AboutOrchids

Two recent news articles help demystify orchids. Wisconsin’s Journal Times and New York’s Chronogram magazine bring good news about basic orchid care. Both articles make the same point often made on this site: orchids are easy with a few key care points.

The Journal Times covers Phals, or Moth Orchids, the most common orchid sold today. “The blooms can last two to four months, and there are some that seem to be in bloom nearly all year.” Helpful Phal potting advice includes replacing moss with bark after blooms drop. Moss works great for the experts, but bark is much easier for beginners. “With a good quality orchid mix, bright light, fertilization and the right moisture, your orchid will bloom again in a few months. Enjoy.”

From the Hudson Valley of New York, Chronogram has a helpful article about orchid basics, looking closely at Phals, Catts, and Dendrobiums. “First-Orchid Confidence” begins with a common scenario: “You are gifted or impulsively buy your first orchid. A bit of panic sets in. They’re ethereal, celestial, and otherworldly, aren’t they? And therefore must be fussy as heck? Not so. … They just need consistent care that mimics the conditions of their native environment.” The article’s helpful info includes tips for water, light levels, humidity, and fertilizer. There are also sidebars for “Sourcing Orchids Responsibly” and “Orchid Fun Facts.”

As the largest and most diverse flower family, orchids can be overwhelming. To make them more manageable, many growers specialize. With 30,000 species, and over 150,000 hybrids, there are countless ways to find a niche in the orchid world. Here are a few:

Collect mini’s – Miniature orchids are short on stature, but full of exotic beauty. Out of necessity from lack of space, or simply because they’ve succumbed to mini charms, many growers focus on small varieties. Mini Phals and mini Cattleyas join small members of the Dendrobium, Masdevallia, and Oncidium families to guarantee that you’ll never get bored with their endless diversity.

Create a fragrant orchid collection – Many members of the Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, and Oncidium families exude rich scents. Always sniff it to see if it’s a smell you like. Some members of the large Masdevallia and Bulbophyllum families have unpleasant smells. White flowers may only be fragrant at dusk or nighttime.

Grow orchids from a certain region –  How about orchids native to Mexico, like Laelias, Epidendrums, and Vanillas? Cattleyas, Oncidiums, and Miltonias from the Amazon? Or Madagascar’s Angraecums, Jumelleas, and Oeoniellas? People in China and Japan have collected native Cymbidiums and Samurai Orchids for centuries. Southern Africa is home to fascinating terrestrials like Disa and Stenoglottis, and epiphytes like Mystacidium and Aerangis.

Collect one genus – Paphs, or Lady Slippers, inspire collectors who grow nothing else. Phals are a source of endless fascination, and new hybrids appear all the time. Epidendrums have long lasting blooms in a rainbow of colors.

Pick award winners – Why not have the best? Expert judges award exceptional orchids. Awards become part of the orchid name, so look for initials at the end of nametags, like CCE/AOS or FCC/AOC.

Cultivate orchid species – Species are Mother Nature’s original handiwork, as opposed to hybrids created by humans. Many growers like me enjoy the extra challenges of cultivating orchid species. They can be more finicky than hybrids, needing high quality water or precise temperatures. If you buy orchid species, always buy from reputable dealers, and never take orchids from the wild.

From Albuquerque to Zululand, orchid shows fill every corner of the globe. Many are perfectly timed for Mother’s Day. Among this month’s great events, London’s Chelsea Flower Show is the most famous flower show in the world, and showcases plenty of orchids. The San Jose Orchid Expo pairs floral beauty with wine tasting. Canada’s Bruce Peninsula Orchid Festival isn’t a show, but offers nature tours with the rare opportunity to see 44 native orchid species growing in the wilds of Ontario.

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Spathoglottis, or Philippine Ground Orchids, are hallmarks of the tropics. This great terrestrial orchid family offers a range of colors and sizes for tropical gardeners. The best known member of the family is the species Spathoglottis plicata. Shown in the first photo below, its purple and yellow flowers are a common sight in moist tropical and subtropical climates, where it can be an invasive weed. However, this type is just the start of the show. The Spathoglottis family includes dozens of other species with dazzling color variations. In addition, orchid growers have created countless hybrids with electric hues and bold patterns. These photos show only a few choices.

Despite their name, Philippine Ground Orchids aren’t just from the Philippines. They’re native to a large area from India through Southeast Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea, northern Australia, and many Pacific islands besides the Philippines. They’ve spread to Hawaii, Florida, Puerto Rico, and other parts of the Caribbean.

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Daily Kos offers a tropical respite from a chilly New York spring. Skilled photographer Eddie C shares his visual obsession with an overview of the New York Botanical Garden’s orchid show. At the outset, he declares “For me the Orchid Show in the New York Botanical Garden is like Christmas is to a child.” Hunting for the perfect Phal portrait, he captures the essence of the event with over three dozen magnificent photos. With colorful Phals, Cattleyas, Lady Slippers, Oncidiums, and more, he also manages to evoke the show’s floral saturation.

The exhibit ran for more than seven weeks in the Enid Haupt Conservatory, a Victorian glasshouse in the Bronx. Some of the tree branches used in this year’s displays were knocked down by Hurricane Sandy.

Orchid myths are nothing new. Some myths cause problems for growers, so I’m going to bust these common misunderstandings about orchid care.

