“The recent lava flows in Hawaii occurred on the east side of the island where most of the tropical plant growers are located. Eight orchid nurseries were lost.” Courtesy of the United States Geological Survey
One of the secrets to cultivating orchids successfully in this part of the country is to put the plants outside for the summer. Night temperatures usually don't fall below 60 degrees F during the months of June, July, and August and the humidity is high. Epiphytes thrive in these rainforest-like conditions. What confounds hobbyists, however, is how to provide proper light levels.
Nancy Reagan will be remembered in the horticulture world for her love of orchids. She had hybrids from three different genera honoring her – a Cattleya, Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis. Her favorite color was red and orchid breeders were able to create reddish purple hues for her flowers.
Orchids are full of surprises.
There are the ‘grocery store’ varieties, better known as phalaenopsis, whose long sprays of colorful blooms seem to last forever. Then there are the more exotic types with unusual flowers and fancy names like Lady Slippers and Dancing Ladies. The crème de la crème of the orchid world are, arguably, the cattleyas whose grand blossoms adorned royalty a century and a half ago.
Hobbyists who are keen on orchid history find themselves yearning for the early hybrids which filled the pages of The American Orchid Society and The Royal Horticultural Society magazines long ago. The story lines are captivating: a plant explorer returning from the Amazon with a never been seen species, a breeder who has paid a month’s salary to obtain a prized stud plant, a grower who has developed a breakthrough technique that could revolutionize the industry.
Orchid hobbyists, by nature, can’t resist buying one more plant.
The lure is too great. Every few months, new varieties hit the marketplace. Fantastic colors, patterns, and fragrances – each designed to entice.
And when that new plant is obtained, it has to fit in someone’s house. Yet each windowsill, plant rack, and bay window may be full.
Summertime welcomes one of the most unusual of all the epiphytic genera – Brassias - affectionately known as ‘spider orchids’. The arachnid nickname is well-suited because the blossoms look like they could start crawling at any moment. There are five very long spidery legs (three sepals and two petals) which can reach 6” or more on some varieties.
Slugs. We all have them. In the garden, on the steps, crawling up the glass. Big ones. Little ones. With and without spiral shells.
No orchid pests are more destructive. They are non-discriminating in their eating habits – devouring flowers, buds, leaves, and roots. Mature plants are set back by years and seedlings often succumb.
Question:
I received a Cattleya orchid in the mail that was supposed to be in bud or bloom and there is nothing but leaves! Where are the flowers?! What can be done? Ronald S.
Answer:
Shipping orchids in the mail is a little tricky. It requires some clever packing techniques and considerable knowledge of botany to be successful. In addition, the shipping company and the weather both have to cooperate.
