Moth Orchids Make Great Gifts

Moth Orchids, or Phals, always put on an impressive show. They’ve become essential for Valentine’s Day __and the Lunar New Year. A steady stream of new hybrid colors __and patterns continually adds to the list of Phal choices. Best of all, modern hybrids are grown for both beauty and toughness. They are as easy to keep as other common houseplants with a few care tips.

These tropical plants don’t like cold weather, so take basic precautions if you’re buying over winter. Don’t let them get too cold on the way home. Ideally, they should be kept above 65°F (18°C,) but a quick exposure to chilly air shouldn’t be a problem. If it’s near or below freezing, however, keep them completely out of the cold. Wrap the plant and flowers, or inflate a bag around them, to provide a cushion of warmer air. Quickly move them out of any cold temps. That way your gift will arrive at its destination with its flowers in great shape.

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Poaching Orchids

Orchid poaching is a global problem, as plants are torn from the wild for profit, or as a selfish person’s trophy. Around the Great Lakes, poaching is threatening many native plants, including orchids. True orchid lovers know that they need to keep locations secret when they find native species. If word gets out, the plants will, sadly, be poached, __and likely be killed in the process. Scientists try to monitor populations, __and orchid lovers, photographers, and park rangers try not to accidentally reveal precise locations. “When you post photographs on the internet, people can track the area you’re in by seeing the flora and plants in the habitat around the orchid — it’s like CSI orchid edition.” said Mark Carlson, a Michigan nature photographer. Citizen science projects around the region have yielded positive results, and allowed scientists to better protect rare species.

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A Mystery of Hiding Orchids, Solved

Scientists have long wondered what awakens orchids, like the Small-Whirled Pogonia, after they’ve hidden underground for extended dormant periods. Smithsonian.com reports that a soil fungus holds the answer.

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Hyacinth Orchids, Big and Small

For years, I’ve had great success growing a Giant Hyacinth Orchid outdoors. With long, graceful leaves, it’s an elegant plant even when not in flower. But certainly, it’s at its best when it bursts into bloom. Tall stalks emerge, each boasting dozens of small, purple flowers. Every winter, this orchid reliably puts on a great show, usually lasting for months. It’s currently outside our front door, where it started blooming a few weeks ago.

After a dozen years of spectacular blooms with this plant, I spotted a closely related subspecies for sale at last year’s Pacific Orchid Expo. Some friends successfully grow this smaller Hyacinth Orchid variety in their gardens, so I decided to try it, too. I’m happy to see that Arpophyllum giganteum subspecies alpinum is just as easy to bloom as Arpophyllum giganteum. Instead of purple, it has vivid crimson flowers.

My new plant is still small, but even at its largest, this subspecies has smaller leaves __and shorter flower stalks than the purple variety. Despite these differences, these two plants are very closely related. They are considered the same, not separate, species. __and I’m very happy to have them both in the garden.

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Winter Orchid Exhibits

Looking for a winter escape? Don’t miss these long-term exhibits featuring beautiful flowers inside warm glasshouses.

January 6 – February 20
Find a floral wonderland at Denver Botanic Gardens’ Orchid Showcase. Enjoy hundreds of blooms in the Orangery __and Marnie’s Pavilion.

January 7 – March 5
Take an opulent garden stroll through the 1920’s at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio. Orchids __and other tropical plants combine with Art Deco designs for an amazing winter display.

January 14 – March 5
Delight in the Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. and don’t miss the Pittsburgh-themed Garden Railroad. Wear a tropical shirt on a Sunday in February for half-priced admission.

January 21 – March 31
Enjoy an Orchid Extravaganza at Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia. Wonder at 4500 orchids inside the warm Conservatory, Peirce-du Pont House, and Visitor Center.

January 28 – March 5
Look for orchids among the hanging jungle of Cleveland Botanical Garden. Don’t miss special Orchid Mania programs, including Ask the Orchid Doctor and Build an Orchid Terrarium.

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An Orchid Revival in South Florida

The Miami Herald reports on the Million Orchid Project, which is returning native orchid species to South Florida. After years of growing seedlings in labs, scientists __and volunteers are transplanting young orchids into urban areas around Miami-Dade County. It’s a big experiment in orchid conservation __and citizen science. So far, over 30,000 plants from several native species have been transplanted. Local high schools are also getting in on the act. An old school bus converted into a mobile science lab brings the experiment around the area, and allows students to participate in the research. Learn more or volunteer for the Million Orchid Project at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden website.

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Orchids for the Season

With a chilly rain here on the California coast, __and more storms in the forecast, these orchids are perfect for inspiring warm thoughts. Enjoy a few more photos from our visit to Vallarta Botanical Gardens in Mexico last winter.

With blooms in every hue, rich perfumes, __and amazing flower shapes, these orchids are embodiments of the word tropical. Vallarta Botanical Gardens is just outside Puerto Vallarta. It’s full of both native and exotic species, and always worth a visit.

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