Learn why today's gardeners are obsessed with orchids. With step-by-step advice, even novice gardeners can cultivate these exquisite flowers. Orchids are all the rage today. In fact, orchids now rank as the second most popular potted plant, behind only poinsettias in sales.It's not difficult to understand why orchids are so appealing-they're available in a dazzling array of colors and shapes, their flowers can last for weeks, and their fragrances are unrivaled. Fortunately, today's orchids cost less than they did 10 years ago, and the quality is better. A blooming orchid is now less expensive than a modest flower arrangement and provides many weeks of colorful flowers.The Perfect PlaceOrchids are easy to grow as long as you choose the ones that fit your home environment. Comfortable indoor temperatures (65° to 75° during the day, and 10° to 15° lower in the evening) and normal ventilation usually work fine for many orchids. The biggest challenge is providing sufficient light and humidity. Some homes have heavy, light-blocking drapes and tend to have dry air. Orchids prefer humidity levels of about 50 to 60 percent. You can reach this level with an evap-orative-type room humidifier, and you can also add moisture to the area around the plants by growing them on trays filled with pebbles and water. A plastic unit called a Humidi-Grow Tray (about 1 foot square) is a ready-made unit serving the same function. In the Right DirectionWindowsills are home to most indoor plants, so let's look at the light-providing capabilities of these growing spaces. The direction a window faces has a lot to do with the amount of light and the time of day that light will be on your orchids.South-facing windows are the brightest and an ideal location for orchids needing the strongest light. Other orchids that need less light can be placed a few feet back from the window, or the light from the window can be diffused with a sheer curtain.In an east-facing window, morning sunlight is bright but not too hot. During the spring, summer and fall, this is usually an ideal exposure for the orchids mentioned in this article. During the short, dark days of winter, many of these same orchids would then usually prefer the south-facing window.The west-facing window receives as much light as the east window but, because it is afternoon light, is much hotter. So this is not as desirable a location as the east window. If you need to use it, make sure your orchids don't dry out.A north-facing window is the least desirable because it simply does not provide enough light to sustain healthy growth of orchids. Orchid OptionsChoosing the right type of orchids is critical to success. The ones I recommend, in order of ease of culturing, are:Moth Orchids (Phalaenopsis). Exceptionally easy to grow, these bloom for weeks or months, come in a range of colors and have attractive strap-shaped, dark green foliage. Their arching spikes of moth-shaped flowers are the essence of grace and style, making them favorites for fashion magazine photo shoots. This type of orchid asks only for diffused, bright light, normal room temperatures and moderate humidity.Slipper Orchids (Paphiopedilum). These beauties have exotic flower colors and shapes and display handsome foliage even when the plants aren't in flower. The types called Maudiaes are especially vigorous, frequently blooming more than once a year. They have gorgeous foliage and brightly colored, glossy flowers that last for weeks. Slipper orchids need growing conditions similar to those for moth orchids.Dancing Lady Orchids (Oncidium). This group of orchids comes in a myriad of sizes. Some are miniatures, like Oncidium Twinkles, highly recommended because it blooms profusely in a small space. The plant itself grows only about 6 inches wide and tall, but when it flowers it has a flurry of pink or red 1-inch blooms with a light vanilla scent. Other varieties are larger, including one of the most popular orchids of all, the Chocolate Orchid (Oncidium 'Sharry Baby'), known for its scrumptious scent! It has leaves up to 18 inches long and flower sprays of 2 to 3 feet. It is a glorious sight in full bloom, which frequently occurs around the winter holidays.Corsage Orchids (Cattleya type). No group of orchids can match this one for bright, colorful and fragrant flowers. Years ago, these were grown primarily for cut flowers. The plants were large and unruly, grown only by those with plenty of greenhouse space. Thanks to efforts of modern orchid breeders, many of today's Cattleya hybrids are compact growers, yet still maintain their array of colors and delightful fragrances.Whatever the type, take the plunge and give orchids a try! You'll find that today's newer varieties have spectacular flowers, are not difficult to grow and are reasonably priced. They'll provide a spectrum of colors and sweet perfumes.One word of warning: Once you are bitten by the orchid bug, there may be no turning back!Proven Orchid-Watering Technique By Steve Frowine of New Hartford, ConnecticutGuest Garden WriterI find the pot-weighing method for determining when to water orchids is one of the easiest. In this method, you're relying on feel instead of precise weights. Here's how it works: 1. Thoroughly water the orchid in its pot. 2. "Weigh" the pot by picking it up. Now you know how heavy it is when it's saturated with water. 3. Wait a day or so and "weigh" it again by picking it up. You'll feel the difference in the weight as the potting material becomes drier. 4. Repeat Step 3 each day until you judge, by looking at the surface and sticking your finger into the top 1 inch or so of the potting material, that it's time to water. Keep in mind whether your type of orchid prefers to be on the damp or dry side. 5. Note what this dry "weight" is. Now the orchid is ready to be watered thoroughly. This entire process may sound tedious, but you'll be amazed at how quickly you catch on. And when you do, you'll always know the right time to water. Just lift the pot, note its weight, and you'll have your answer.
URL: http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/03/28/news0765.htm
Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Orchid Species Now Extinct in Burma
"The number of species of wild flowers has been falling steadily in Burma, most notably species of rare orchids...the Rainbow Orchid and the Hirsute Paphiopedilum, are completely extinct inBurma.The Rainbow Orchid (Paphiopedilum wardii) andthe Hirsute Paphiopedilum (Paphiopedilum villosum) were first discovered in the valleys of Putao and Nagmung in northernKachin State some 20 years ago.According to an orchid horticulturist from the Myanmar Florist Association, it was not possible to locate either of the species when updating theassociation's list of wild orchids in November 2007....why Burma's wild flowers are under threat... one possible reason is the demand from Chinese pharmacists for... orchids that are used to produceherbal medicines in China....According to a Burmese orchid buyer, Chinese merchants pay 30,000 kyat (US $27) to 100,000 kyat ($91) for a viss (1.6 kilograms) of wild orchids from Burma....Wild orchids which can be used as medication can be sold for up to $4,000 a ton on the Chinese market, he said."There are more than 20 wild orchids, such as Pierard's Dendrobium (Dendrobium pierardii), the Musky Smelling Dendrobium (Dendrobiummoschatum), the Hairy Column Foot Dendrobium (Dendrobium capillipes), that are used for herbal medicines. Some are good for the human liver and eyes, and they also substitute as multi-vitamins," he added.There are several large orchid plantations and orchid projects in Burma, but only run for commercial reasons. Collectors and horticulturalistsmostly get orchid seeds from Western countries and grow them in Burma for profit.The rare orchids that are being sold to Chinese herbalists usually originate with rural people in Burma, who peel wild orchids from trees andgrow them privately in their gardens.According to a gardener at Pyi Oo Lwin Advanced Orchid Garden in Central Burma: "Many orchids... which are known for their medicinal qualities, arealways being stolen from the gardens."Pyi Oo Lwin Advanced Orchid Garden is the largest orchid garden in the country with more than 300 orchid species.According to the Myanmar Forestry Department statistics, there are... 841 species in Burma."URL : http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=11034photo : [caption : "Customers at the Thai-Burmese border can buy rare wild orchids from Burma."]http://www.irrawaddy.org/articlefiles/11034-orchid.gifTiny orchid back from extinction
"A... species that was presumed extinct has been found on the slopes of
Mount Wellington.
