovers, including me, got our starts with such orchids, keeping them alive well past their expected expiration dates. But most don’t survive for long after their blooms fade. Orchids are just another disposable commodity, like so many things in our lives today.

Certainly, orchid species are not disposable. But mass-produced orchids hybrids are. They’re often sold in supermarkets, home improvement centers, big box stores, plant nurseries, and gardening centers. The orchid industry grows them en masse, starting them in laboratories before transporting them around the globe. So you’re not going to make anything go extinct if you throw your hybrid away. Remember to always buy orchids from reputable vendors, and never buy plants taken from the wild. Ask if you’re not sure.

And instead of throwing your orchid away, consider giving it to a friend with a green thumb. They may complain that they already have too many orchid rescues, but they’ll probably take it anyway. Or maybe bring it into your office or workplace. Or try to flower again in your own home. Don’t believe the sales pitch which says these orchids are so tricky to grow that you must toss them and buy new ones. Remember, these hybrids are bred to be beautiful, but also tough enough to be trucked to your local grocery store. And do any of the orchids pictured here look disposable to you?

What life lessons can we learn from orchids? The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center explains how North American orchid species have plenty to teach us.

Don’t hate us because we can garden year-round on the California coast! As a peace offering, please enjoy these pictures of a few orchids blooming outside on our back patio. I snapped these photos during a recent break in the rainy weather.

The small Pleurothallis in the first two photos had just opened its strange little bloom when I took these shots, but the Masdevallias, Epidendrums, Coelia, and Zygo have already been flowering for weeks. They’ve survived lots of winter winds and rains. The blemishes on these blooms are badges of toughness, not signs of weakness. In fact, the white Cymbidium pictured below has had its flowerpot knocked over by the wind more times than I can count. Yet its flowers haven’t stopped, and they’re only a little worse for wear. No matter how close we are to the cold North Pacific Ocean, Pacifica has plenty of orchids to enjoy.

These orchid exhibitions offer brilliant blooms and a refuge from the cold weather. They all make great Valentine’s Day excursions, too.

January 8 – February 22
The Denver Botanic Gardens offers a winter escape with its Orchid Showcase. Enjoy a floral wonderland in the Orangery and Marnie’s Pavilion.

January 9 – March 6
Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio showcases orchids and other tropical plants throughout its displays.

January 16 – February 28
Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh invites you to chase away the winter blues with its Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show.

January 22 – March 12
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden pairs Art & Orchids.  Beautiful flowers accompany the works of great North Carolina photographers.

January 23 – March 27
Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia celebrates an Orchid Extravaganza. Young visitors will love OrKid Days activities geared to families with children.

Taiwan is one of the biggest commercial orchid producers in the world, and it’s looking to expand. Learn about the complicated challenges facing its orchid business at Taiwan Today.

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.