Wealth of orchid varieties is down to busy bees and helpful fungi, says study

Scientists have discovered why orchids are one of the most successful groups of flowering plants - it is all down to their relationships with the bees that pollinate them and the fungi that nourish them. The study, published tomorrow in The American Naturalist, is the culmination of a ten-year research project in South Africa involving researchers from Imperial College London, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and other international institutions.
http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/11013110-wealth-orchid-varieties-is-down-busy-bees-helpful-fungi-says-study.html

Orchid Notebook - iPhone app from NerdsGeeksGurus

NerdsGeeksGurus, LLC has released Orchid Notebook 1.0 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. With this app, orchid hobbyists and growers are able to track their orchid collections and wish lists. The app also offers a basic reference section aimed toward new orchid enthusiasts, and includes descriptions, care, and propagation of orchids. Orchid Notebook will be developed more fully through periodic ...

URL: Orchid Notebook - iPhone app from NerdsGeeksGurus - prMac - pitchengine.com

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids

Orchids' health speaks volumes

Deep in the silent and ancient spookiness of a cypress swamp in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge - complete with an 8-foot alligator - was a sight to make an orchid hunter's mouth water.
A half-dozen clamshell orchids and a dingy-flower star orchid grew on a pop ash; a few yards away, beyond a 600- to 800-year-old cypress tree, was a night-scented orchid. All three species were delicate, beautiful and endangered.


http://www.news-press.com/article/20110121/GREEN/101210407/Orchids-health-speaks-volumes



Enjoy,
Wendy Emerald

Orchids brighten a room with little effort

Orchids are beautiful and fascinating plants. But the thought of growing orchids, especially indoors, is intimidating for lots of gardeners. It conjures up pictures of giant greenhouses, complicated humidity, light and heat controls, and horticulturalists in white lab coats. Despite their reputation for being finicky flower divas, orchids aren't difficult to grow.

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

URL: Home & Garden | Orchids brighten a room with little effort | Seattle Times Newspaper

Combat winter blahs with orchid houseplant

If the winter ickies have got you down, a visit to a nursery or garden center is a great pick-me-up. And chances are you'll find a good selection of orchids in full bloom. While orchids look exotic, they make great houseplants. And the Phalaenopsis orchid, also called the moth orchid, is a snap to grow. It should be kept nearly dry between watering, so you don't have to be a slave to its needs like some other houseplants. Depending on the medium it's planted in, potting soil or bark, it only needs watering every week to 10 days. After it blooms, cut the flower stem back by half, about an inch above a green fleshly node and with luck the plant will re-flower.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110121/OPINION03/101210317/Combat-winter-blahs-with-orchid-houseplant#ixzz1Bh4TKNDm

Welcome Wendy Emerald

The Orchidaceous Blog would like to welcome our newest member of our team, Wendy Emerald - she's in Division 2 - Marketing and will be handling our e-business marketing... woohoo!!

Welcome Wendy.

Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

What does the word "Orchidaceous" mean?

Or-chi-da-ceous  adjective: \ˌȯr-kə-ˈdā-shəs\ means of, relating to or resembling the orchids.  Now that is a cool definition, don't you think? Orchidaceous also means showy or ostentatious.  So the word orchidaceous (wait, I can't spell check orchidaceous, hmm) means relating to or resembling orchids.  Orchids are air plants, they use the air you and I breathe to live.  That means an orchidaceous plant can be a fern (also an air plant) and bromeliads (the pineapple is a bromeliad) which are also air plants.  I wonder who made up this word, because I like it a lot? Don't you?

Orchids and bromeliads not blooming? Friends have the answer.

I tucked apple wedges between Vriesea bromeliads so the rotting fruit would produce ethylene gas, which makes most plants sprout flower stalks.

Orchids and bromeliads not blooming? Friends have the answer. - CSMonitor.com

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids

We have a lot to be thankful for...

Despite any challenges we may be facing, we still have a lot to be thankful for... Let's finish the year focusing on the good things happening in our life, not the bad.  And if you really think about it... it's all good.  This post gives me an excuse to post photos of orange orchids, the color of the season.  Enjoy!

Orchid Plant Adventures to Exotic Destinations

I need a holiday. A trip to Guatemala even sounds good. I don't mean to be facetious but there is a lot of violence in Guatemala. Well, I am not afraid of spiders... probably because I don't think of spiders. So, I think if I focus on the beauty of things and places I will only experience the beauty. That's simple right? Just focus on greatness and you will experience greatness. Well, what does this motivational stuff have to do with a holiday? I have heard great things about Guatemala from an experienced horticulturalist. According to him, Guatemala has more flora (the plant life in a region) than any of the other regions like Costa Rica, Peru, Belize or Honduras. He described Guatemala as a floral paradise. But he also said, "Hay mucha violencia" which in Spanish means there is a lot of violence. That means I will need to go to Guatemala myself. Someday. And marvel at the beauty of Guatemala's flora and forget about mine and Guatemala's problems.

