Sad news from Scientific American and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: their update of 25 possibly extinct species includes a dozen orchids from Madagascar. Many of these species have not been seen for decades, and their native habitats have been destroyed.
As fellow air plants, bromeliads are natural orchid companions in the garden. Many tank bromeliads have fascinating blooms. They earn their nickname by holding water in their leaves, which helps them survive dry periods. This one grows in our garden, and its brilliant, hot pink flower spikes reveal small blooms that look like shiny, purple ribbons.
This tank bromeliad was a gift from our friend Kim many years ago. It’s been very happy in its new coastal home. We used to have it tied into the forked branches of a small tree, but it’s become much too big for that. Now it lives in a very wide flower pot, without any soil, fully exposed to the sun, wind, and salt spray. And it’s been blooming like crazy. We’ll separate it into smaller plants if it ever stops flowering.
The next photo below shows a smaller, younger version of this plant. The stiff, curved leaves are joined at the base and hold water. For that reason, if you’re in a mosquito-prone area, be cautious with tank bromeliads. With our cool climate, we don’t have much of a mosquito problem. Still, I check mine regularly by slowly filling a few tanks with water while I watch to see what floats to the top. I’ve never found any baby mosquito wrigglers yet. But the little purple and yellow flowers seem endless.
To learn more about bromeliads, check with Bromeliad Society International.
In the 1930s, amateur naturalist Edith Coleman solved an orchid puzzle that had perplexed Charles Darwin. Why are some orchids pollinated by only male insects?
Unlike tough orchid hybrids, many orchid species deserve their finicky reputations. They have exacting care needs, requiring precise temperatures, special potting, or purified water. Fortunately, there are some exceptions to the finicky orchid species rule. These easy warm growers and intermediate growers are great choices for orchid beginners. (I’ll highlight easy cool growers in a future post.)
Although these are known to be tough species, there are never any guarantees. They all need good humidity, and also light, water, fertilizer, temps, and repotting as appropriate for each variety.
This is definitely not a complete list, just a sampling of the ones I know best. There are many more easy species which are good for beginners. Ask local experts at a nearby orchid society meeting or show to find what grows best in your area.
Researching an orchid species’ native environment provides a better understanding of its care needs. Two of my favorite resources for that are the Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia and Orchid Species Culture. There’s lots of helpful info at both sites.
When buying orchid species, it’s very important to buy only from reputable vendors. NEVER buy plants taken from the wild. If you’re not sure, ask. One of my favorite vendors for orchid species is Andy’s Orchids, which is based in Encinitas, California.
As I mentioned, I’ll do a future post for easy cool growing species soon. Stay tuned!
NPR reports that American and Cuban scientists are working to bring back some of Florida’s native orchids. Listen to the story below–
Angraecoids are a family of fascinating and fragrant orchids, and the Angraecoid Alliance is a group dedicated to their cultivation and conservation. These orchids are native to tropical Africa, especially Madagascar, and Indian Ocean islands. Many have gleaming white flowers, scentless during the day, but with rich scents at night. Sadly, many are endangered due to habitat destruction, illegal poaching, and climate change. The most famous angraecoid is certainly Darwin’s Orchid, with a flower that’s evolved for a moth with a very long tongue. Angraecoids include Angraecums, Aerangis, Eurychones, Jumelleas, Mystacidiums, Oeoniellas, and other closely related species. Check out the Angraecoid Alliance site for more pictures.
The Angraecoid Alliance promotes habitat conservation in Madagascar and tropical Africa, and educates orchid lovers how to best grow these plants in their own collections. You can support the Angraecoid Alliance by becoming a member (it’s only $10!), following on Facebook, and learning more about these gorgeous orchids.
This Scaphosepalum species is a mini Masdevallia relative with incredible blooming power. The plant shown in most of these photos flowered continuously for over five years! Its new blooms, each smaller than a pea, continually emerge along a lengthening, zig-zag flower spike. The first photo in this series comes from a plant we recently saw in Kew Gardens, but the rest of the photos show my plant during that lengthy bloom cycle.
This tough, little cool grower can handle sun or shade. Unlike many other Pleurothallids, this species is fine with tap water, at least here in the SF Bay Area. Native to cloud forests in the Andes, it can live incredibly high at 11,483 feet (3500 m) elevation. Daily watering and cool, moist breezes keep it happy.
My plant has noticeably shorter flower spikes on the coast, probably because it’s so much windier here than our sheltered garden in San Francisco. The flowers are just as frequent, except they’re much closer together on the shorter spikes. I’ve had this same plant for over a decade, and it’s been in bloom most of the time, even when temps have dropped close to freezing. After flowering constantly for over 5½ years, it stopped for eight months, and then resumed again in earnest. Now it boasts over a dozen flower spikes. I hope it has many more years to go.
From Santa Barbara to Helsinki to Lima, these orchid events are all full of gorgeous flowers, orchid experts, and great plants for sale. Don’t miss the chance to see one of these amazing shows!
Bats eat lots of garden pests, work for free, and won’t fly in your hair! Pacific Horticulture explains why bats are garden allies.
What do antelopes have to do with orchids? Look at the graceful, spiraling petals on these tropical beauties, and you’ll understand. Antelope Dendrobiums are a popular section of the enormous Dendrobium family. Their upward-twisting petals inspire the antelope horn comparison.
There are several dozen species and a growing number of hybrids with these curvy blooms. Most all have sweet fragrances. Some have petals with a single twist; others boast elegant spirals, or ruffled edges. The species are native to rainforests from Southeast Asia to Northern Australia, concentrated in New Guinea.
They are warm growers, and require similar care as their relatives, the Den-Phals. Give Antelope Dendrobiums plenty of water, morning sun, regular fertilizer, and high humidity. They don’t really go dormant in winter, but they don’t need as much water or fertilizer in the weak winter sun. Most varieties can grow into large plants, so they won’t fit on a windowsill. If you have enough space, these amazing orchids with a twist will add beauty and fragrance to your collection.
