From Brisbane to Baton Rouge, orchid shows span the globe in July. Many take place south of the equator in Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. Further north, Britain’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show bills itself as the largest flower show in the world. This year it covers 34 acres (13.8 hectares,) and includes plenty of orchids.
Like people, orchids need to breathe fresh air. A stale or stagnant environment leads to pests and diseases. Moving air evaporates excess water, and cools leaves and roots.
In their wild homes, orchids live in gentle breezes and strong winds. As air plants, their leaves and roots blow in the rainforest canopy. In homes and offices, orchids need good ventilation.
To improve circulation, keep plants near an open window, or turn a fan on slow speed. When it’s warm enough, move plants outdoors.
Growers in homes and offices often rely on heaters and air conditioners for air movement. Be sure to keep humidity high; orchids want moist breezes. Providing fresh air is an easy way to help your orchid breathe.
With today’s solstice, summer arrives in the northern half of the globe. Celebrate the arrival of the season with these orchid beauties:
Summer’s warmth and long hours of daylight kick orchid growth into high gear. Check out these care tips so your plants can thrive:
Minnesota’s Bemidji Pioneer reports on efforts to save native Lady’s Slippers from destruction. It’s a lot of work on behalf of a beautiful pink, white, and yellow orchid. Cypripedium reginae, or the Showy Lady’s Slipper, has been Minnesota’s state flower for over a century. Construction on Beltrami County Highway 39 could destroy the rare orchids growing near the road. The plants flourish along a stretch known as the Lady Slipper Scenic Byway. To save them, experts are digging up the plants, and keeping them in a temporary nursery. When construction is done, they replant them alongside the roadway. One section of highway has already been completed, and the orchids restored. Construction is expected to continue through 2016. This rescue effort is being coordinated by several state agencies, conservationists, and the Chippewa National Forest. To help, local residents can volunteer, and anyone can Adopt a Lady’s Slipper.
For more detailed info on the Showy Lady’s Slipper, check out BotanyBoy.org.
With their incredible diversity, orchids take many forms. These Thunia flowers may resemble Cattleyas, but this large Thunia plant looks more like a cornstalk than an orchid. Possibly the fastest growing orchid, new Thunia stalks grow 3 feet (0.9 m) or more during spring. This fascinating species has lived in a west-facing room of our apartment for 8 years. It puts on its big annual display in June, and Dave took some great shots.
These 5 inch (13 cm) blooms hang in clusters, pulling down the tops of their tall stalks, also called canes. Flowers emerge over the course of a month. New buds develop inside rounded bracts which come to a point, like crystals dangling on a chandelier. The fascinating flower lips have yellow whiskers and frilly edges.
This terrestrial is native to the Himalayas and Southeast Asia, where it grows along streams or in rocky areas as high as 7550 ft. (2300 m.) Each winter, Thunias drop their leaves and go dormant. In spring, new canes emerge from the bases of old ones. New growth needs full sun. Keep humidity high, but only water lightly. Too much water can rot young growth. Plants should be moved into shade when they’ve reached 6 inches (15 cm) tall. By late spring, Thunias need regular water and fertilizer. When leaves yellow and drop in autumn, reduce water and fertilizer to a minimum. I keep this specimen cool and dry in winter, watering as seldom as once a month to keep the stalks from shriveling.
Incredibly, this tall plant grows in a small 6 inch (15 cm) pot. I repot it every other winter into new, rich potting soil. To keep it stable, I tie the canes to the shelving unit where it lives. Despite its large size and care demands, it’s worth it to enjoy these gorgeous flowers hanging from a cornstalk.
The Nature Conservancy protects many vital orchid habitats. This nonprofit group began in 1951, and now works in all 50 US states and more than 35 countries. With over one million members, it’s one of the largest environmental groups in the world. By purchasing threatened lands, restoring native habitats, and fighting invasive species, the Nature Conservancy effectively protects biodiversity. Projects around the world, from China to the Yucatan, offer hope that some orchid habitats can resist growing human pressures. Important orchid ecosystems like Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest are being restored by the group’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign. These massive tree plantings are also designed to combat climate change. By protecting lands and waters, the Nature Conservancy saves plants and animals in their wild habitats.
You can support the Nature Conservancy’s work by donating, becoming a member, joining on social media, or adopting an acre.
North American orchid projects include:
In a world full of hybrid Moth Orchids, it’s always a pleasant surprise to find a species. Typically seen with dark red spots and stripes, this species, Phalaenopsis mannii, also occurs with yellow flowers. This variation is known as Phalaenopsis mannii var. aurea. Its golden color, strange flower lip, and orange fragrance make it as interesting as any human-made hybrid.
Like other Phals, this species is native to Southeast Asia. It grows in a wide range stretching from the eastern Indian Himalayas through Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, Myanmar (Burma,) and Vietnam. There are several natural color varieties like those shown on this page of Phals.net. Look closely to see the subtle white stripes on the lower sepals of these yellow blooms.
These elegant, star-shaped flowers can last 3 months. As a species whose leaves like to hang down, it grows best when mounted. The roots can grow as long as 12 feet (4 meters). I bought this plant 3 years ago at a local orchid show, and it’s happy mounted on treefern in high humidity. The golden blossoms appear in spring among its long, straggly roots.
Orchid shows slow down in the northern half of the globe as summer approaches. However, in the southern half of the planet, events ramp up in Australia and Brazil. No matter where they happen, orchid shows are great places to enjoy beautiful blooms, meet local experts, and find plants for your collection.
From the capital of our 49th state, Juneau Empire has a guide to Orchids in Southeast Alaska. With more than two dozen native species, Alaska offers a great reminder that orchids can appear in unexpected places. Many Alaskan varieties are known by their colorful common names, like Frog Orchid, Bog Orchid, Adder’s Tongue, and Rattlesnake Plantain. The Calypso, or Fairyslipper, and the Mountain Lady Slipper are as stunning as any of their exotic tropical cousins. Species with smaller flowers, like Coral Root Orchids, Ladies Tresses, and Twayblades, have plenty of their own charms. Be sure to click through the article’s photo gallery to see Southeast Alaska’s floral best.
No matter where you live, if you find orchids in the wild, enjoy them in their natural state. It’s important never to pick wild orchid flowers or dig up plants. Native orchid species are endangered, and protected by laws and treaties.
The Chelsea Flower Show has celebrated its 100th birthday. London’s biggest gardening event welcomed its next century with typical pomp and floral beauty, and an added element: gnomes. As always, orchids were a big part of the show. Word spread early that one of Britain’s rarest orchids had its own team of bodyguards. The extraordinary Lady Slipper on display, Cypripedium calceolus, almost became extinct in Britain, and sadly, some orchid lovers just can’t be trusted. The plant is small enough for a thief to pocket, unlike a large, bronze Moth Orchid statue.
Orchid award winners included this gold-winning exhibit from the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, featuring orchids varieties from 100 years ago. More impressive exhibits from McBean’s Orchids and Akerne Orchids come courtesy of these two short videos from Jose Santos:
While you’d be forgiven for thinking the show is more about celebrity and fashion than plants, controversy has long been part of the event. News coverage from the past century shows plenty of thorny commentary among the praise. No matter your stand, any orchid lover can enjoy the video below showing the Queen admiring an orchid display. She even smiles a few times at the end. That’s Chelsea Flower Show gold.