Myth: Orchids are only suited for gardeners with greenhouses or tropical climates.
Growers who have an understanding of basic care can make orchids thrive anywhere. With diverse choices from cool growers to warm growers, there are orchids suited for every home and office. People who live in cold or dry areas need to work extra hard to provide proper temps and humidity, but orchid lovers coax plants into bloom in some surprising places. Want proof? Check out the amazing flowers of Orchid Karma, a fellow orchid blogger in Sweden. Don’t miss her stunning photo gallery.

Myth: Water orchids with ice
Ice is too cold for orchids, and melting ice cubes don’t provide enough water to flush out pots. Some modern hybrids can tolerate ice, but even they will be happier with room temperature water. Save the ice for your drink.

Myth: Don’t fertilize an orchid in bloom
I hear this one all the time, but don’t know how it started. Continue to fertilize orchids while they’re in bloom for optimal plant health. Fertilize weakly, weekly. If an orchid flowers during the winter dormant season, use a weaker fertilizer solution.

Myth: Phals and Paphs like deep shade
It’s true that Phals, or Moth Orchids, and Paphs, or Lady Slippers, don’t want full sun. However, they still need bright light, and they won’t flower if they’re kept too dark. Many will enjoy morning sun.

Myth: Orchid flowers last forever / Orchid is dead when it stops blooming
Since Phals and Cymbidiums can stay in bloom for months, it’s understandable how this myth began. When blossoms drop, that doesn’t mean the plant is dead. All plants go through cycles of flowering, growth, and rest. Healthy plants live to bloom again.

Myth: Don’t water orchids at night
This myth is only partially busted. Of course, in the wild, rain doesn’t fall on a set schedule, and orchids receive moisture at all hours. If pots drain well, and there’s good air flow around leaves and roots, you can water at any time of day. However, growers in warm, humid climates do need to be careful. In those environments, excess water on leaves and flowers at night can lead to fungal or bacterial infections.

Any other orchid urban myths you can think of?

During our recent visit to Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu, Dave and I took plenty of photos. Since my first post was almost all orchids, this post highlights Foster’s other natural wonders. Don’t worry — there are more orchids at the end.

The crown jewels of Foster’s extensive collections are undoubtedly its exceptional trees, many planted in the 1850’s. Spread throughout the garden grounds, over two dozen of these impressive tropical trees are protected by state law. It’s not easy to capture the magnificence of a massive tree in a small photo, but I hope these pictures can offer a taste.

Alongside Honolulu’s busy downtown, Foster is a great place to take pictures, hike through the gardens, or have a picnic. For gardeners in the tropics and others who can grow these plants, Foster is a showcase for exotic beauties. For the rest of us, these lush blooms and greenery are the stuff of garden fantasy.

Foster also has many native Hawaiian plants. In addition, the adjacent Liliuokalani Botanical Garden grows only native Hawaiian species.

I’ll finish this tour, as promised, with a few more orchids from Foster’s Orchid Conservatory. These warm growers include a Tolumnia (an Oncidium relative,) a Dendrobium hanging from above, and one of many Cattleya hybrids. They’re just a few of Foster’s delights hidden in the middle of downtown Honolulu.

With the change of seasons, orchid care changes, too. Even if your thermometer still shows winter, it’s time for some spring orchid chores.

Move plants into shade. Move orchids from their brighter winter homes to shadier areas for spring and summer. Many types enjoy morning sun. Orchids leaves should be a light green color. Dark green leaves may indicate there’s not enough light to bloom.

Increase water and fertilizer. The sun is stronger, and plants are working longer hours to photosynthesize. On warm days, give extra water, but don’t add fertilizer.

After flowers finish, think about repotting. When new leaves and roots start to grow in spring, it’s the best time to repot. Check here to see if your orchid needs repotting.

Orchids always need high humidity and good air movement. Dry or stagnant air invites pests and disease. Raise humidity levels by grouping plants together, using a spray mister, running a cool-mist humidifier, or keeping pots on a tray of pebbles and water with the pots always kept above the water level.

Give orchids an outdoor vacation. Many orchids will enjoy trips outside as long as temps and humidity are good. Check these tips about moving plants outside.

In Waikiki, just across the street from the world’s most famous beach, the Honolulu Zoo welcomes visitors from around the globe. It’s full of tropical animals and plants, many of them rare, endangered, or extinct in the wild. Dave snapped lots of great shots during our visit last month.

The zoo includes an orchid garden maintained by the members of the Kaimuki Orchid Society. It’s an addition worthy of the zoo’s royal origins. Hawaiian King David Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani donated royal lands to the public in 1876 to create the zoo and adjacent park.

Along with the orchid garden, the zoo includes orchids throughout its grounds. The purple Spathoglottis in the middle photo below was blooming near the primate exhibits. We saw many warm growers like Vandas, Dendrobiums, and Cattleyas among the tropical foliage.

The Honolulu Zoo’s other gardens are full of heliconias, bananas, tropical trees, native Hawaiian plants, and flora from other Polynesian islands. Visit the Honolulu Zoo and enjoy its great collection of orchids and animals in lush, green splendor.

No April Fools — the whole world loves orchids, and this month’s massive show list proves it. Big cities like London, Johannesburg, Sao Paulo, Chicago, Budapest, and Brisbane always put on remarkable events. Shows in small town and remote corners of the world are reliably full of orchid delights, too.

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