AboutOrchids

San Francisco’s very own tropical rainforest lives in the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Encased within a 4-story glass bubble, plants and animals bask in light, warmth, and humidity. Birds and butterflies dart between trees, flowers, and human visitors.

Walking up from the forest floor into the tops of the trees, there’s living beauty at every level. A yellow and brown Dancing Lady Orchid dangles from a tree, illustrating how orchids grow in the wild. Nearby, a tiny, tropical frog boasts similar colors, and adds a croaking chorus to the jungle. Occasionally, one of the butterflies briefly pauses for the camera before flitting away.

The rainforest exhibit highlights a small sample of evolution’s miracles from Madagascar, Costa Rica, Borneo, and the Amazon. Fascinating creatures abound, like a praying mantis which mimics a leaf so well that even a close up photo doesn’t look real. It’s just one of the remarkable sights in San Francisco’s tropical jungle.

The Wall Street Journal examines the business of orchids. Scientific advances and industrial efficiency have helped make these flowers the best selling potted plants in the USA. Most orchids begin their lives in Taiwan or the Netherlands. Both countries use an “intricate orchid-production chain” to compete in the business. However, profit margins have fallen since many varieties, especially Phals, became a cloned, mass-market commodity. Growers in Taiwan bemoan the days when a rare specimen could sell for $100,000. “An orchid is no longer worth what it used to be,” said Wu Po-Hung, one of Taiwan’s biggest producers. “We learned how to grow them too well.” As a result, growers are experimenting with industry reforms and new orchid products. They’re even selling “gold-coated orchids.” With the help of their precious orchids, they can thrive in an expanding market.

Dave took so many great photos at this year’s Orchids in the Park that it was easy to find enough for another post. The first set includes a shapely Paph, a haunting Dracula, and an intriguing Vanda close-up.

Once again, these photos highlight the incredible diversity of the orchid family. Each appeals to a specific bug or bird as a pollinator. Of course, these fantastic shapes, colors, and scents appeal to lots of humans, too.

From the artistic yellow, white, and brown bloom of a Rossioglossum, to tiny, intricate Dendrochilum flowers dangling in a chain, there’s endless variety. You’re not alone if it’s tough for you to imagine how all these plants could possibly be related. It’s a guarantee that orchids are never boring.

Autumn’s chill brings changes to orchid care. Check these tips to keep plants healthy.

•  Many orchids begin to enter dormancy in the fall. Start to reduce watering frequency for Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, Oncidiums, and Odonts. Begin to cut back fertilizer, too. Moth Orchids, Lady Slippers, and Pleurothallids do not go dormant, but with autumn’s shorter, cooler days, it’s possible to water them less, also.
• Always maintain high humidity and good air flow around orchids. As heaters turn on, they dry the air, which encourages pests. To raise humidity, spray orchids with a mister, and group plants together. Keep pots atop trays of water and pebbles, always keeping the pots completely above the water level. Place plants near water features.
• Bring outdoor orchids indoors before it gets too cold. Take the opportunity to remove dead leaves and flower debris, and check for pests. Many growers spray with insecticidal soap, pesticidal oil, or rubbing alcohol (surgical spirits) before moving plants indoors.
• Increase light levels to compensate for autumn’s weaker sun and shorter days. Move plants into brighter light gradually over two weeks. Even shade-lovers like Phals, Paphs, and Masdevallias can tolerate some direct sun in fall and winter.
• Don’t worry if older, lower leaves turn yellow or die. Continue to give plants bright light and good humidity.
• If Phals aren’t blooming, give them slightly cooler temps for 3 – 4 weeks. Keep them below 80°F (27°C) during the day, and let them drop to 60°F (16°C) at night. After a few weeks, return them to their normal 65°F (18°C) minimum. Healthy plants will start a new flower spike within a month. Cymbidiums also want cooler nights, and won’t bloom if they’re kept too warm in autumn.

The New York Times reports on Nodding Ladies’ Tresses, a native orchid bringing beauty to New York City. With twisting spirals of sparkling white flowers, Nodding Ladies’ Tresses share the graceful beauty of the related Spiranthes which I grow. “Sit among them for a few quiet moments and a bumblebee or a honeybee will land at the bottom of a flower stem and wend its way upward, climbing the flowers like stairs, guided by the gracefully twisting flower spike.” Hidden in wet meadows or behind poison ivy vines, Nodding Ladies’ Tresses are tougher than they look. Their white spires can even survive the tough streets of the big city.

With orchids in every supermarket, visiting an orchid show might seem unnecessary. However, last weekend’s Orchids in the Park proved why orchid shows are definitely worthwhile. The displays were full of unusual and exotic blooms. You won’t find these orchid varieties in a supermarket.

These flowers both defy and excite the imagination. They’re great reminders of how diverse orchids are. After growing orchids for over 20 years, I’m still surprised by varieties I’ve never seen before.

Comparing these flowers to what’s available by the grocery aisle, it’s apparent that those supermarket orchids only represent a thin sliver of the orchid world. To enjoy treasures like these, visit an event like Orchids in the Park.

Orchid shows are happening everywhere from San Diego to Rio, from Montreal to Helsinki, and from Canberra to Prague. These events provide great opportunities to enjoy stunning flowers, meet local orchid experts, take photos, and find special plants for your own collection.

Read the rest of this post »

Don’t miss this weekend’s Orchids in the Park!  On September 28th – 29th, Golden Gate Park hosts a smaller version of San Francisco’s huge winter orchid show. The event includes plenty of orchids to enjoy, as well as vendors, demos, and seminars. The photos below are only a small sample of last year’s exciting offerings. See you there!

Celebrate today’s equinox with these brilliant orchid colors. Autumn arrives as the northern half of the globe tilts away from the sun, and nights grow longer.

These flowers represent only a few of those on display at a recent monthly meeting of the San Francisco Orchid Society. On the first Tuesday evening of every month, everyone is welcome to enjoy blooms like these at the San Francisco County Fair Building. Many local orchid societies feature similar events with impressive displays. If summer’s departure has you yearning for floral fare, check out your local orchid society for some autumn colors.

Door County, Wisconsin cares about its native orchids. Starting in the 1930’s, a 40 acre (16 hectare) sanctuary was preserved to save rare wildflowers. Over the decades, the preserve grew to 1500 acres (607 hectares,) and it’s home to 25 of the 40 orchid species native to Wisconsin. Despite the nature sanctuary, orchid populations have declined due to hungry deer, maturing trees blocking sunlight, and selfish orchid collectors who dig up (and kill) the plants. As a result of the decline, the preserve has begun an orchid restoration project. Volunteers have started collecting seeds from Showy Lady Slippers, Yellow Lady Slippers, Ram’s Head Orchids, and Grass Pink Orchids. The seeds will be sent to nearby orchid farmers to germinate, tend the young seedlings, and then return them to the wild in two to four years. “There’s just a handful of people in the nation doing this work because it’s so complicated,” said Melissa Curran, a botanist who is assisting the restoration project. Their hard work should keep this preserve full of flowers for years to come.

Scroll though the article’s photo gallery to see some of the orchids and their minuscule seeds.