To celebrate today’s solstice, enjoy this rainbow of orchids. Depending on which hemisphere you’re in, it’s the summer solstice or the winter solstice, the longest day or the shortest day. The seasons, and the cycles of life, march on everywhere.
The Million Orchid Project continues to return rare native plants to Florida’s cities. While earlier efforts have focused on Miami-Dade County, volunteers recently attached 250 endangered species to trees, or planted them in the ground, in Boynton Beach, making them the first in Palm Beach County. This ambitious experiment is based on a wildly successful project underway for many years in Singapore. South Florida’s attempt is being led by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and hopes to create thriving populations of rare, native orchid species. Learn more from earlier posts about The Million Orchid Project, and An Orchid Revival in South Florida.
The Ram’s Head Lady Slipper is very rare. Typically, this small orchid species grows in isolated patches with only a few dozen plants. Cypripedium arietinum is native to alvar forests in the northeastern USA, the Great Lakes region, and from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan. Recently, an Ontario quarry, wanting to expand, hired field ecologist Dan Brunton for an environmental study of the area. To everybody’s astonishment, he discovered a field with hundreds of thousands of Ram’s Head Lady Slippers. And he now estimates that there could be a half million plants in the area! Fortunately, the quarry owners have agreed to set aside 64 acres (26 hectares) of land to protect these and other rare species. That should help Canada continue to have lots of Lady Slippers.
Ever heard of Chain Orchids? Also called Dendrochilums, they’re an unusual orchid family, lesser known than their close relatives, the Coelogynes. With multitudes of small, densely clustered flowers, they’ve earned the nickname Chain Orchids. Each “chain” consists of mini star-shaped blooms. Some people may sneer at tiny flowers, but massed by the dozens, or hundreds, or thousands, they are always impressive. Many varieties are fragrant, too.
The genus Dendrochilum shouldn’t be confused with Dendrobium; they share their first two syllables, but not their last two. Dendrochilums are mostly intermediate and warm growers, but there are varieties which can handle cooler temps. All need regular water, fertilizer, high humidity, bright light, including morning sun, and winter dormancy.
Chain Orchids are native to tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. Many species occur in the Philippines, Sumatra, and Borneo. Their small flowers invite you to slow down, and take a closer look. Even if, like me, you need reading glasses, or the zoom on your camera, to really see them in detail, Chain Orchids are worth the time. For more info, check out www.Dendrochilum.com.
Cape Town, Calgary, Adelaide, Orlando, São Paulo — every month orchid lovers assemble in every corner of the earth. Shows, sales, auctions, and potluck dinners celebrate hypnotic orchid flowers. Don’t miss these spectacular events!
The Philippines is full of fascinating orchids, and eight recently discovered species add even more to the country’s total. The article includes good pictures of the new flowers, which are all found on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. There are three new Dendrobiums, two Bulbophyllums, a Dendrochilum, a Glomera, and a stunning Thrixspermum.
Masdevallias love our foggy weather, and we love our Masdevallias right back. This brilliant pink Masdevallia was a gift from a friend many years ago, and I’ve grown it outdoors ever since. Over the past month, it’s put out a bumper crop of 32 flowers and buds, most of them still going strong when Dave took these photos last week.
I’ve blogged about this orchid before, and its sunny yellow cousin, too. Many Masdevallias are miniatures, but not this species. These remarkable blooms sway in the breeze on top of 2 ft. (61 cm) stems. After a few weeks in the sun and wind, some of the older blossoms have faded a bit. But the new flowers still boast their vivid pink, and a few more maturing buds attest that this plant is going strong.
This orchid variety can bloom repeatedly throughout the year, each time keeping its flowers for a month or more. For growers who can provide consistently cool, humid conditions, Masdevallia coccinea puts on a reliably impressive show.
Scientists at RBG Kew in London are warning that Madagascar’s native plants are in grave danger of extinction. The fourth largest island in the world is a biodiversity hot spot, home to over 11,000 plant species, most of which are found nowhere else. That includes almost 1000 orchid species like Angraecums, Jumelleas, and Oeoniellas. Habitat destruction, climate change, and invasive plants have been taking their toll, and many varieties have already been lost. Stuart Cable, head of Kew’s Madagascar research, warned that “Dozens of species are known from old collections but have not been seen since. Extinction is happening all the time here. It is very scary.”
Fortunately, there are glimmers of good news. Madagascar’s government has increased protected areas. Seed banks are storing some seeds to stave off extinction of those plants. And a Kew project has local schoolchildren involved in raising seedlings and returning plants to the wild, such as the very endangered Angraecum longicalcar. That may save this orchid species from oblivion, but there are no easy solutions for Madagascar’s extinction crisis.
Most orchids don’t deserve their fussy reputations, so don’t panic if you don’t know how to take care of your new Mother’s Day present. With a few basic care tips, orchids can keep their flowers for months, and then bloom again next year. Begin by placing your gift orchid in a shady place with good humidity where you can enjoy its remarkable flowers.
It will help to identify your orchid so you can understand its care needs. Moth Orchids, like the three in the photos above, are the most popular. Cattleyas, Lady Slippers, Cymbidiums, Zygos, Dancing Lady Orchids, and Vandas are also favorites. Each variety comes in many colors, sizes, and patterns, so use pictures as general guidelines, not strict standards. Check these tips to help identify your plant.
Before watering, you should remove, at least temporarily, any wrapping paper or decorative containers if they block the flowerpot’s drainage holes.
When watering, pour in enough room temperature water so it runs out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. Let all excess drain out. Don’t allow the pot to sit in water for too long, or the plant may rot.
Orchids need high humidity and good air movement. Dry or stagnant air may damage flowers and attract pests.
Check out AboutOrchids for growing tips, FAQ, and great photos. And Happy Mother’s Day!
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the American Orchid Society present “Orchids Through the Artists’ Eyes” from May 13th – June 25th in Coral Gables, Florida. The exhibit features orchid paintings, photographs, porcelain, jewelry, and more. After enjoying the art, visitors can continue with the living orchids in Simons Rainforest and many other wonderful gardens at Fairchild.
