Bewildered by the beauty of orchids

Charles Darwin once wrote that "the contrivances by which orchids are fertilised, are as varied and almost as perfect as any of the most beautiful adaptations in the animal kingdom". No wonder, then, that they are the largest and most diverse plant family on Earth, consisting of between 20,000 and 30,000 varieties.

URL:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/8730537/Bewildered-by-the-beauty-of-orchids.html
Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids

Weedy orchid taking root

Q: The plant in the accompanying photo has become highly invasive in one area of my yard and is beginning to show up in other areas. I can't always get the root out. I have this notion of a widespread underground network given its rapid growth in numbers. Can you identify and provide some clues for eradication?

A: When I studied the photo you sent of this weed's flowers, I thought they looked mightily like orchids. But an orchid weed? How could that be? Everyone loves orchids! And don't they need tender care to survive at all?

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/25/HOG91KNI5Q.DTL#ixzz1W9L3zQdA

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids



Weedy orchid taking root

My question is the directions that came with the plant say water every 20 days and fertilize every other month with 10-10-10 or 12-12-12.

A: Phalaenopsis or moth orchids tend to thrive on what seems neglect: Water every three weeks and fertilization every other month. The "10-10-10" or "12-12-12" refers to a balanced fertilizer with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, the macro-nutrients that all plants need for growth and development.

In the wild, orchids depend on decomposing leaves for most of their nutrients. They don't need much.

For best results, use a water-soluble fertilizer specifically designed for orchids. According to experts, orchids planted in bark may need a higher amount of nitrogen (the first number in that three-digit formula) because the decaying bark will use up a lot of the available nitrogen, leaving little for the plant. That's why some orchid foods are 30-10-10, for example.

Before feeding, water the plant well and get its bark or other planting medium moist but not soggy. Discard any water and/or fertilizer that accumulates in the pot's saucer or decorative container; standing water can cause the orchid to rot.

URL: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/20/3842356/garden-detective-mystery-plant.html#ixzz1Vlslr8B6

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids

Botanic Garden Scientists Save Smuggled Plants

Plant detention center is a picturesque prison

Inside the U.S. Botanic Garden's production facility, a soft mist floats down on a tangle of green leaves and colorful flowers. With 34 greenhouses and 30,000 plants, the glass-enclosed campus just off Interstate-295 is one of the lushest spots in Washington.


URL: http://wamu.org/news/11/08/16/botanic_garden_scientists_save_smuggled_plants.php

Enjoy,
Steve

ARKive blog - Spotlight on: Orchids

Orchids are a dazzling genus of over 24,000 plant species capable of producing some of the most beautiful flowers on the planet. Found on every continent except Antarctica, orchids have been documented in nearly every color but black. However, the orchid is more than just a pretty face as it employs some of the cleverest tricks to attract pollinators and has developed unique relationships with other species, each benefitting nicely from it. Let’s explore some of the most fascinating (and lovely) orchids on ARKive!

URL: http://blog.arkive.org/2011/08/spotlight-on-orchids/

Great blog, enjoy!

Steve Peralta
1888Orchids

Growing orchids as a hobby

URL: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/14/growing-orchids-as-a-hobby/

Enjoy,
Steve

Wisconsin's orchids best in show

It must be heaven on earth when you run across a patch of orchid plants like this.

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids

Orchid Plants - Availability List - August 9, 2011

Orchid plants abound and our greenhouse is filled with alluring mixed orchids called Inter-generic orchids.  Inter-generic hybrids are made up of many different genera that are crossed together to create orchids plants called inter-generic orchids.  The result are orchid plants that have become perennial favorites among orchid lovers. 

(Mtssa Izumi X Odcdm Black Beauty) “Hawaii”

Alcra. Pacific Nova Butter Buds

Bllra Lunatic Fringe “Ikes Yikes”

Bllra Lunatic Fringe “Orchid Isle”

Bllra Pacifc Treasures “Everything Nice”

Bnfd Gilded Tower “Mystic Maze”

Brsdm Ashibune “The Orchid Works”

Brsdm Golden Gamine “White Knight”

Brsdm Shooting Star “Mustard”

Dgmra Hani “Star of Unicorn” AM/AOS

Mtssa. Charles M. Fitch Izumi

Odbrs Iridecent “Pacific Pixie”

Odbrs Kennith Bivens

Odcdm Catatante “Pacific Sunspots”

Odcdm Everglades Elegance “Nancy Lee”

Onc Heaven Scent “Redolence”

Onc Rosy Sunset “Rosebud”

Onc Sharry Baby “Sweet Fragrance”