The dense midge orchid was last recorded in 1852 and had been listed as
extinct in Tasmania.
The orchids are about five centimetres high, with a cluster of tiny flowers.
A Threatened Orchid Project Officer, Matt Larcombe, says 60 patches of the
tiny orchid have been found on Council and private land in South Hobart.
"A local field naturalist, Kevin Bonham, actually discovered it," said Mr
Larcombe.
"He saw some leaves [orchid ?] late last year that he though were a bit odd
and went back up this year to have a look and see what they turned into...
it turned out to be the dense midge orchid.
"They're tiny... 4 to 7 centimetres tall and very fine so unless you're
really down on your hands and knees looking you'd just miss them and you've
got to be there at that right window when they're actually in flower to
actually see them or else there's nothing above ground, just a tuber below
ground." "
URL : http://www.abc.net.au/news
photos :
1) http://www.abc.net.au/reslib
2) http://www.abc.net.au/reslib
A terrestrial orchid species thpught to be extinct in Tasmania has recently been rediscovered. Corunastylis nudiscapa has been located on the slopes of Mt Wellington near Hobart during a search for Land Snails by officers of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries,Water and Environment (DPIWE). This species has not been recorded since the type species was collected in 1840. Growing in sandy soil occuring on the eastern foothills of the mountain, the officers were initially unable to immediately identify the plant but formal identification came quickly as C. nudiscapa has no Tasmanian species with which it could be confused. It is a Dwarf Midge Orchid with tightly congested inflorescence of crowded reddish-brown to purplish glabrous nodding flowers and was only known from this single location. Great news and a psychological boost to those who never say never. Now all we need to do is get the same department to protect those other species rapidly heading in the same direction.
Alan W Stephenson
National Conservation Officer
Australasian Native Orchid Society
The Greater Omaha Orchids Society will hold its 21st annual orchid show and sale March 29 and 30 at the Lauritzen Gardens
The Greater Omaha Orchids Society will hold its 21st annual orchid show andsale March 29 and 30 at the Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha,Nebraska. Hours are 10 a.m. To 4 p.m. both days. There is an admissioncharge to enter the Gardens ($6.00) but there is no additional charge forthe orchid show. For additional information contact Jim Pyrzynski, showchair, jpyrzynski@cox.net.
"The 2008 Taiwan International Orchid Show ended...after attracting some 200,000 visitors...
during its 10-day run at theTaiwan Orchid Plantation in the southern county of Tainan.... the visitors included nearly 3,000 foreign floral experts and buyers.... official figures on the value of orders placed at the show were... notavailable...sales were expected to reach NT$2 billion (US$64.69 million).The foreign buyers came from the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea,Russia, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates....The exhibition was organized by the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association andjointly sponsored by the Tainan County government and semi-official TaiwanExternal Trade Development Council.Orchid growers from 24 countries took part in the 2008 exhibition,including the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, the UnitedKingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Japan,South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and thePhilippines.Orchids... accounting for over 50 per cent of the total value of Taiwan'shorticultural exports...Taiwan... "Kingdom of the Butterfly Orchid"... it is the world's largestexporting country...About half the world's butterfly orchid varieties are bred in Taiwan.Taiwan exported NT$1.84 billion worth of orchids in 2006, a year-on-yearincrease of 24.1 per cent, with... phalaenopsis, accounting for NT$1.15billion of the total...Taiwan's orchid export orders secured at the Taiwan International OrchidShow totaledNT$800 million in 2005,NT$1 billion in 2006 andNT$1.5 billion in 2007"URL : http://au.biz.yahoo.com/080318/17/1nppb.html
"The 2008 Taiwan International Orchid Show ended...after attracting some 200,000 visitors...
during its 10-day run at theTaiwan Orchid Plantation in the southern county of Tainan.... the visitors included nearly 3,000 foreign floral experts and buyers.... official figures on the value of orders placed at the show were... notavailable...sales were expected to reach NT$2 billion (US$64.69 million).The foreign buyers came from the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea,Russia, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates....The exhibition was organized by the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association andjointly sponsored by the Tainan County government and semi-official TaiwanExternal Trade Development Council.Orchid growers from 24 countries took part in the 2008 exhibition,including the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, the UnitedKingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Japan,South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and thePhilippines.Orchids... accounting for over 50 per cent of the total value of Taiwan'shorticultural exports...Taiwan... "Kingdom of the Butterfly Orchid"... it is the world's largestexporting country...About half the world's butterfly orchid varieties are bred in Taiwan.Taiwan exported NT$1.84 billion worth of orchids in 2006, a year-on-yearincrease of 24.1 per cent, with... phalaenopsis, accounting for NT$1.15billion of the total...Taiwan's orchid export orders secured at the Taiwan International OrchidShow totaledNT$800 million in 2005,NT$1 billion in 2006 andNT$1.5 billion in 2007"URL : http://au.biz.yahoo.com/080318/17/1nppb.html
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
India's share in the global flower market is... no more than 1-2%
"India's share in the global flower market is... no more than 1-2%...a sustained annual growth of around 10 per cent in the past several years, floriculture is emerging as a major growth segment in Indian agriculture.The export of flowers... has surged six-fold, from less than Rs 100 crore a year in the 1990s to over Rs 600 crore now. The area under flower cultivation has expanded rapidly, buoyed by an investment of over Rs 500 crore in this sector in past few years.According to the Economic Survey (2007-08), the acreage under flower cultivation has increased from 1,18,000 hectares in 2004-05 to 1,46,000hectares in 2005-06 and further to 1,54,000 hectares in 2006-07.Consequently, the production of flowers is estimated to have spurted from 659,000 tonnes in 2004-05 to over 886,000 tonnes by 2006-07. Many farmers, especially around the major cities, and in areas ideally suited for special categories of flowers, such as the north-east for orchid production, areshifting from food and other low-value, high-volume crops to growing flowers for better returns....the existence of large unexploited export potential, coupled with the anticipated fast growth of 6 to 7 per cent a year in the domestic demand for flowers, is likely to serve as a growth engine for the floriculture sector.The paucity of supportive infrastructure has been a major constraint in the development of floriculture in the past. Flowers... require specialisedpost-harvest handling, storage and transportation. Cold chains and dedicated transportation and cargo handling facilities are... needed for both domestic trade and export. Cold store facilities are desirable even at the export destinations to keep losses to a minimum."We have covered a lot of ground in the past 10 years in building up supportive infrastructure for the production, marketing and export offloriculture products..." says H P Singh, deputy director-general (horticulture) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)...Thanks to rising incomes and urbanisation, the demand and consumption of flowers within the country is expected to grow at a faster pace from nowon. "The number of people who have the purchasing power to buy costly flowers is larger in India than in the UK," Singh points out. These are positive indications for the growth of floriculture as a niche segment of horticulture.Delhi has emerged as Asia's largest flower consumption centre, says Singh. But, the capital's main floriculture market still functions virtually from the pavements in the Connaught Place area, in the heart of the city.However, modern flower auction centres are proposed to be built in variouskey flower trading centres, notably Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida and Kolkata.... the one at Bangalore has already come up and... has becomeoperational...cold storage and cargo handling facilities, even if not entirely of international standards, have been created at several important airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin. Such facilities are also proposed to be set up at the Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Kolkata and Bagdogra airports.... the demand for... for cut flowers is a relatively recent phenomenon. Traditionally, marigold and roses have dominated the flower trade in thecountry. Of late, the trade has diversified with demand coming up for other bouquet-compatible flowers as well.Equally significant is the emerging demand for value-added floriculture products, including dry flowers, essences and other extracts. This isexpected to enhance the emergence of the flower-based processing industry and also add to the employment- and income-generation potential offloriculture. Orchids , in particular, are deemed to have a great future as India is a natural habitat of cymbidiums and dendrobiums, the most sought-after orchidspecies. The north-eastern region is fast coming up as the orchid-hub of the country. A little push, like transportation subsidy and similar othersops, can trigger an orchid revolution [wow ! green, local or global ?]."URL :http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=lmnu2&subLeft=3&autono=317854&tab=r
Monday, March 17, 2008
Fever pitch Windham man answered the orchid's seductive call
Chuck Crisler...has... about 450 orchid plants....at the Amherst, Mass., Show, one of his Cymbidiums won in two categories, the best large species and the best Cymbidium....he'll sometimes take two hours to water his orchids, holding them up and giving each one individual attention. "You've got to understand what they are feeling," he said [smile...].... Marty Epstein of Haverhill, Mass., theorizes orchids have a virus that get people to like them [smile...]....Crisler advised... on Cymbidium care, recommending that he dry them out. "... 'Keep them cool and dry, and they will bloom,' " Mulder said......But New Hampshire is also home to many orchids, 50 or 60 species [exactnumber ?]...The pink lady slipper one of the most well known that grows in the state. Easy to miss is the Coralroot orchid. It grows underground and comes up inthe fall for only three days or so to bloom."URL :http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_077001826.html?keyword=topstoryphoto : [caption : "Cymbidium Hunter's Point... grown by Chuck Crisler]http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/images_sizedimage_077001754/xl
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Green Orchids
You don't have to go to Singapore to enjoy a breathtaking bouquet of green orchids called Dendrobium Burana Jade "Burana." Just in time for Christmas! This variety of green orchids is spectacular! Stems can measure up to 24 inches long! WOW! These long lasting beauties are sure to delight even the hardest to please on your holiday gift list. A closer look at the flower reveals a mauve center which contrasts beautifully with the bright green petals. Twenty exquisite stems are sent in green vase shown.NOTE:Green orchids like these Dendrobium Burana Jade "Burana" will be sent with half the stem in bud and the other half with fully bloomed flowers. We recommend that you keep these green orchids somewhere bright so the buds will fully open. You may not get all the flowers to open but placing the orchids in a bright location will help the flowers to open more fully. These are spectacular flowers and we guarantee you will be amazed at the length of the stems.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Orchids in full bloom at Botanic Park
"annual Orchid Show at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park... 8 March...
Produced jointly with the Cayman Orchid Society, the show is a fundraiserfor programmes conserving the 26 species of orchids, which are native tothe Cayman Islands."
URL : http://www.caymannetnews.com/news-5968--1-1--.html
Produced jointly with the Cayman Orchid Society, the show is a fundraiserfor programmes conserving the 26 species of orchids, which are native tothe Cayman Islands."
URL : http://www.caymannetnews.com/news-5968--1-1--.html
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Orchid smugglers wanted...
"People affiliated with smuggling of orchids to Krasnoyarsk are wanted bypolice in the Krasnoyarsk Territory.5,700 decorative flowers, which appeared to be orchids, were seized inKrasnoyarsk Airport when they were delivered by charter flight fromThailand to Krasnoyarsk...The orchids are estimated to cost about USD 70,000...The flowers were unloaded from the plane and moved with the concealment ofthese objects from customs control officers. A criminal case on smuggling(Article 188 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code) was opened on March 4."
URL : http://english.newslab.ru/news/258584
URL : http://english.newslab.ru/news/258584
Steve
1888Orchids.com
1888Orchids.com
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Seeds of Brazil shine in the Festival of the OrquÃdea of Japan
Translated from Portuguese to English:A dumb one with 233 white orquÃdeas, created from seeds of Brazil, was awardee in the International Festival of the OrquÃdea of the Japan, that yesterday finished (2) in Tokyo after to have received almost half million from visitors.
The orquÃdeas born with Brazilian seeds had received as the prize in the festival that counted on the participation of representatives of 20 countries, also of Brazil, through the Tropicalismo workmanship, from ambassador Paula Barboza.
About 100 a thousand orquÃdeas of all the colors, types and sizes, composed for the most diverse forms, had invaded the stadium Tokyo Dome, where the Great Prize of the OrquÃdea of Japan (www.jgpweb.com/index) is carried through since 1991.
One of the organizers of the festival, Nanako Terabuko, explained that the orquÃdea is the “evolved flower more, as well as the man between the animals”.
“The orquÃdea is a peculiar plant, the most developed and the one that more varieties presents. They are not as the roses, that always are symmetrical and of the same type”, said Nanako.
The proper orquÃdea word has an aphrodisiac connotation, therefore Greek comes from the orchis word (testicule), because for first the botanical Greeks, the form of the species of the region if seemed to the masculine reproductive agency.
In Japan this flower represents the beauty and if it uses in the ikebana, disciplines high Japanese to the category of art of the floral decoration.
