AboutOrchids

With today’s change of season, it seems appropriate to take an apocalyptic tone. While the latest end-of-the-world fad will pass with tomorrow’s sunrise, many plant and animal species are facing the real thing.  Climate change has begun, a danger not only to orchids, but to every species on the planet. Sadly, climate change is only the latest threat to orchids. Habitat destruction, over-collection of wild plants, pollution, and invasive species also continue their heavy tolls.

While some of the world’s 30,000 orchid species have healthy, stable populations in the wild, many others are rare, endangered, or already extinct. The world’s largest and most diverse flower family ranges from arctic orchids to a brilliant Masdevallia native to a single Bolivian valley, to a large, purple Lady Slipper, unknown to science til 2001. New discoveries still happen all the time, like this beautiful Coelogyne just discovered in Thailand, which is already endangered by habitat destruction along the Mekong Delta. The extinction of any species is a loss to that ecosystem, and a loss to future human generations. Some threatened ecosystems may collapse entirely, meaning the loss of hundreds of species at a time, as is feared for places like the cloud forests of the Colombian Andes.

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Vertical gardening has been a hot trend in the gardening world, but it’s old news for orchids. As air plants in the wild, orchids grow vertically on trees. In cultivation, some growers keep them attached to mounts or tree trunks, as in the photos below. Taking the idea further to create living walls, this concept has spread greenery upwards, from Singapore’s supertrees to New York City’s High Line Park.

Anybody with limited room can use vertical areas to increase their green space. I usually see succulents, bromeliads, and ferns in vertical gardens, but orchids should work as well. As long as they have proper drainage, light, humidity, and air flow, most varieties will thrive.

To create your own vertical orchid garden, start with the right orchids for the growing conditions you can provide. Then you’ll need mounts or containers with potting material. With the new popularity of living walls, many more vertical planting options are available. Country Living offers creative ideas using pockets, trays, or pot hangers. Many derive from recycled materials. This vertical planter is made from recycled plastic bottles, with pockets large enough enough to support Cymbidiums, Cattleyas, or Oncidiums. Flower pot hangers can hold smaller types like Phals, Paphs, or Masdevallias.

For more info, check out these books on vertical gardening and vertical vegetable and fruit gardening. Add another dimension to your orchid collection. The sky’s the limit!

As the most important orchid crop, vanilla is everywhere. Beyond its rich flavor, however, is the story of a surprising plant. Vanilla Orchids: Natural History and Cultivation provides a broad survey of this fascinating orchid. Author Ken Cameron, a botany professor from Wisconsin, unravels the tale of the world’s most popular flavor and fragrance. The book covers the biology, evolution, and diversity of the vanilla family, including vanilla’s unusual orchid relatives. Cameron also explains how to cultivate this tropical crop at home, for those daring enough to try. Dozens of photos highlight vanilla flowers, vanilla farms, and vanilla products. This book makes a great gift for orchid lovers and for bakers who wish to better understand this quintessential kitchen ingredient.

Australian Geographic proudly displays that nation’s most beautiful orchids. The article includes a gallery of brilliant illustrations which bring Australia’s most “stunning, mysterious and diverse” orchids to life. Starting with the bizarre underground Rhizanthella orchid, the detailed botanical drawings feature the flamboyant Queen of Sheba orchid, the weird Large Duck Orchid, and many more. Images also show details on pollination, growth habits, and conservation status. Many Australian natives are endangered. While the country has about 6% of the world’s orchid species, 25% of extinctions are occurring there. Take a trip down under to enjoy these unusual specimens.

This Spiranthes hardly looks like an orchid. Out of bloom, its thin, skinny leaves look like they belong to a weed. Even in bloom, the tiny white flowers bear little resemblance to its grand tropical relatives. Spiranthes’ name hints at its spiral arrangement of flowers. These scented blooms, just over half an inch (1.3 cm) long, twist down in a pattern that’s inspired the nickname “Fragrant Ladies’ Tresses.” This species, Spiranthes odorata, is native to marshy areas and wetlands of the Eastern USA, south to Florida and Texas. It has a vanilla-like fragrance.

Spiranthes flowers may not turn many heads, but they’re unusual and easy to grow. These terrestrials, along with the Stream Orchid, are rare exceptions to the rule to never allow orchids to sit in water. This species can grow in standing water, and it’s often used in terrariums and aquariums. It’s one of the easiest native North American orchids to keep. To grow it, provide morning sun, afternoon shade, regular water, and regular fertilizer (they love compost!) It’s not necessary to keep the plant in water, but don’t let it dry out. Spiranthes go dormant and drop their leaves over winter. New leaves emerge from fleshy roots in the spring.

Many Spiranthes varieties grow all over the world, but most aren’t as easy to keep in cultivation as this species. Another Spiranthes species, nicknamed the Giant Spiral Orchid, recently popped up in a North Carolina Tideland News story. Spiranthes certainly add an interesting twist to the orchid world.

December is always the slowest month for orchid shows, but their universal appeal guarantees that the calendar is never empty. Many orchid societies sponsor holiday events, so check with local organizations to find sales, auctions, and workshops near you.

Considering the incredible diversity of the orchid family, it’s surprising how the same few mistakes crop up over and over. Try to avoid these five common problems:

• Too much water — Orchid roots and potting material should dry out between regular waterings. Kept too wet, they’ll rot. Most orchids sold today are Phals, or Moth Orchids, which need water 2 or 3 times per week. Masdevallias and Lady Slippers may require daily watering, while Cattleyas and Laelias only want water once a week. During winter dormancy, many varieties with pseudobulbs need less water.
• Not enough water — Many orchids die from drying out. Whether caused by forgetful owners or heat waves, inadequate water leaves these rainforest plants struggling. Always give the plant enough water to thoroughly soak the potting material and run out the bottom of the pot. People who use ice cubes are often guilty of underwatering, since each ice cube amounts to only a few spoonfuls of water.
• Letting the pot sit in water — With rare exceptions, like the Stream Orchid, orchids should not sit in water for more than a few hours. Water blocks air flow, which is essential for orchid roots. Make sure all excess water drains from the pot after each soaking. If you use a tray with pebbles and water for humidity, always keep the pot above the water level.
• Not enough light — Orchids can live for a long time, even if conditions aren’t right. They can survive in low light, but won’t bloom or have vigorous growth. Orchids want enough light to keep their leaves medium or light green; dark green leaves indicate insufficient light. Many thrive best with morning sun. In the low light and short days of winter, many types need supplemental light.
• Dry air — Low humidity wilts flowers and invites pests. Raise humidity levels by keeping the pot on a tray of pebbles and water, grouping plants together, using a spray mister, or running a cool-mist humidifier.

The American Orchid Society (AOS) proudly offers their beautiful 2013 wall calendar. For just $14.95 ($13.50 for AOS members,) it’s easy to enjoy gorgeous orchids in constant bloom — no water, fertilizer, or repotting necessary. The 2013 AOS calendar has 14 months of orchids in the wild, and $2 from each calendar purchase funds conservation projects. Check the AOS website for calendars, extensive articles on orchid culture, and additional conservation info.

The Timaru Herald in New Zealand has the latest rave review for Singapore’s new Gardens by the Bay complex. It’s no surprise that orchids abound in the recently opened park, which covers 250 acres (101 hectares) of the tiny island nation. Sitting close to the equator with a tropical rainforest climate, Singapore has long been a garden city full of orchids. In fact, the country’s national flower is a Vanda hybrid. Gardens by the Bay consists of conservatories, elevated walkways, outdoor gardens, a small lake, and 18 remarkable “supertrees.” These artificial trees serve as vertical gardens for orchids, ferns, bromeliads, and other air plants. The supertrees also harvest solar power, collect rainwater, and provide ventilation for the environmentally friendly structures. Both conservatories, the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, look somewhat like enormous glass seashells. They house thriving plant collections from around the world, and also offer cool, air-conditioned relief from Singapore’s tropical heat. With the supertrees illuminated every night, it’s no wonder the article calls Gardens by the Bay “real Avatar territory.”

For more pictures of this fantastic park, check out the landscape architecture website Landezine. They have 24 large, high quality photos which help show why this ambitious new project has been winning awards like Building of the Year from the 2012 World Architecture Festival.

Lots of butterflies enjoy visiting our garden, but they’re usually flitting around too quickly to capture them in photos. A couple days ago this Gulf Fritillary took a while to warm up in the autumn chill, so Dave had a chance to take these great shots. The butterfly even found a sunny perch on a Sobralia bud. Its brilliant orange wings and body dramatically contrast with the unfolding purple bloom.

Sights like these are their own reward, and also a reminder of what toxic pesticides can destroy. I’d rather have a few bugs on my plants and be able to enjoy nature, so I avoid artificial chemicals and rely on beneficial insects. Gulf Fritillaries have an enormous range through much of the Western Hemisphere, spanning from the USA to Argentina. The caterpillars feed on passionflower plants, and it’s likely this insect once munched on our large purple passionflower vine.