AboutOrchids

As air plants, many orchids grow roots outside their pots. Popular varieties like Phals and Vandas prefer to grow this way. However, some people find exposed roots unattractive. “Can I cut off my orchid’s roots?” is a common question. Usually the query includes an explanation that the roots stick out of the pot, look ugly, or detract from the flowers. I’ve even heard complaints that they look like snakes. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t cut off healthy orchid roots.

Like all plants, orchids need their roots. It is ok to remove dead roots. Always use sterile blades when cutting the plant. To test if a root is living, wash your hands, and then squeeze the root very gently. If it feels mushy or hollow, it’s dead. If the root is firm, it’s alive. If it’s very dry or shriveled, water well before giving it the gentle squeeze test.

Orchids roots are happy to be free of their pots as long as humidity is high. Besides absorbing water and nutrients, some orchid roots can photosynthesize, and need exposure to light. Cutting off roots strains the plant, and will hamper any future flowering. While a healthy plant can handle losing a few roots, it won’t survive losing them all. New growth may sprout for only a limited time each year, so an orchid may not be able to recover quickly from root loss.

The photos above show mounted orchids, demonstrating how the plants adapt to life in the air. Their unusual roots are part of their jungle mystique, defying logic by living freely in the breeze. It’s a sight that orchids, and orchids lovers, cannot live without.

If you think all orchids need warmth, then these beautiful Odonts will surprise you. Odont is a conveniently shortened nickname for Odontoglossum. The pink hybrid pictured in the first row and the yellow hybrid pictured in the second row are great examples of this cool growing orchid family. They are reliable bloomers on our back deck every winter. Their flowers last for months, even during brushes with freezing temps and hailstorms. Native to high elevations in the Andes and the mountains of Central America, these Odonts enjoy chilly weather and foggy breezes.

For most growers, it’s a challenge to keep these orchids cool enough, especially in summer. Odonts can tolerate a few warm days, but usually need to stay under 80°F (27°C.) In the mild climate of the Northern California coast, they are easy to keep outdoors, as long as they are protected from freezes.

Odonts need frequent waterings and bright light, and enjoy direct morning sun. They require high humidity and good air movement, even during winter dormancy. Odonts lend their hardiness to many hybrid varieties, making it possible to enjoy their beauty in a wider range of temperatures. Over the past few years, scientists have reclassified many Odonts as Oncidiums or Rhynchosteles, but the older orchid names often stick around. No matter what they’re called, Odonts prove that you don’t need to live in the tropics to grow orchids.

Orchid exhibits offer great tropical respites from winter. These events last for weeks, rather than just a weekend, so there’s no excuse to miss them.

January 8 – February 24
In the mile-high city, Denver Botanic Gardens creates an Orchid Showcase. Escape from the cold with hundreds of orchids adorning the Orangery. Free orchid repotting demos happen every weekend during the exhibit’s run.

January 11 – April 13
For over three months, Orchids! in Franklin Park Conservatory provide Columbus, Ohio with a break from winter. Warm up with orchid displays, talks, tours, and Q&A sessions.

January 18 – March 9
Phipp’s Conservatory in Pittsburgh invites all to its annual Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show. This respected institution is becoming a prominent center for Slipper Orchids, so expect lots of great Paphs.

January 25 – March 23
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina celebrates Art & Orchids. Colorful orchids and exotic plants compose living art pieces, and are complemented by the sculptures of a local artist.

January 25 – March 30
An Orchid Extravaganza fills a 4 acre (1.6 hectare) conservatory at Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia. Thousands of orchids provide a winter escape. And don’t miss the garden’s rare blue poppies blooming in March!

Admittedly, we’re spoiled gardeners here in San Francisco. It rarely goes below freezing, so we can grow lots of tropical plants outdoors all year. Many enjoy the cooler winter weather, and bloom through the season. During sunny days, butterflies and bees make an appearance to enliven the garden. These recent pictures from our backyard show how spoiled we are:

Even on the greyest, chilliest days, three colors of Epidendrums inspire warm thoughts. Other garden residents, like a trumpet flower, a lilac hibiscus, and a hebe, are happy to spoil us by ignoring the calendar. For those of you stuck in cold weather this season, remember that winter won’t last forever. In a short while, spoils like these will return to your garden, too.

