It’s the slowest month for orchid shows, but December still offers exciting events around the world. In addition, many orchid societies have holiday auctions and celebrations, so check with your local group for more prospects.
In the UK, Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) is saving orchid seeds. As protection against extinction, the MSB stores seeds from thousands of plant species. Since orchid seeds are so tiny, they can be difficult to conserve. Orchids have the smallest seeds of any flowering plants. Some are only as big as specks of dust, 0.002 inch (0.05 mm,) while others are as “large” as ¼ inch (6 mm.) These minuscule seeds have evolved to blow in the wind. Out of millions of seeds, only a few may land in good spots with the correct growing conditions and the right fungal partners. Vanillas spread their seeds differently than other orchids. They are not dispersed by the wind, but have a sticky oil. This oil probably helps Vanilla seeds affix to visiting insects and hitch a ride. By studying orchid seeds and their conservation, the MSB is advancing knowledge of these tiny treasures.
You may not like spiders, but you’ll like Spider Orchids. Brassias’ long, delicate petals resemble arachnid legs, and their muted color patterns help complete the effect. (Note that these Spider Orchids are different than the Australian Caladenia orchids with the same common name.)
Many Brassias are fragrant, and sport large, graceful blooms. The flowers of some varieties reach 16 inches (41 cm) tall, with hues of yellow, brown, purple, maroon, and white. In the wild, Brassias mimic spiders well enough to trick spider-hunting wasps into attacking their flowers. The wasps try to sting the blooms, but help pollinate them instead.
Brassias are native to Central and South America, including Florida and parts of the Caribbean. They’re closely related to Oncidiums and Adas, and often crossbred. Many hybrids carry spidery Brassia traits, with hybrid names like Miltassia, Brassidium, Odontobrassia, Beallara, Aliceara, and many more.
Some Brassia varieties want warm temps, but many are intermediate growers. Often they require ample space for their enormous blooms. Brassias have the same care needs as Cattleyas: bright light, including some full sun, regular water, high humidity, fertilizer, and winter dormancy. As easy growers, there’s no need to be afraid of these spiders.
Orchid care changes with the seasons, and many orchids begin dormancy as winter approaches. During this rest period, they need less water and fertilizer. Winter dormancy mimics a dry season in the orchids’ native habitats.
Orchids like the Cattleya, Dendrobium, and Oncidium in the pictures below won’t bloom without a dry period. Cut back on watering in autumn. During winter, wait until their pseudobulbs start to shrivel, and then water thoroughly. Reduce fertilizer, also. Always keep humidity levels high.
Popular orchid varieties like Phals, Lady Slippers, and Pleurothallids do not go dormant. With winter’s lower light and cooler temps, however, it’s ok to give them less water. Don’t let them dry too much. When temps warm in the spring, resume their regular watering schedule.
The endangered Caladenia Spider Orchid is on the edge of extinction. With only two plants known, it’s Australia’s rarest orchid. Fortunately, botanists and volunteers are fighting to rescue it. For security, scientists have kept the plants’ exact location near Melbourne a secret. They’re not even saying which of the hundreds of species of Caladenias this one is. One of the plants bloomed this year, so there’s extra protection. It’s surrounded by a cage, and monitored by a video camera. In addition, scientists are collecting the orchid’s pollen and germinating its seeds at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. They hope someday to return plants to the wild. Check out the video below for more about this rare beauty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXuk7Fantkk (video no longer available)
Palm Beach Daily News reports that a local botanical garden is bringing native orchids back to Miami. Thanks to efforts by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, young plants will be attached to trees in Miami’s roadways, public spaces, and schoolyards. Both the Florida Butterfly Orchid, Encyclia tampensis, and the Cowhorn Orchid, Cyrtopodium punctatum, once covered oak and mahogany trees in the region, but now are rare. To reintroduce the species, Fairchild is following guidelines created by the world-renowned Singapore Botanic Gardens. Fairchild is helping local students to raise the orchid seedlings, and to conduct scientific research, too. After two more years, they’ll attach the young plants to nearby trees. They won’t see any flowers for at least four years. With some hard work and good luck, Miami’s native orchids will return.
Cymbidiums, or Boat Orchids, are some of the most popular orchids in the world. Their beauty and hardiness have helped turn them into favorite houseplants, cut flowers, and corsages. This current popularity is merely the latest chapter in their long history, since Cymbidiums have been cultivated in East Asia for thousands of years.
There are over 50 species of Boat Orchids, which occur naturally from the Himalayas through South Asia and East Asia, and into Northern Australia and the Philippines. Thousands of hybrid varieties, with new ones appearing all the time, ensure that Cymbidiums are always fashionable. Each flower stem can hold dozens of blooms, which can last for months. Some kinds have rich fragrances, but many are unscented.
To bloom, Cymbidiums need cool nights, with temperature drops of at least 10° – 15°F (6° – 8°C) below daytime highs. Boat Orchids can handle a wide range of temperatures, and they can even survive a light frost. They enjoy regular water and fertilizer. Some types have been grown in China, Korea, and Japan for over 2000 years. Traditionally kept in tall, slender pots, Boat Orchids have been frequent subjects for Asian art, literature, and poetry. For centuries, they have stood as elegant symbols of nobility and friendship.
There’s much more to the California Academy of Sciences than a rainforest. As one of one the nation’s preeminent natural history museums, it also features an extensive aquarium, a planetarium, a living roof, and even a small penguin colony. This post highlights some of the creatures living in the museum.
Starting in the aquarium, the Leopard Shark in the first photo is native to local waters. Next, a Leafy Seadragon resembles a floating plant, but is actually a seahorse relative. Black-footed Penguins are native to the southern coasts of Africa, the only penguins which live on the continent.
Within the rainforest exhibit, birds and butterflies fly around the human visitors. The other critters are inside tanks or behind glass, so there’s no need to worry about an accidental encounter with a tiny poisonous frog.
While butterflies are free to flutter in the 4-story rainforest, a colorful flying snake is safely contained behind glass. These species not only engage visitors, but are also part of research and educational programs taking place at the Academy.
From Seattle to Sao Paulo to Auckland, orchid shows abound in November. Visit any of these events to enjoy some orchid inspiration.
Autumn is a good time to check orchid light levels. As days grow shorter and the sun weakens, natural light levels fall sharply. Low light can prevent orchids from blooming. To compensate, growers in temperate latitudes should increase illumination during fall and winter. Your orchids will reward the extra care with strong growth and blooms.
