The slipper orchids are not likely to be confused with any others; with the exception of a single species, all the members of the subfamily Cypripedioideae have the lip or labellum modified into a pouch, an inflated bag-shaped organ. If you can imagine a dainty foot nestled in this pouch, you’ll comprehend these orchids’ charming familiar designation as “lady’s slippers.”
Read moreEasy culture and a lavish show of long-lasting flowers have made cymbidiums favorites with gardeners and commercial cut-flower growers alike. Standard cymbidium hybrids produce multiple 3- to 4-foot flower spikes from February to early May (some as early as Christmas), and each spike may contain as many as thirty 4- to 5-inch flowers. The flowers have a heavy texture and
Read moreThe dendrobium tribe includes only four genera, three of which are not widely grown. The fourth, Dendrobium, more than compensates with its enormous number of species; estimates range from 900 to 1,400 or even more. Natives grow from India, China, and Japan through Indonesia to Australia, New Zealand, and the islands of the Pacific. These orchids are highly variable in
Read moreThis widely available and easily grown group of orchids contains some of the showiest flowers in the family. It includes not only the familiar Cattleya but also the very similar Laelia and the highly variable Epidendrum and Encyclia. Lesser known in their own right, but valuable as parents in a complex assemblage of hybrids, are Brassavola, Broughtonia, Caularthron (Diacrium), Rhyncholaelia,
Read moreThe plants described below belong to a sub-tribe known as the Oncidiinae. They grow naturally in the tropical and sub-tropical Americas and the Caribbean, mainly as epiphytes. There are a confusing number of genera and hundreds of species. Some sections interbreed freely in cultivation and there are a large number of intergeneric names. The taxonomists have recently had a field
Read moreThese are large monopodial orchids growing naturally from India and China down to Australia and the Philippines. They can be grown in pots, but most of the roots will prefer to wander around outside the pot. Culture in baskets is preferable but they need to be suspended, as the roots tend to hang downwards. A suitable potting medium is large
Read moreAlba: White form of a flower. AM: Award of Merit. Second-highest flower-quality award given by the American Orchid Society for plants scoring 79.5-89.4 award points. An AM can also be bestowed by the Royal Horticultural Society (AM/RHS). Angraecoid: Term used to describe the monopodial orchids that belong to the African Angraeceum orchids and their close relatives. AOS: American Orchid Society. Backbulb: An old, often leafless,
Read morePropagating orchids by division, through offshoots, or by raising seedlings is easily within the realm of most home growers. The method you choose depends on the type of orchid and on how much time you want to devote to the process. Dividing Orchids The easiest method of creating new orchids is by division. When you divide a plant, you’ll end
Read moreThere are two main reasons to re-pot your orchids, and they often, but not always, occur at the same time. First, an orchid needs to be re-potted if it gets too big for its pot. Orchids can have an extensive root system inside the pot and the potting mix, but they also typically have roots that extend out of the
Read moreOrchids are supposed to do best if the water is slightly on the acidic side, with a pH of about 6.5. However, they have been grown successfully in alkaline water with a pH of 7.5. Most municipal water supplies will present no problems, but there are exceptions. Water high in calcium and magnesium salts can be very hard and not
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