Celebrate the new year with orchids! It’s no surprise to find January orchid events in Florida and California, but you might not expect to find shows in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota during the depths of winter. No matter where they are, orchids are a beautiful addition to 2014.

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Orchids have become favorite holiday gifts. Moth Orchids are as common as Poinsettias. So if you receive an orchid gift for the holidays, what should you do with it?

Fortunately, orchids are easy with a few basic guidelines. Check the tips below to help your orchid thrive and bloom for years to come.

What kind? –  It helps to identify your orchid to understand its care needs better. Most orchids sold today are Phals, or Moth Orchids. Other popular varieties include Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, Oncidiums, and Paphs.

Light – Place your orchid where it will receive bright light. During winter, direct sun is ok, but move orchids into shadier conditions for spring.

Humidity – All orchids need moisture in the air. Dry air quickly wilts flowers, weakens plants, and attracts pests. Raise humidity by grouping plants together, or placing your orchid in a humid area, like a bathroom or kitchen. Some growers use a cool mist humidifier, or spray regularly with a mister. It’s helpful to place flowerpots on trays of pebbles with water, always keeping the pots above the water level.

Watering – When watering, give your orchid a thorough soaking. Use enough room-temperature water to flow out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. Let it drain completely, and don’t let the plant sit in water. Moth Orchids should be watered regularly in spring and summer, but can stay a little drier in winter.

Warm wishes on this first day of winter! With today’s solstice, the planet spirals forward into another season. If you prefer balmier weather, some tropical inspiration may help to heat things up.

Orchids are great antidotes to the cold and grey. Dave snapped most of these beautiful pictures at Pacific Orchid Expos in recent years. Next year’s Pacific Orchid Expo is only two months away, and then spring is just around the corner. Until then, enjoy these warm wishes.

What looks like a delicate flower, but is actually an aggressive predator? The Orchid Mantis is one of nature’s most surprising creatures. Native to Malaysian and Indonesian rainforests, these insects really resemble flowers. With a cheery pink color, and legs that look like petals, their orchid disguises are so effective that their flying insect prey comes to them. That makes this species the first predator known to hunt by mimicking a flower.

Check out the three short videos below to see these tiny carnivores in action. The first two videos include footage of the mantises eating flies, so you may want to put down your lunch first. The third video is cruelty-free.

Unbelievable tiny Orchid Mantis inside a Moth Orchid! —

Close up video of Orchid Mantises —

Close up video of Orchid Mantis cleaning itself —

Greet the new year with orchids! With these calendars, everyone can enjoy 12 months of remarkable flowers. Offerings from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the Smithsonian Institution really caught my eye. They’re just a few of the great 2014 choices.

Moth Orchids, or Phals, are some of the most popular houseplants in the world. Thanks to their beauty, elegance, and toughness, Phals now live in countless homes and offices. If you’re buying an orchid gift, especially for an orchid beginner, there’s no better choice. Here are few reasons why:

• Moth Orchids have very long lasting flowers. Kept in high humidity and warm temps, their blooms can last two months or more.
• Phals are floral masterpieces, with an endless variety of patterns, shapes, sizes, and colors. New hybrids appear frequently. They are available everywhere, from supermarkets to big box stores to florists.
• Moth Orchids need lower light levels than many other orchid varieties, so they’re easier to re-bloom. Place them in bright light, but limit direct sun so they don’t burn.
• They enjoy the same temperatures that people do, about 75°F (24°C) during the day, and 65°F (18°C) at night. Keep them away from cold drafts. Phals can easily grow on a warm windowsill or under lights.

If that leaves any doubt, below are six more reasons why Moth Orchids are perfect gifts for the holidays.