AboutOrchids

Don’t be confused by the name — an Orchid Cactus isn’t an orchid, but it does have amazing flowers. Orchid Cacti are tropical succulents with big, vivid blooms that earn an orchid comparison. Also known as epiphyllums, epicacti, or just epis, there are many varieties in a range of brilliant colors, including yellows, pinks, reds, oranges, and white. Their jaw-dropping flowers can be an incredible 10 inches (25 cm) or more.

Orchid Cacti are native to tropical jungles in Central and South America. They’re larger relatives of popular houseplants like Christmas Cactus. Instead of leaves, they have wide, flat, segmented stems. Growing as air plants like orchids do, they live attached to tree branches without harming the trees. New growth on Orchid Cacti may have small thorns or spines, but these usually disappear as they age. The photos below, showing large Orchid Cacti covering walls and palm tree trunks, were all taken in Hawaii. All the flower photos were taken in San Francisco and Pacifica.

As epiphytes, Orchid Cacti are good for hanging baskets. They bloom best when kept in small pots with rich potting soil. Give them shade with some filtered sun, and regular water in spring and summer. Keep them drier over winter. They do need cool temps in winter, but always keep them above freezing. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, they grow well outdoors. It’s easy to start new plants from stem cuttings. Cut a segment at least 8 inches (20 cm) long. Let the cut end dry for a few days before potting up.

Other closely related cactus species with large flowers are sometimes lumped under the name Orchid Cacti. These include the Hylocereus genus, which grows beautiful and tasty Dragon Fruit. For more info about Orchid Cacti, check Plant Care Today and WikiHow.

Scientists have discovered a devilish new orchid in Colombia. Telipogon diabolicus earns its species name from a dark maroon coloration that resembles a little demon head. So far, it’s only been found in a small patch of land in southern Colombia, and the species is considered critically endangered.

Orchid-gami is a modern twist on orchids and origami. Kids of all ages can create a beautiful Lady Slipper bloom from a few pieces of paper. Simply download the PDF file, print the pages, cut out the patterns, and follow the instructions to fold together. The North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC) is working with the US Botanic Garden to create patterns for 25 educational models of native orchids. The Showy Lady Slipper, Cypripedium reginae, is the very first model. The file includes info about the orchid, its native habitat, and its conservation challenges. Learn more about North American orchids at NAOCC’s Go Orchids website.

These charming flowers belong to two related orchids, Stenoglottis longifolia and Stenoglottis woodii. They’re some of the easiest African orchid species to grow. The first half-dozen photos show Stenoglottis longifolia. Even though its blooms are small, this species can grow into a big plant. The flowers feature brilliant purple spots and a fringed lip. Dozens of blooms crowd onto each flower spike, and newly emerging buds continue to open for months.

Stenoglottis woodii, in the photos below, is a miniature. It’s a much smaller plant than its relative, but its light pink flowers are almost the same size. My plant fills a 2.5 inch (6.4 cm) flowerpot, and with limited indoor growing space, I always appreciate a mini orchid.

Both species grow as terrestrials in southern Africa. With thin leaves, they need high humidity. Grow in bright light, and be careful that any direct sun doesn’t burn them. Give them regular water and fertilizer while they’re growing and blooming. Stenoglottis are deciduous. Their leaves die back over winter, while their fleshy roots lay dormant underneath. Keep them cooler and drier, but don’t let the potting mix dry completely. New leaves will emerge in spring, when watering can be increased again. Big or small, Stenoglottis orchids are delightful and easy to grow.

The Southern Hemisphere is busy with shows this month in Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. Big events also happen in the USA, UK, and Singapore, including Orchids in the Park in San Francisco, the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show near London, and the Singapore Garden Festival.

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Vanilla, the world’s most delicious orchid, has been going up in price. The beans are more expensive due to several factors, including a poor crop in Madagascar, the world’s biggest producer. Other problems include speculators who hoard the beans, previous years of low prices when farmers switched to other crops, and criminals who use the beans to launder dirty money from the illegal rosewood trade.

Vanilla farmers around the world are facing other problems, also. Since most farmers use genetic clones, the vines may be vulnerable to disease. Wild Vanilla planifolia is increasingly rare in its native Latin American range, and this reduces essential genetic diversity. Habitat destruction threatens remaining wild populations, and also threatens pollinators. Despite these worries, as the second most expensive spice after saffron, vanilla farmers will find a way to keep growing those delicious beans.

The summer solstice brings the longest days and shortest nights of the year. Humans, like plants, love that extra sunshine. To help celebrate today’s solstice, here are more photos from Dave’s recent visit to the Montreal Botanical Garden. I’ve already devoted two posts to the garden, and there’s still more to see. No orchids in this post, but there’s lots of botanical beauty.

Whether it’s a fragrant lilac, a field of tulips, or a 275-year-old bonsai, plants grow with extra vigor in the extra hours of sunshine. More light means more photosynthesis, which means more energy for growth and blooms. Of course, it doesn’t work the same way for humans, but I certainly thrive with the long days. Maybe it’s just because there’s extra time to work in our garden and enjoy the orchids. I hope your solstice gives you time to enjoy some natural beauty, too.

Orchids love fog. That’s one reason why the Northern California coast is a great place to grow orchids outdoors. Frequent fog, especially in areas closest to the ocean, creates a perfect humid climate for cool growers.

Orchids want at least 50% humidity. Fog occurs when levels reach 100%, and the air is saturated with enough water to see visible drops. Here on the coast, cool ocean water evaporates, and winds carry the moisture inland. The gentle breezes and strong winds which blow the fog onshore minimize fungal and bacterial problems with the plants. In fact, the fog perfectly mimics the cool, breezy, cloud forest homes of many orchids native to high elevations in the Andes and the Himalayas.

The next two rows of photos show orchids I have grown outdoors for years in our Pacifica garden, and previously, in our San Francisco garden. These cool growing Cymbidiums, Epidendrums, Odonts, Coelogynes, and Pleurothallids are all very happy when the fog creeps in.

It’s not just water vapor in that fog, either. Fog is actually a good source of fertilizer, since it can carry essential plant nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and sulfur. It’s just another great reason why orchids are a perfect match for gardeners who live in foggy areas.

The final row of photos show a few more of the huge number of cool growing fog lovers. These three shots come from 2015’s Pacific Orchid Expo.

It was easy to find more great photos from Dave’s trip to the Montreal Botanical Garden. These pictures come from the Orchids and Aroids Greenhouse and the Tropical Rainforest Greenhouse. They include more orchids and lots of bromeliads.

The Tropical Rainforest Greenhouse features realistic depictions of how air plants, like orchids, grow attached to trees in the wild. Several artificial logs span the glasshouse, hosting orchids, ferns, and bromeliads like real rainforest trees.

I realize I’ve done two posts about Montreal, but still only shown two greenhouses out of the 185 acre (75 hectare) garden. There’s certainly more to come. Check back soon for more impressive botany from Canada.

Thanks to Leighton Photography & Imaging for these gorgeous photos of Florida’s wild orchids. Check out great shots of rare natives like the Cigar Orchid and the Yellow Cowhorn Orchid. There are also beautiful photos of non-natives like the African Spotted Orchid, which have naturalized in Florida’s subtropical climate. You can find more native orchid photos in their online gallery, too.