AboutOrchids

Every now and then, I’m reminded of the adage that you’re not an orchid expert until you’ve killed your weight in orchids. I passed that milestone long ago, and while I kill fewer now, occasionally a weight is added to the scales. For example, I lost this Myoxanthus over the past winter. It died after some cold nights in January, when nighttime temps were barely above freezing. With the past few months spent finding a new home and moving, I didn’t have time to blog about it until now.

This Masdevallia relative lived outdoors for years. As a shy bloomer whose peculiar flowers hung upside down, it wasn’t the most photogenic orchid. Its blooms had a mild aroma of rotten food, but since I kept it outdoors, it never bothered me. If I ever again encounter this unusual cool grower from the Andes, I’ll know to protect it from temps under 40°F (4°C.)

April offers orchid shows in every hemisphere. From the UK to the USA, from Brazil to Malaysia, and from Australia to Ireland, orchid lovers invite all to share their floral obsessions.

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The Oregon Orchid Society has a helpful webpage about the problems of watering orchids with ice cubes. They offer the same advice as me: don’t use ice with orchids! Their article debunks arguments made by the pro-ice set. Proper orchid culture doesn’t involve freezing. It includes thorough drenchings with room-temperature water and great drainage. Orchids watered with ice may survive, but they often don’t thrive. Many are in pots without drainage holes, and the frigid water from a few ice cubes doesn’t drown them. If your orchid is in a flowerpot with no drainage holes, then repot it into one with holes. Water it thoroughly, let it drain completely, and hold the ice cubes.

Welcome spring with orchids! These beauties from the recent Pacific Orchid Expo are loud celebrations of the season.

While some of the country has endured a brutal winter, California has emerged from one of its warmest, driest winters in recorded history. We are certainly hoping for rainier months ahead. For now, though, it’s best to let the orchids have their day.

AboutOrchids has moved to a new home! We had rented a sunny garden apartment in the middle of San Francisco since the mid-1990’s, but our building was sold last year. With San Francisco’s eviction epidemic making national news, we weren’t surprised when the new owners kicked us out. It’s been very stressful, but fortunately, Dave and I found a wonderful new home. It’s in Pacifica, a beach town about 20 minutes drive south of San Francisco. We’ve just moved in, and our lives are still stuffed in boxes around the house.  I’m happy to report that all our orchids have survived the journey (so far!)

Pacifica is a great town, known for a laid-back surfer scene and lots of foggy weather. There’s even an annual Fog Fest to celebrate the sand and surf. I’m no surfer, but I’ve visited Pacifica many times over the years, and have friends who live here. Still, it’s a big change from city life.

Moving 10 miles (16 km) away may not seem like much of a change for the plants, but the San Francisco Bay Area is a land of microclimates. Here in Pacifica, we’re right on the coast. There’s much more wind and fog this close to the ocean. Salty air may take a toll on some plants, and strong winds will be a constant challenge. In our San Francisco garden, raccoons and squirrels occasionally caused plant damage. Here in Pacifica, I can add gophers and skunks to the list of troublesome critters.

The new house, back patio, and back garden are all south-facing, so there’s lots of light. Foggy days will give relief from the sun’s strength for many orchids. On sunny days, I’ll need to watch that it’s not too hot, or the plants may burn. I’m keeping both indoor and outdoor orchids in shade for the first few weeks. Then I’ll try to figure out the best spots for different plant needs. In the meantime, it’s back to unpacking…

I’m still sorting through photos from the recent Pacific Orchid Expo, and I wanted to share some more great pictures. It’s easy to see that these aren’t your everyday orchids. With the magic of Dave’s photography, the incredible diversity of the orchid family shines through.

Among the vast world of orchids, Dave and I find many of our favorites in the Masdevallia family.  Most of these stunning beauties, like those in the three photos below, are cool growers. They’re native to rainforests high in the Andes, and they love foggy breezes on the Northern California coast. With enchanting shapes and colors, it’s a guarantee that they’ll always be popular outdoor choices here in San Francisco.

Orchid shows welcome spring this month. Santa Barbara, San Diego, Philadelphia, Montreal, Miami, Vancouver, and Taiwan offer large events. Big or small, orchid shows are great ways to greet the season.

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If you didn’t make it to last weekend’s Pacific Orchid Expo in San Francisco, you missed an incredible show. This year’s displays featured thousands of varieties of extraordinary flowers. With so many photographic treats in every direction, it was tough to know which way to turn.

Brilliant colors and rich fragrances beckoned from dozens of displays. Flowers as large as dinner plates always command attention, but sometimes it’s the tiny blooms which make people bend closer to exclaim their astonishment.

I’m still sorting through our photos, and I’ll certainly have more to share. If you didn’t make it to this year’s remarkable show, don’t miss it next year!

The San Francisco Orchid Society invites you to Pacific Orchid Expo 2014, starting with tonight’s opening gala. The show continues through Sunday. It’s the largest show in the country, with 150,000 orchids on display or on sale. Tickets are available online or at the door.

Sometimes I hear a question like “Why go to an orchid show when they’re in every supermarket?” Those orchids near the produce aisle are just a drop in the bucket of the most diverse flower family in the world. Consider these photos from last year’s Pacific Orchid Expo, with nine varieties so different that it’s hard to believe that they’re related. Just try to find any of these in a supermarket! Every year, the Pacific Orchid Expo does a great job of highlighting this astounding diversity. Don’t miss it!

The Wall Street Journal has taken an interest in orchid pots. As air plants, orchids love a moist breeze across their roots. Flower pots with holes in their sides, in addition to bottom drainage holes, have better air circulation. With small openings, lattices, or slits, these pots are ideal for many orchids. Whether a container is an expensive antique or an inexpensive plastic, extra air holes help keep roots happy. Long used by orchid experts, these open designs have become more common, and many garden centers and websites offer a wide range of choices. Holey pots are great for orchids.