AboutOrchids

Orchids are full of surprises.With incredibly diverse shapes, colors, and fragrances, it’s hard to believe that these flowers are actually related to one another. No other flowering plant family has such rich palettes and fascinating designs. These examples from the recent Pacific Orchid Expo certainly prove my point.

Many of these lesser-known varieties are the ones which give orchids their fussy reputations. Growing them demands exacting conditions to match tropical climates, with precise temperatures, high humidity, and pure water. Fortunately, events like the Pacific Orchid Expo let me enjoy these remarkable flowers without all that hard work. I hope you enjoy them, too.

It’s the Year of the Ram, and Chinese New Year is a great time for orchids. For millennia, orchids, especially Cymbidiums, have been treasured in East Asia for their rich fragrances and graceful foliage. Nowadays, they are popular gifts and decorations for Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival. Confucius cemented orchids into Chinese culture over 2500 years ago by praising their nobility and sweet fragrance. The first three photos below show modern examples of these celebrated Chinese orchids. These traditional varieties are smaller, and more expensive, than most modern Cymbidium hybrids.

Lunar New Year is celebrated in China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and in Asian communities throughout the world. Cymbidiums are always popular for the holiday, but so are Moth Orchids, Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, and others. The orchid hybrids pictured below are all great choices to wish happiness and prosperity in the new year. Read about other lucky flowers and fruits for Chinese New Year here. Happy Lunar New Year! Gung hay fat choy!

As I continue to sort through our pictures from this year’s Pacific Orchid Expo, I’m finding lots of great shots. Here are some of Dave’s photos. They’re wonderful examples of the stunning diversity of the orchid family, which goes far beyond what’s for sale at the supermarket. With their brilliant colors and strange shapes, these flowers never fail to impress.

Orchids are loved everywhere, and there’s no better proof than this month’s show schedule. March is a very busy month, with big events in Santa Barbara, San Diego, Atlanta, Montreal, Vancouver, and Taiwan. Even in unlikely locales like Boise, Saskatoon, and Norway, smaller shows celebrate this incredible plant family.

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Help the Orchid Conservation Alliance save Dracula orchids! A few months ago, I blogged about work to preserve a piece of the Chocó rainforest in Ecuador, one of the most biodiverse places in the world. A new nature reserve there could save 5% of all orchid species on earth, including many rare and fascinating Draculas. Now, the Orchid Conservation Alliance is working with the Rainforest Trust and Fundación EcoMinga to purchase land on the slopes of the Andes for the sanctuary. They need to raise $44,000 for the first phase of this project. New roads and looming development threaten this ecological treasure with destruction, so please donate now! The Orchid Conservation Alliance is a non-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

The Pacific Orchid Expo is always amazing, and this year was no exception. San Francisco’s premier orchid event was a huge hit. Whether you’re a seasoned orchid addict like myself, or an orchid newbie, this past weekend’s show was overwhelming. Here are the first of our photos from the expo, and there are many more to come. Enjoy!

Escape from winter with this video from Longwood Gardens Orchid Extravaganza. Located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Longwood Gardens is one of the nation’s premier botanical gardens. Visitors can luxuriate in tropical warmth with orchids and other exotic plants in Longwood’s 4 acre (1.6 hectare) conservatory. This video highlights the exhibit’s elaborate displays of Phals, Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, and much more. If you’re in the Philadelphia area, find some relief from the cold and gray at Longwood Gardens. The exhibit runs through March 29th, so you still have time to dig out of the latest blizzard to make it there.

Orchids have become essential for Valentine’s Day. If your celebration of love includes a gift orchid, check the care tips below.

What kind is it? –  Identify your orchid to learn more about its care needs. Phals, or Moth Orchids, are the most common types. Other popular varieties include Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, Oncidiums, and Paphs.

Light – Place your orchid in bright light. Many kinds enjoy some direct sun, especially while light levels are low in winter.

Humidity – Orchids hate dry air, which can wilt flowers, damage leaves, and attract pests. Raise humidity by grouping plants together, or placing plants in a humid area, like a bathroom or kitchen. To increase humidity, use a cool mist humidifier, or a spray mister. Balance flowerpots on pebbles in trays of water, always keeping the pots raised above the water level.

Water – Use room-temperature water to soak the pot, and then let all excess water drain out. Don’t let plants sit in water for too long, or their roots may rot. If wrappers, ribbons, or decorative containers block the holes in the bottom of the flower pot, remove them to allow drainage and air flow.

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

The Pacific Orchid Expo is coming! San Francisco’s biggest orchid event begins with a preview gala on Thursday, February 19th. The show runs Friday, February 20th to Sunday, February 22nd at Fort Mason. This year’s theme focuses on “The Thrill of Discovery.” Visitors will be thrilled to discover incredible orchids like the dozen pictured below from last year’s expo.

This is one of the largest orchid shows in the world, featuring over 150,000 orchids. Don’t miss this spectacular expo! Be sure to check back here for photos of the big event.

These botanical gardens present extended orchid exhibits to counter the winter cold. Find more winter orchid exhibits listed here and here.

February 7 – March 16
Cure your winter blues with an Orchid Escape at the Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden in Evansville, Indiana. Orchids adorn a tropical rainforest in the Amazonia section of the zoo.

February 7 – April 12
The Atlanta Botanical Garden hosts Orchid Daze: Pop!  Celebrate orchids along with the art of famous artists Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Roy Lichtenstein.

February 14 – March 14
Oklahoma City’s Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory features Jewel Orchids: Treasures of the Rainforest. Over one thousand orchids will be on display.

February 14 – March 15
Enjoy floral eye candy at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Orchid Show. With over 10,000 orchids on exhibit, you should definitely bring your camera.