Onc. Nambo Waltz Boso Sweet

Orchid Plants  

If you like trees, then you will like the Hoyt Arboretum

The arboretum is located in Portland, Oregon.  The arboretum grounds are open and free to the public from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.  Woohoo!!
Hoyt Arboretum

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Cattleya Orchid - It takes seven years to bloom

I have always been fond of Cattleya orchid plants.  What makes them so alluring to me is that they are true epiphytic plants or air plants.  They rely on the air you and I breathe to live.  Cattleya orchids extract nutrients from the air to survive.  They use their root system to cling to trees (but they don't harm the tree) where they grow like they have grown for hundreds of years.  My favorite orchid is the Cattleya orchid.  Did you know that it takes seven years for a Cattleya orchid to bloom from seed? Here are some photos of some of my favorite Cattleya orchid plants, enjoy.

Silver Vase introduces second blue orchid - Indigo Mystique

Wholesale orchid and bromeliad grower Silver Vase in Homestead, Fla., has introduced a second blue orchid called Indigo Mystique. Earlier this year the grower introduced the Blue Mystique orchid. Indigo Mystique is made with the exclusive patented technology used to create Blue Mystique.
Indigo Mystique is infused from the inside to transform flowers to fuchsia and then intense indigo. Buds on the current stem will open to a range of shades because they were closed at the time of treatment. As the plants continue to grows, a new stem produces fuchsia flowers.

URL: http://www.silvervase.com/

Steve Peralta

Orchid Plants - White Phalaenopsis

White is the color of snow and when it melts the color dulls just like the fading bloom of a White Phalaenopsis orchid.  Novelty phalaenopsis orchid plants abound so we're bringing back the classic white phalaenopsis orchid - the white orchid that exudes pure beauty. 
White phalaenopsis orchid plants come in many sizes.  My favorite are the tall, large flowering types.  You know, the ones that produce the large white flowers with a yellow center.  The white is so white it may be whiter than snow.   And that is one of the things that make white phalaenopsis so alluring, is the whiteness of the petals. 

We are proud to offer white phalaenopsis orchids year around in four sizes.  The size is determined by the size of the plant and the flower count.  Larger more expensive plants have more blooms compared to our starter white phalaenopsis - our select version.

White Phalaenopsis Orchid

White Phalaenopsis Orchid Plant

White Phalaenopsis - Select
(Grown in 4 inch Orchid pots)

White Phalaenopsis - Deluxe
(Grown in 4 inch Orchid pots)

 

White Phalaenopsis - Super Deluxe

(Grown in 6 inch Orchid pots)

 

 White Phalaenopsis - Grand Deluxe
(Grown in 6 inch Orchid pots)

 

White Phalaenopsis - Super Grand Deluxe 

(Grown in 7 inch Azalea pots)

Let's add some more white phalaenopsis to this blog post.. I mentioned that I like the large flowering types the most but I have also included some white moth orchids that are beautiful to behold..

White phalaenopsis large flower type..

White phalaenopsis orchid select with six flowers

White phalaenopsis orchid with yellow center

White phalaenopsis orchids - elegant, charming, sophisticated

I have always loved the elegance of white phalaenopsis orchids both as novelty moth orchids and the larger flowering white phalaenopsis shown above.  The smaller novelty moth orchids can be combined in orchid plants made of metal or clay of up to 6 orchid plants to create a stunning focal point on any wedding table.  Since the plant is shorter, the flowers sit more flush to the table yet the impact is there..The bright white flowers of these orchids beckon the admirer to take a closer look and ahh at the beauty.  Smaller white phalaenopsis orchids are also beautiful so I will share some of those..

White moth orchid - Phalaenopsis Amabilis Farmosa

Phalaenopsis Amabilis Farmosa

Phal. Amabilis make great wedding orchids 

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta

Taiwanese florist rose from a street stall to ‘Oscars’

Cheng Hsiu-wei, second right, and representative to the UK Chang Hsiao-yue, third right, present Queen Elizabeth with an orchid in this undated photo.

Cheng Hsiu-wei (鄭秀煒), who began a career in floral design by selling flowers as a street vendor, won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for outstanding floral design on May 24 in London. Now she says she hopes one day to decorate Buckingham Palace with orchids from Taiwan.
“This is not only a dream. Dreams come true when they are heartfelt,” she said.
Cheng began selling earrings, necklaces and nail polish at a street stall after graduating from college.


URL: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/07/04/2003507388


Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids

Hawaii's Three Native Orchids

Hawaii is often associated with brightly colored orchids. But most are commonly cultivated commercial varieties strung into lei, sold in nurseries and used for decoration and landscaping.