Anyone planning a trip to Guatemala to see its flora can contact (I am not affiliated with this organization):

Plant Adventures to Exotic Destinations

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids

Vanilla beans + vodka = homemade extract

"vanilla extract...can be made... from home with just two ingredients... making vanilla extract requires very little time and maintenance...

URL: http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2010/10/19/vanilla-beans-vodka-homemade-extract/

Steve
1888Orchids

Encore!

It also comes in this size (large) :) we're testing the imager.. is that even a word? imager? hey, i invented a new word which means resizing an image on Blogger... yeah, that's it.  Well, it's the same photo as the other post today but a little bigger.  The orchid is so beautiful I figured you wouldn't mind seeing it again anyway...

Two new Orchid Species have been discovered and registered in Machu Picchu

Two new Orchid Species have been discovered and registered in Machu Picchu,  Peru by Dr. Carlyle A. Luer: Brachionidium carmeniae Luer, sp. nov. and  Brachionidium inkaterrense Luer & C.Soto, sp. nov. with the collaboration of  Inkaterra Asociación (ITA), an NGO created by the Joe and Denise Koechlin to
study and protect flora and fauna in the Machu Picchu National Sanctuary. * Brachionidium inkaterrense Luer & C.Soto, sp. nov. is a 10 cm tall  epiphyte growing on sphagnum moss at 3000 - 3200 meters, blooming in
October. Flowers last for 2 or 3 days.  * Brachionidium carmeniae Luer, sp. nov., named after Carmen Soto,
Coordinator of ecological programs at Inkaterra, is 10 cm tall epiphyte  growing on sphagnum moss blooming in October at 3000 - 3200 meters. Flowers  last for 2 or 3 days.

Both species seem to be endemic to Machu Picchu.

See the pictures at: http://bit.ly/bcdQwD
Orchid Conservation and Biodiversity Conference in Machu Picchu (February
2011): http://www.mapibio.com/

 

Brachionidium carmeniae Luer, sp. nov.

Brachionidium inkaterrense Luer & C.Soto, sp. nov.

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

Happy Autumn!

Miniature Moth Orchids

Today is election day... woohoo! (unless you're reading this after election day) Democracy does work.  I hope everyone got out and voted.  What a historic time for our country.  It is a historic time for just about every sector, don't you agree? - politics, agriculture, space, biology.., you name it, something is being etched in the history of this great country.  Something great is happening everywhere these days...
History is also being made in agriculture - especially with orchid plants.  That's right, orchid breeding, especially phalaenopsis orchid breeding is reaching a climax with the latest trend being miniature moth orchids in 3" (7.6 centimeters) growing pots.  Here is a sampling of these little beauties - the hottest trend in blooming orchid plant offerings - the miniature moth orchid in small pots.

Miniature orchids add color to dish gardens or you can combine up to six miniature moth orchids and create a miniature moth orchid garden.  Woohoo!

Overview of Growing Orchids Indoors

For most gardening and flower enthusiasts, bloomed flowers are most fascinating to see, especially if they work hard and care for it, till it blossom. Among the most planted floras for gardens, orchids are one of the favorites.

Link:Overview of Growing Orchids Indoors

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Orchid Lights – The Correct Spectrum

What's a home horticulturist to do? The window sills are full and a greenhouse out back is not in the budget for years to come. Orchid lights can be a great enhancement to your growing or lighting needs.

Link:Orchid Lights – The Correct Spectrum

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Five tips for growing orchids

rchids are exotic plants that many gardeners insist are simple to grow.

Link:Five tips for growing orchids | Chattanooga Times Free Press

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Orchid tricks hoverflies: Eastern marsh helleborine mimics aphid alarm pheromones to attract pollinators

Eastern marsh helleborine (Epipactis veratrifolia), an orchid species, has successfully lured a hoverfly of the genus Ischiodon by mimicking alarm pheromones usually emitted by aphids. Credit: MPI Chemical Ecology, Johannes Stök

Orchid tricks hoverflies: Eastern marsh helleborine mimics aphid alarm pheromones to attract pollinators

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

Orchid Problems and Pests : Mealybugs and Brown Soft Scales

Here is a great article about mealybugs published by The McAllen International Orchid Society Journal.

Orchid Problems and Pests : Mealybugs and Brown Soft Scales

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com