As much are the types of orquÃdeas - in Japan they are counted about 2.500 varieties and more than 35 a thousand in the world - that for this competition six categories had been established: individual plants, for aromas, style of composition, drawing, artistic (it includes photograph, paintings and others) and orquÃdeas in miniature.
The orquÃdeas born with Brazilian seeds had received as the prize in the festival that counted on the participation of representatives of 20 countries, also of Brazil, through the Tropicalismo workmanship, from ambassador Paula Barboza.
About 100 a thousand orquÃdeas of all the colors, types and sizes, composed for the most diverse forms, had invaded the stadium Tokyo Dome, where the Great Prize of the OrquÃdea of Japan (www.jgpweb.com/index) is carried through since 1991.
One of the organizers of the festival, Nanako Terabuko, explained that the orquÃdea is the “evolved flower more, as well as the man between the animals”.
“The orquÃdea is a peculiar plant, the most developed and the one that more varieties presents. They are not as the roses, that always are symmetrical and of the same type”, said Nanako.
The proper orquÃdea word has an aphrodisiac connotation, therefore Greek comes from the orchis word (testicule), because for first the botanical Greeks, the form of the species of the region if seemed to the masculine reproductive agency.
In Japan this flower represents the beauty and if it uses in the ikebana, disciplines high Japanese to the category of art of the floral decoration.
As much are the types of orquÃdeas - in Japan they are counted about 2.500 varieties and more than 35 a thousand in the world - that for this competition six categories had been established: individual plants, for aromas, style of composition, drawing, artistic (it includes photograph, paintings and others) and orquÃdeas in miniature.
Vietnam attends orchid exhibition in Japan
VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has attended the 2008 International Orchid Exhibition in Japan. Orchid are considered the queen of flowers and very favoured in this country. On show were 100,000 styles of orchid arrangement from more than 160 countries in the world, including Japan, the US, Switzerland, Brazil, China and Vietnam. The Vietnamese booth was located at the centre of the exhibition with white and purple orchids brought from Da Lat and Sa Pa. The exhibition closed on March 2, coinciding with the Hinamatsuri festival during which Japanese people display peach blossom and dolls
Link: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2008/03/771420/
Enjoy,
Steve
RFID tunes in to help orchid exports bloom
Tagging will aid information flow within the supply chain and prevent waste
Published on March 21, 2008
"Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is... being used by the Thaiorchid-export industry to improve its supply-chain management system.The technology allows each chain to control its process... and trace orchid flowers to their origin.... Thailand is the second-largest exporter of orchids...National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec).Developed... the prototype of the system...RFID would be used to gather information from tissue cultures in thelaboratory, such as the plant's age; the name of the farm; information fromthe greenhouse during planting; the lot number and orchid size duringpackaging; and information gathered during the logistics process.If there is a problem with the stems, the system will help follow the chainto the origin and find the defective lot...In the past, customers would reject entire lots if there was a problem,because it was nearly impossible to identify the problem products.... the use of RFID technology would avoid such waste. The centre hasalready completed the adoption of RFID technology for use in supply chains.It is now in the process of developing the database and software, whichwill allow exporters to track information.Apart from RFID, the centre has also developed technology... which willallow orchid farms to control the growing environment.The farm will use sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, light and pH value.This information will be used to control the environment....Information from sensors can also help breeders predict plants' growthpatterns and prevent the stems from becoming infected."URL : http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/03/21/technology/technology_30068755.php
Link: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2008/03/771420/
Enjoy,
Steve
RFID tunes in to help orchid exports bloom
Tagging will aid information flow within the supply chain and prevent waste
Published on March 21, 2008
"Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is... being used by the Thaiorchid-export industry to improve its supply-chain management system.The technology allows each chain to control its process... and trace orchid flowers to their origin.... Thailand is the second-largest exporter of orchids...National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec).Developed... the prototype of the system...RFID would be used to gather information from tissue cultures in thelaboratory, such as the plant's age; the name of the farm; information fromthe greenhouse during planting; the lot number and orchid size duringpackaging; and information gathered during the logistics process.If there is a problem with the stems, the system will help follow the chainto the origin and find the defective lot...In the past, customers would reject entire lots if there was a problem,because it was nearly impossible to identify the problem products.... the use of RFID technology would avoid such waste. The centre hasalready completed the adoption of RFID technology for use in supply chains.It is now in the process of developing the database and software, whichwill allow exporters to track information.Apart from RFID, the centre has also developed technology... which willallow orchid farms to control the growing environment.The farm will use sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, light and pH value.This information will be used to control the environment....Information from sensors can also help breeders predict plants' growthpatterns and prevent the stems from becoming infected."URL : http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/03/21/technology/technology_30068755.php
Monday, March 03, 2008
Pat Bonamo... a paleo-botanist...teaching botany... at Binghamton University...At the World Orchid Conference... in Miami
"Pat Bonamo... a paleo-botanist...teaching botany... at Binghamton University...At the World Orchid Conference... in Miami... one of her pictures won first place in the "In Situ Category" -- ... orchids in their natural habitat -and best of show overall....Last year she won Best of Show at the International Orchid Congress in the same city.Bonamo grows orchids...Her winning photo this year features... one of her very own orchids... c[C]ypripedium parviflorum."It's an orchid I have growing in my woody perennial garden..." she says."URL :http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080227/COLUMNISTS01/802270330/1005/OPINIONphoto : [caption : "Pat Bonamo's award-winning photo of... c[C]ypripediumparviflorum... It took First Place in the "in Situ" category and Best ofShow overall]
63rd annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show
"63rd annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show...
Speaking...Eric Hansen, who has spent more than 20 years documenting... elements of the orchid world for National Geographic and Outside magazines and forbooks such as... "Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust and Lunacy." Hansen's cast of nonfiction characters includes a collector whodid jail time for orchid smuggling and a Santa Barbara grower who carries a gun while tending his plants...grower-collector Lance Birk, whose "The Last Orchid Hunter" details his successful search for the exceedingly rare Laelia orchid [which one(s) ?]in Brazil. (Successful... until it was stolen from him by another plant hunter.)... former UC Irvine ecology professor Harold Koopowitz... an expert on the effects of deforestation on wild orchids...Koopowitz's newly published "Tropical Slipper Orchids: Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium Species and Hybrids."...orchid-themed art... oil paintings by... Ralph Waterhouse... photographs by the late Robert Mapplethorpe."URL : http://venturacountystar.com/news/2008/feb/28/the-subject-is-orchids/photo : [caption : "Paphiopedilum Krull's Emerald Meadows"]http://media.venturacountystar.com/vcs/content/img/photos/2008/02/27/20080227-151933-pic-63260697_t600.jpg
Speaking...Eric Hansen, who has spent more than 20 years documenting... elements of the orchid world for National Geographic and Outside magazines and forbooks such as... "Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust and Lunacy." Hansen's cast of nonfiction characters includes a collector whodid jail time for orchid smuggling and a Santa Barbara grower who carries a gun while tending his plants...grower-collector Lance Birk, whose "The Last Orchid Hunter" details his successful search for the exceedingly rare Laelia orchid [which one(s) ?]in Brazil. (Successful... until it was stolen from him by another plant hunter.)... former UC Irvine ecology professor Harold Koopowitz... an expert on the effects of deforestation on wild orchids...Koopowitz's newly published "Tropical Slipper Orchids: Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium Species and Hybrids."...orchid-themed art... oil paintings by... Ralph Waterhouse... photographs by the late Robert Mapplethorpe."URL : http://venturacountystar.com/news/2008/feb/28/the-subject-is-orchids/photo : [caption : "Paphiopedilum Krull's Emerald Meadows"]http://media.venturacountystar.com/vcs/content/img/photos/2008/02/27/20080227-151933-pic-63260697_t600.jpg
"Q. ... buds formed... then they turned yellow... What went wrong?
A. Depending on how you count, there are... at least a quarter-million orchid hybrids and varieties [how do you count ?]....phalaenopsis orchids and related hybrids... account for roughly 75 percent of orchid plant sales [roughly / smile...].Causes of bud drop include sudden temperature changes, low humidity, insufficient fertilizer [?], indoor air pollution from things like pilotlights [could you explain ?] and tobacco smoke, and perhaps most commonly, too much or too little water...enjoy the plant while it is in flower, and then give it to an orchid enthusiast [I would not do it !] and get something different. Repeat indefinitely"URL :http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/garden/28qna.html?_r=1&ref=garden&oref=slogin
Of the 20,000 species worldwide, 300 are found in Europe and up to 26 in Cumbria
"species... 300 are found in Europe [so little !] and up to 26 in Cumbria [county in the extreme North West of England] plus some sub-species andcrosses.Most are rare or very rare and are easily disturbed... of the 25 British orchids listed in the Red Book, two are now thought to be extinct, seven are endangered and 12 are judged as vulnerable.Cumbria is relatively rich in species compared with most other parts of the country, probably because of its variety of habitats, its climate and lackof disturbance.Orchids are likely to be killed by the application of phosphate and nitrate fertilisers, as they need low soil fertility to survive.Cumbria has been less intensively farmed than other places and so there has been relatively low use of these fertilisers....More common is the dactylorhiza species including marsh, spotted and fragrant types with their purple pyramid of flowers.They are impressive when together in large numbers, such as the 4,000 plants counted on a quarter-mile stretch of main road north of Kendal.By contrast, the extremely rare and beautiful lady?s slipper orchid was thought to have been reduced to one site in Yorkshire by enthusiasts collecting from the wild (now illegal) and changes in agricultural practice.Many Cumbria Wildlife Trust nature reserves are blessed with orchids but Bowness-on-Solway reserve, west of the village, is a good place in summer to find the common spotted orchid.Improved horticultural techniques now mean British species and crosses are more readily available from nurseries and make good garden species,provided you replicate natural conditions ? low fertility, limited disturbance and appropriate growing conditions.Moist conditions for spotted and marsh dactylorhiza species and crosses areprobably a good place to start."URL : http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/features/viewarticle.aspx?id=800293
Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com
Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Growing Orchids in Vietnam
"An old saying..."Vua choi lan, quan choi tra" (A king collects orchids, a mandarin collects camellias)....anyone with VND40,000-50,000 (US$2.50-3) can buy a pot of orchids – and many Hanoi residents are doing so...To successfully make an orchid bloom, enthusiasts say, the gardener must have a pure heart and the patience of a saint.Orchids won't bring their owners material wealth or social status, they explain. So those with enough dedication to tend to these delicate flowersand wait for their... blooms must do so simply to enjoy the personal challenge and test of their patience.Duong Xuan Trinh, chairman of the Ha Noi Orchid Association, says this challenge gives orchids their appeal... orchids demand daily care...As orchid owners slowly coax their babies to bloom, they can have temporary respite from the stresses of daily life. For a few minutes a day, orchid owners can forget blaring motorbike horns and grumpy clients and concentrate their attention on a single quiet, deliberate task."Nurturing orchids relieves my anxiety after the working day," says Vu Quoc Viet, a 37-year-old orchid lover.For the retired, tending orchids provides a perfect form of personal entertainment. "Growing orchid plants is suitable for the elderly as it doesn't requiretoo much time or physical exertion," Trinh says.Orchids have become so popular that they are joining the list of plants used as Tet (Lunar New Year) decorations, which has long been limited topeach-blossom branches and kumquat trees.... From a handful of original members, the Ha Noi Orchid Association has expanded to over 200 enthusiasts. The group, mostly retired people andamateur orchid growers, meets every two months to exchange ideas and techniques for growing..."Growing orchids requires a great deal of [some...] scientific knowledge," Trinh says...."... based on the diversity of orchid species in Vietnam, it could be said that Vietnam is the world's cradle of orchid growing," says Tran Tuan Anh, an orchid hunter with 20 years' experience....According to the 2003 statistics of Russian researcher Leonid V Averyanov and his daughter Anna L Averyanova, there are 897 orchid species inVietnam. Tuan Anh puts the number over 900, saying that a number of species in the forest and his garden haven't yet been identified....Tuan Anh's orchid-searching adventures in Vietnam's most remote areas have produced a garden with over 300 types of orchids - more varieties than any other garden in Hanoi, he boasts.He even helped to identify four orchid species in Vietnam (and then named three of them after himself): Hoang thao Tran Tuan (Dendrobium trantuanii), Vanda Tuan Anh (Vanda tuananhii), Lan hai Tuan Anh (Paphiopedilum trantuanhii) and Hoang thao Viet Nam (Dendrobium V[v]ietnamica).Tuan Anh still remembers his first glimpse of lan hai (Paphiopedilum) on a trip to Son La, a mountainous province in northern Vietnam, in October 2003. At an elevation of 1,000m above sea level, he happened to spot a bundle of flowers that were distinct from any he had ever seen. The largeblossoms were brownish red in colour, with white calyxes in the front and green in the back. Struck by the beauty of the flowers, he shot photographsuntil he ran out of film and then hurried back to Hanoi.Considered a local expert, Tuan Anh has set up a website on Vietnam's orchids and assists both researchers and amateurs with information.With only a handful of experts like Tuan Anh, however, Vietnam's orchid-growing industry remains in its developing stages. Breedingtechnology and training in Vietnam remain limited, so some orchid growers have headed to Thailand for education.Le Xuan Truong spent two years learning from the expertise of a Thai grower, and the 38-year-old now owns a 1,000sq.m garden and 2ha farmproducing dendrobium. Every day, between 5,000 and 7,000 branches of flowers are sold wholesale, and sales hit 100,000 on special occasions likeWomen's Day. With branches selling for VND30,000 ($2) a piece, Truong's business has proven lucrative.As word gets out that business is booming, others will like[ly] follow suit to supply the many people who have fallen for the flower that plays hard toget."URL : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2008/02/768024/
http://images.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200802/original/images1497903_Ochid.jpg
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids
http://images.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200802/original/images1497903_Ochid.jpg
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sobralia orchids
"Bruce Rogers has a passion for...Sobralias-- the... tallest [not all...] orchids in the world...
Rogers has been raising, hybridizing and decorating with orchids for morethan 25 years, but it's the Sobralias(sew- BRAIL-eyah [Well, EnglishLatin...]) that have captured his heart...
at next weekend's Pacific Orchid Exposition... He will bring manyexamples... which he says will thrive in California gardens....[Bruce said :] it was love at first sight. I had little glimpses of themfrom afar, illustrations from books and magazines. My first encounter witha blooming plant left me speechless... Years ago, I was asked to decorate alarge urn as a backdrop for a statue unveiling. I used a large eight-footSobralia rogersiana in full bloom, and stood aside ready to receive praiseand compliments. No one there had ever seen a Sobralia before. Peoplethought I had tied Cattleya orchid flowers onto a bamboo plant so well thatthe wires could not be seen. No one believed it was a real plant!...Sobralias... grow very well here and can be found in older gardens andestates...the flowering season lasts all summer and into the fall. They can be grownboth in pots and in the ground, in sun or shade, rain or shine. There areSobralias for every microclimate that occurs in our area, from the warmerareas to the cooler spots. Sobralia macrantha seems the most adaptable withblooming plants reported from the top of the Santa Cruz mountains to theflats of Fresno, the hills of Marin to Santa Rosa and everywhere south....The scarcity of Sobralias has kept them from the public eye. While theyhave been in private and civic gardens for many years, availability hasalways been a problem, as they are difficult to raise from seed and takefrom four to eight years to raise to flowering size. Sobralias only have asmall window for dividing, which also hinders propagation.
After working with several local laboratories with little success, my...friend Terry Root and I decided to form a nursery business specializingonly in Sobralias... after much work we now have production numbers thatcan begin to satisfy demand....Once established, Sobralias are as tough as a jade plant or any othergarden plant. They can take dirty water and dirty air. The only thing fussyabout them is they can only be divided or repotted when showing both newgrowth and new roots...
There is no other orchid genus that is so diversified in terms of size [?],from Sobralia elegans, which grows less than a foot tall to Sobraliaaltissima, which is over 40 feet tall. The most popular group, the fieldtype with species such as xantholuca, macrantha veitchii and their hybridsgrow from 2 to 6 feet tall. There are new hybrids, which grow from 2 to 4feet, making them ideal for patios and gardens....I often tell people that Sobralia flowers are so big, you can use them towrap gifts, as tablecloths, or as clothing for small children. The modernSobralia field types have huge Cattleya-looking flowers from one to 10inches across, with some species such as Sob. rosea and Sob. rogersianahaving flowers as large as dinner plates. When you read orchid reports fromVictorian times, you read about even larger Sobralia flowers and onewonders what is now extinct in the wild [in the literature / smile...]....Sobralia flowers and plants are divided into two groups: the ephemeralgroup, where the flower lasts only one day, and in some cases just amorning, and the field group, where the flower lasts from three to 10 days.With both types, the individual canes carry many flowers that are displayedsingularly, so the overall display lasts for many months with a matureplant carrying multiple canes. Some ephemeral species such as Sob.klotzscheana carry 20-plus flowers and bloom for over a year, although thejasmine scented flowers last only a day. The longest lasting flowers in thefield group are probably Sob. undatocarinata and Sob. pulcherrima, with10-day flowers, with five to seven flowers per stem, which give you twomonths of heaven. We are breeding for flower longevity also, and speciessuch as these are very intriguing building blocks....Although I have seen them grown beautifully in full sun, I prefer morningsun or filtered shady afternoon sun. Water drainage must be perfect.Sobralias love water and when in active growth, it is hard to over-water.They also love fresh air....When... grown outside, pests leave these alone except when they are inflower. Snails and slugs will travel miles and lie, cheat and steal to getto the flowers... Either use a safe product like Sluggo, or take a littlecopper garden tape and wrap the stem below the buds or new growth. Whengrown inside as a house plant in dry conditions, one must watch for mites,but this is seldom a problem in California....with Sobralias it's all about the roots. A strong root system is key forsuccess. You might hear from old garden talk that they need to be pot-boundto bloom well, but that is because usually a pot-bound plant will have agood root system. They do not have to be pot-bound, they just need goodroots. If growing outside, plant Sobralias in raised beds and pre-checkyour drainage....Sobralias are like women [and men...], there are many kinds... To pick asingle one as a favorite is impossible, so here are my three favorites.Sobralia fimbriata is an ephemeral type with beautiful dark green pleatedleaves. The 2- to 3-foot plant blooms twice a year with pastel flowers witha beautiful fimbriated (fringed) lip. The fragrance is incredible andunique. It is the only orchid flower that I will pick and carry with methrough the day just for the fragrance. Sobralia rogersiana var. Bolin ismy obsession. Sobralia callosa is my favorite miniature. Perfect littleflower, perfect little plant. It is truly a jewel of nature....I was not bitten by the orchid bug. I was assaulted by the orchid bug many,many moons ago. I've been growing, hybridizing and decorating with orchidsfor over 25 years. I began my professional career in the late 1970s whenthe city of Atlanta Parks Department hired me to work with its orchids inthe greenhouses in Piedmont Park. Returning home to the Bay Area, I washired by the Rod McLellan Co. as the head grower for the boardingdepartment and to hybridize Vanda orchids. In the early 1980s, I left tostart Bruce Rogers Orchids, an orchid consulting and management companybased in San Francisco. In 2002, I joined Terry Root of the Orchid Zone andco-founded OzGardens, a business devoted exclusively to hybridizing andgrowing Sobralias...
They will be available at the Pacific Orchid Exposition from severalvendors and at the San Francisco Orchid Society sale table. This isprobably the best venue in the world for Sobralias right now with speciesand hybrids, ephemeral and field types and both mature plants andseedlings. Sobralias can be found at nurseries such as BerkeleyHorticulture Nursery, Flora Grubb Nursery and Sloat Nurseries in Marin andSan Francisco. Large specimens can also be found at Living Green in SanFrancisco. In San Jose, Serene Orchids has Sobralia seedlings... expect topay around $15 for a seedling in a three- to four-inch pot...
in the entrance exhibit. We will have a few of the giants like Sob.calloglossa and Sob. cattleya and a few of the miniature and mid-sizedhybrids. Elleanthus is a close relative to Sobralia, with identicalfoliage, but pine cone-shaped flowers, and they should have flowers (butthe really big flowers don't come along until summer)...
Growing orchids is one of the few socially acceptable art forms that mencan get involved in and their masculinity is never questioned [except by...]."
URL : http://www.mercurynews.com/lifeandstyleheadlines/ci_8342105
photo : ["Sobralia mirabilis"]
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2008/0223/20080223__orchids23~1_Gallery.JPG
Rogers has been raising, hybridizing and decorating with orchids for morethan 25 years, but it's the Sobralias(sew- BRAIL-eyah [Well, EnglishLatin...]) that have captured his heart...
at next weekend's Pacific Orchid Exposition... He will bring manyexamples... which he says will thrive in California gardens....[Bruce said :] it was love at first sight. I had little glimpses of themfrom afar, illustrations from books and magazines. My first encounter witha blooming plant left me speechless... Years ago, I was asked to decorate alarge urn as a backdrop for a statue unveiling. I used a large eight-footSobralia rogersiana in full bloom, and stood aside ready to receive praiseand compliments. No one there had ever seen a Sobralia before. Peoplethought I had tied Cattleya orchid flowers onto a bamboo plant so well thatthe wires could not be seen. No one believed it was a real plant!...Sobralias... grow very well here and can be found in older gardens andestates...the flowering season lasts all summer and into the fall. They can be grownboth in pots and in the ground, in sun or shade, rain or shine. There areSobralias for every microclimate that occurs in our area, from the warmerareas to the cooler spots. Sobralia macrantha seems the most adaptable withblooming plants reported from the top of the Santa Cruz mountains to theflats of Fresno, the hills of Marin to Santa Rosa and everywhere south....The scarcity of Sobralias has kept them from the public eye. While theyhave been in private and civic gardens for many years, availability hasalways been a problem, as they are difficult to raise from seed and takefrom four to eight years to raise to flowering size. Sobralias only have asmall window for dividing, which also hinders propagation.
After working with several local laboratories with little success, my...friend Terry Root and I decided to form a nursery business specializingonly in Sobralias... after much work we now have production numbers thatcan begin to satisfy demand....Once established, Sobralias are as tough as a jade plant or any othergarden plant. They can take dirty water and dirty air. The only thing fussyabout them is they can only be divided or repotted when showing both newgrowth and new roots...
There is no other orchid genus that is so diversified in terms of size [?],from Sobralia elegans, which grows less than a foot tall to Sobraliaaltissima, which is over 40 feet tall. The most popular group, the fieldtype with species such as xantholuca, macrantha veitchii and their hybridsgrow from 2 to 6 feet tall. There are new hybrids, which grow from 2 to 4feet, making them ideal for patios and gardens....I often tell people that Sobralia flowers are so big, you can use them towrap gifts, as tablecloths, or as clothing for small children. The modernSobralia field types have huge Cattleya-looking flowers from one to 10inches across, with some species such as Sob. rosea and Sob. rogersianahaving flowers as large as dinner plates. When you read orchid reports fromVictorian times, you read about even larger Sobralia flowers and onewonders what is now extinct in the wild [in the literature / smile...]....Sobralia flowers and plants are divided into two groups: the ephemeralgroup, where the flower lasts only one day, and in some cases just amorning, and the field group, where the flower lasts from three to 10 days.With both types, the individual canes carry many flowers that are displayedsingularly, so the overall display lasts for many months with a matureplant carrying multiple canes. Some ephemeral species such as Sob.klotzscheana carry 20-plus flowers and bloom for over a year, although thejasmine scented flowers last only a day. The longest lasting flowers in thefield group are probably Sob. undatocarinata and Sob. pulcherrima, with10-day flowers, with five to seven flowers per stem, which give you twomonths of heaven. We are breeding for flower longevity also, and speciessuch as these are very intriguing building blocks....Although I have seen them grown beautifully in full sun, I prefer morningsun or filtered shady afternoon sun. Water drainage must be perfect.Sobralias love water and when in active growth, it is hard to over-water.They also love fresh air....When... grown outside, pests leave these alone except when they are inflower. Snails and slugs will travel miles and lie, cheat and steal to getto the flowers... Either use a safe product like Sluggo, or take a littlecopper garden tape and wrap the stem below the buds or new growth. Whengrown inside as a house plant in dry conditions, one must watch for mites,but this is seldom a problem in California....with Sobralias it's all about the roots. A strong root system is key forsuccess. You might hear from old garden talk that they need to be pot-boundto bloom well, but that is because usually a pot-bound plant will have agood root system. They do not have to be pot-bound, they just need goodroots. If growing outside, plant Sobralias in raised beds and pre-checkyour drainage....Sobralias are like women [and men...], there are many kinds... To pick asingle one as a favorite is impossible, so here are my three favorites.Sobralia fimbriata is an ephemeral type with beautiful dark green pleatedleaves. The 2- to 3-foot plant blooms twice a year with pastel flowers witha beautiful fimbriated (fringed) lip. The fragrance is incredible andunique. It is the only orchid flower that I will pick and carry with methrough the day just for the fragrance. Sobralia rogersiana var. Bolin ismy obsession. Sobralia callosa is my favorite miniature. Perfect littleflower, perfect little plant. It is truly a jewel of nature....I was not bitten by the orchid bug. I was assaulted by the orchid bug many,many moons ago. I've been growing, hybridizing and decorating with orchidsfor over 25 years. I began my professional career in the late 1970s whenthe city of Atlanta Parks Department hired me to work with its orchids inthe greenhouses in Piedmont Park. Returning home to the Bay Area, I washired by the Rod McLellan Co. as the head grower for the boardingdepartment and to hybridize Vanda orchids. In the early 1980s, I left tostart Bruce Rogers Orchids, an orchid consulting and management companybased in San Francisco. In 2002, I joined Terry Root of the Orchid Zone andco-founded OzGardens, a business devoted exclusively to hybridizing andgrowing Sobralias...
They will be available at the Pacific Orchid Exposition from severalvendors and at the San Francisco Orchid Society sale table. This isprobably the best venue in the world for Sobralias right now with speciesand hybrids, ephemeral and field types and both mature plants andseedlings. Sobralias can be found at nurseries such as BerkeleyHorticulture Nursery, Flora Grubb Nursery and Sloat Nurseries in Marin andSan Francisco. Large specimens can also be found at Living Green in SanFrancisco. In San Jose, Serene Orchids has Sobralia seedlings... expect topay around $15 for a seedling in a three- to four-inch pot...
in the entrance exhibit. We will have a few of the giants like Sob.calloglossa and Sob. cattleya and a few of the miniature and mid-sizedhybrids. Elleanthus is a close relative to Sobralia, with identicalfoliage, but pine cone-shaped flowers, and they should have flowers (butthe really big flowers don't come along until summer)...
Growing orchids is one of the few socially acceptable art forms that mencan get involved in and their masculinity is never questioned [except by...]."
URL : http://www.mercurynews.com/lifeandstyleheadlines/ci_8342105
photo : ["Sobralia mirabilis"]
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2008/0223/20080223__orchids23~1_Gallery.JPG
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Lady's Slipper Orchid
One of the easiest orchids to grow at home is the Lady's Slipper Orchid, Paphiopedilum sp.
The unmistaken physical characteristic of this tropical orchid is the slipper or moccasin shape of the lip (largest of the three flower petals). These exotic flowers do not resemble any others of the vast orchid clan.
It is not to be confused with the native wildflower Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid, Cypripedium calceolus, which grows in wetlands, woodlands and swampy areas throughout
Lady's Slipper is a terrestrial orchid with handsome, compact foliage. This orchid thrives in bright, indirect light with day temperatures in the 70s and night readings in the 60s.
An east window would be ideal, but a south or west window is a good location if a sheer curtain is used to soften the light. If the leaves begin to turn a pale green color, the plant is getting too much light.
Keep the soil mix moist, but not wet. Water once or twice a week, depending on the season. Less water is better than too much. Humidity levels of 50 percent or more are ideal. Misting is not suggested as a method of raising the humidity. This may cause the terminal growth to rot.
Repot the plants annually in the spring following bloom. Fertilize every month, using a balanced fertilizer at half strength.
During the summer, this orchid can vacation on the patio or deck in the shade. Just remember, the vacation is over when night temperatures go below 50 degrees.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080223/COLUMNISTS18/802230312/1007/LIVING
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Moth Orchid - Phalaenopsis
The moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) is one of the most common orchids. Its popularity can be traced to the plant's elegant long-lasting flowers and ease of maintenance. The almost 60 species are responsible for the thousands of hybrids available today. In Latin, the word phalaen refers to a moth, opsis to an appearance. It has been said that a cluster of these flowers at dusk resembles a group of fluttering moths. The plant's large rounded petals lie flat, allowing the intricate lip -- with two wispy tails -- to gain attention. Moth orchids have been bred in a multitude of colors and combinations, including lavender, peach, pink, white and yellow as well as with stripes and spots. The plant grows as an epiphyte in the lower canopy, protected from direct sunlight. In the home, the ideal location is a window with eastern or southern exposure and protection from direct sun. Watering intervals depend on the plant's growing medium. The mix should be allowed to dry slightly before the next watering. After the last flower fades, the stem should be cut just above the first node, under where the first flower opened. Often, a second spike will form from this node and develop into a second flush of flowers. Moth orchids "flutter" throughout the Orchid Forest at the Franklin Park Conservatory.
-- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/home_garden/stories/2008/02/03/plant03x_ART_02-03-08_I7_B99795S.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
-- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/home_garden/stories/2008/02/03/plant03x_ART_02-03-08_I7_B99795S.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
Friday, February 22, 2008
Singapore Will Be The Theme of the New York Botanical Garden's annual orchid show
"the
The theme of this year's show is
...
The major design elements of the exhibition... inspired by the classical parks and gardens of
pond, as well as a lane of trees arching overhead, covered with flowers.
Of the 4,000 or 5,000 plants that will be on display over the course of the show, a majority come from the Garden's own collection... Others by necessity are purchased from nurseries around the country...
The Garden has around 8,000 plants in its collection, many of them rare species and some over 100 years old. The Garden is also a federally
designated rescue center for plants confiscated by the Department of Agriculture. In 2005, for instance, 1,100 wild orchids were confiscated at
The plants were sent to the Garden... dehydrated, shriveled, and torn ? and the gardeners... immediately went to work to save as many as possible. In the end, around 80% of the plants survived... Some will be on display in
this year's exhibition.
...
The first known hybrid was created in 1856 by John Dominy, a grower for the English nursery of James Veitch & Sons.
...
orchid collectors... The most famous... was Benedict Roezl, a Czech botanist who worked for an English importer and commercial grower of orchids, Frederick Sander. Roezl, who traveled throughout North, Central, and
adept at prying orchids out of trees."
URL: http://www.nysun.com/article
photo : [caption : "Gardener Gary Bendykowski installs orchids for the upcoming orchid show at the
http://www.nysun.com/pics
"
The sixth annual orchid exhibition... fills the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and much of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library building, will run from Feb. 23
to April 6...
The exhibition... will feature miniature orchids... and a gallery devoted to the orchids of
worldwide supply. The library will feature more orchid plants and displays about the garden's efforts to save rare plants, scientific studies involving
orchids, and 18th- and 19th-century botanical illustrations."
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02
"the
This... show will be the biggest scheduled in
producing its annual International Orchid Show for the first time in 27 years. For the past six years, that show was held at
...
No date for resumption of the show has been proposed. "
URL:
http://www.nj.com/living
"The New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show, Feb. 23-April 6, Bronx, N.Y.,
www.nybg.org
Atlanta Botanical Garden "Orchid Daze, Gargoyles & Grace," through March 30,
www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org
URL: http://www.usatoday.com/travel
Wild Orchids of Alberta Canada on Display at the MacEwan College's South Campus
"26 or more - grow wild... in Alberta, a good number of them just outside Edmonton.The Wagner natural area is a haven for orchids, says Ben Rostron, an associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at the University ofAlberta. He'll be talking about those orchids and how to find them at the Orchid Society of Alberta's annual show and sale this weekend at theMacEwan College's South Campus.About 16 different varieties of orchids can be seen at the Wagner natural area, located along Highway 16, just east of Spruce Grove. A 1.5-kilometretrail with a boardwalk over the wet areas provides great viewing.The best time to see the orchids is around the end of May and beginning of June, says Rostron. Yellow Lady's Slippers are easy to spot from the trail,with their small, yellow, slipper-shaped flowers...the striped coralroot orchid, with its pinkish-orange stripes, or pink lady's slippers, which grows around Fort McMurray. The bog candle orchid can grow one metre tall, with white flowers that smell like cloves...Many of the orchids found in Alberta are boreal plants that have found their way down from the Arctic Circle and originally came across [walking ?/ smile...] the land bridge from Asia, he says. In Alberta, one can find orchids in Elk Island, Banff and Jasper national parks."URL :http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=b8005eab-3ecc-4e77-a36c-8019fa6795d0&k=32331
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
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