In fact, Hawaii has only three native orchids: Anoectochilus sandvicensis, Liparis hawaiensis and Platanthera holochila. All three species grow in the highest reaches of the islands’ forests and bogs, but it is the Platanthera, also called the fringed orchid, that is the rarest of them all.

 Platanthera holochila



Anaoectochilus sandvicensis

Liparis hawaiensis

Burning hot from Mexico - A Mexican chocolate drink, laced with vanilla

Fragrant vanilla beans are the pods or fruits obtained from a tropical climbing orchid. This prized bean is native to the tropical rain forests of Central America and was spread to other tropical regions by the Spanish explorers. Vanilla beans are available in herbs and spices stores year around. One may also find vanilla essence and vanilla sugar in these stores. Vanilla beans are usually available either singly or in small bundles, packed in a long glass tube or jar.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/Food/article2134491.ece

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids

Orchid Sirens

During his frequent hikes on nearby hills, longtime orchid grower Ed Nazzal is drawn to native Bay Area orchids like a chocoholic eyeing candy inside a chocolate shop.
It's unlikely either of them will ever say, "Enough!"
Out of approximately 30,000 orchid species worldwide, nearly three dozen are native to California and about a dozen are on record as growing in the Bay Area.

URL: http://losgatos.patch.com/articles/orchid-sirens

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids

Miniature Moth Orchid Plants All The Rage

Big things do come in small packages like diamonds and pearls.. which have high unit value (high unit value is the value of something relative to size.. if something is small and very valuable, it has a high unit value). Woohoo! So I propose we include small flowering moth orchid plants in this group. Miniature moth orchids are the jewels of the orchid kingdom not only to have in an orchid collection but to give as gifts and enjoy in the home.

I am very lucky to be around orchids all the time. Not a day goes by where I don't see an orchid plant of some type. Lately these plants have been getting smaller. It started late 2010 when I saw my first miniature moth orchids at an orchid show. I asked the orchid grower what was up with these miniature orchids. He said miniature moth orchids have been grown in Japan for many years and it is just catching on here in the United States. The timing of the arrival of these miniature beauties could not be better. The economy is down and we want more value. Miniature moth orchids provide that value and much more.

URL: http://www.1888orchids.com/Articles.asp?ID=294

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Phalaenopsis "Little White Snow" - The Smallest Phalaenopsis I've Ever Seen..

orchids_phalaenopsis little white snow ox1473 064
Originally uploaded by 1888Orchids.com

It's official - breeding smaller and smaller Phalaenopsis orchids is a trend. We want more value and small, sometimes fragrant Phalaenopsis orchids like these provide happiness and joy just like there larger counterparts. You can't help but love this small Phalaenopsis called Phalaenopsis "Little White Snow".

The Fast Way to Initiate a New Flower Spike on Your Phalaenopsis Orchid

I ran across a secret that I am going to share with you about how to promote a new flower spike (flower stem) on your favorite orchid like the Phalaenopsis.  The technique was shared with me by my good friend who loves orchids. This technique is used to help initiate another flower spike on your Phalaenopsis orchid.
 
After the orchid plant has finished blooming, traditionally we would cut the flower spike about 1/2 inch from the crown of the foliage.. meaning we would only leave about 1/2 inch of stem on the plant.  A new technique that promotes a flower spike, on the same spike, is to cut the spike 1/2 above the first node on the flower spike going down.  In other words, from the tip of the stem downward, you will locate the first node.  Cut the flower spike between one to 1/2 inch above this node.  In more vigorous plants, these nodes produce actual flower spikes giving the orchid a "branching" characteristic. 

  

I haven't done my research online on this new technique.. meaning someone may have already written about it.  But i have been in the orchid business for a while and I just ran across this technique myself and wanted to share it with you.  I have seen this technique and it works. 
I was reminded to write about this technique when i ran across an orchid today that was in our greenhouse hospital.  Not all the time, but occasionally we break an orchid and it goes into the orchid hospital where it is kept then donated to a good home.  Here are two photos of an orchid with a broken stem with a new flower spike.  See, it does work.

the stem on this orchid broke

but produced a new flower spike seven inches below the cut..

19th AOC Conference & Show Perth, Western Australia 11th to 16th September 2012 "Wild About Orchids"

The Australian Orchid Conference, held every three years, will return to Perth for the first time since 1991 and promises to be even more spectacular than all previous conference successes.

URL: http://www.waorchids.iinet.net.au/19th_AOC_Conference.htm

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids