AboutOrchids

This Sobralia orchid has been a reliable cool-grower in our garden for over a decade. Its scientific name, Sobralia macrantha, means “big-flowered Sobralia” and it’s no lie. These large, purple blooms with their frilly lips can span 10 inches (25 cm,) but mine are usually a little smaller. A few years ago, I moved this plant indoors for a while, thinking it might grow better with more warmth and less wind. Eventually, I moved it back outside, and it seems happier. Since then, the plant has given me great, extended blooms, with each blossom lasting as long as five days. It flowers repeatedly throughout the year, especially in autumn and winter, despite our challenging coastal climate. In the past couple weeks, we’ve had storms with winds over 55 mph (89 kph) and occasional hail, so the flowers may be battered, but fresh ones keep coming.

Sobralias are notorious for short-lived flowers, and my orchid friends are always surprised that these can last five days, instead of the typical one or two. I think cool temps here on the foggy Northern California coast may help them last longer. The species can grow up to 7 feet (2.1 m) tall, but my plant only reaches 1.5 feet (0.46 m,) probably because of our strong winds.

Native to rainforests from Mexico to Costa Rica, Sobralia macrantha grows up to 11,000 feet (3353 m) elevation. Mine receives morning sun, regular water, fertilizer, and plenty of fresh air outdoors. I give it less water in cooler winter weather. This orchid proves that nobody needs warm, tropical conditions to enjoy big, bold blooms.

Kids will get stuck on orchids with the American Orchid Society’s (AOS) engaging gifts for children. The Stuck on Orchids sticker book includes stickers, basic info, and opportunities for coloring. It covers seven of the most common orchid varieties. The Orchid Nonsense Coloring Book features over 40 designs of orchids, animals, and characters, ready for crayons and imagination. AOS members receive discounts on these and more from the AOS Gift Shop. There are also discounts for bulk orders.

December is always the slowest month of the year for orchid shows. In addition to the events below, many orchid societies have holiday parties and auctions which may be open to visitors. Happy holidays!

Not many people would expect to find orchids in a desert in Utah, but orchids can turn up in unusual places. Platanthera zothecina, the Alcove Bog Orchid, is native to the upper Colorado River watershed in southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, and far western Colorado. It’s rare and endangered. The area is harsh, high-elevation desert, with very hot summers, very cold winters, and little water. These photos show a small colony of plants with old flowers. They typically bloom in the summer; these photos were taken in October. The flowers are starting to die back, but still holding on.

Most deserts have few or no orchids, but there are species like the Alcove Bog Orchid which specialize in dry habitats. These plants are surviving by growing in a seep, where porous rocks allow water to slowly percolate from above. Rain or snow, which may have fallen years ago, slowly seeps out. This can create damp areas at the bases of rock ledges. The rock ledges also provide some protection from sun and wind. The final two photos above show this type of habitat more clearly, but there are no orchids in those shots.

An important reminder: please never take orchids from the wild. It’s illegal, and the plants will die from the stress. Take only photos and memories. Don’t damage plants or pluck their flowers, and be careful not to trample them.

Photos courtesy of Joyce Stevenson.

Down under in Tasmania, it’s spring. The blooms in the island’s forests include orchids and carnivorous plants. Over 200 orchid species are native to Tasmania, many found nowhere else. Bird Orchids, or Chiloglottis, resemble baby birds with mouths open, begging for food. Caladenia and Greenhood orchids also abound. While some orchid varieties provide nectar rewards, others seduce their pollinators. They trick them into believing that they’re finding a mate. The insects help pollinate the orchids, and may be frustrated, but are not harmed. However, carnivorous plants, like Sundews, have a lethal deception. They feature shiny drops which appear to be nectar, but are actually glue. Small bugs are trapped and digested. It’s surely a risky time of year for insects in Tasmania.

This brilliant pink Cochlioda orchid has been a reliable bloomer for years. I bought this charming miniature almost two decades ago, and it flowers every autumn. Each of its spikes can hold over two dozen blossoms which open sequentially, so the pink keeps going for three or four months. This fall, it’s already been in bloom for two months, and it just popped up its tenth flower spike!

This species is native to high-elevation cloud forests in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Cochlioda vulcanica is now known as Oncidium vulcanicum, but I’m used to the old name. Mine lives outdoors all year on the Northern California coast, where it’s happy with our cool, foggy weather. It receives regular water, fertilizer, morning sun, and winter dormancy. Cochliodas prefer small pots. I usually repot it every three years, using a mix of fine bark and perlite. If you can provide a cool environment, you should definitely find a little space for this easy, hardy, and beautiful orchid.

A newly discovered orchid has been named for Sir David Attenborough. Lepanthes attenboroughii from Peru joins the list of living things named in honor of the famed British biologist, author, broadcaster, and environmentalist. Lots of species already bear his name, including a butterfly, gecko, snail, pitcher plant, and even a dinosaur. I believe that this is the first orchid to have the honor. Lepanthes are small pleurothallids, often with colorful and charismatic flowers. This species had been mistaken for a similar Lepanthes, before scientists realized that it’s not the same. Photos of the orchid start on page 3 of this linked scientific article.

As seasons change and holidays approach, this month’s schedule is slower, but there’s still plenty to choose from. I’m glad that in-person events have returned, but I’m also happy that some virtual events are continuing, like the Orchid Digest International Speakers Day. They allow people to attend from anywhere, and are much easier for those far away or with physical limitations.

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Variegated plants are in vogue these days, just like they have been many times throughout history. Centuries before Instagram made them the latest fad, orchid lovers in East Asia noticed leaf color variations in Cymbidiums and Samurai Orchids, and began cultivating them. Of course, many plant varieties besides orchids have colorful leaves, too. Gardens around the globe have long been decorated by their rich hues and fascinating patterns.

There are so many variegated orchids that these 15 examples are just a drop in the bucket. Entire branches of the orchid family tree feature variegation. There are hundreds or maybe thousands of Paph varieties and Jewel Orchids with multicolor leaves. Moth Orchids, Dendrobiums, Vanillas, and Epidendrums may have them. Some terrestrials have them, likely as camouflage to help them blend into the forest floor. Colors can include different shades of green, white, yellow, silver, red, pink, or purple.

These orchids can be divided into two categories: those where variegation is the usual form, and those where it’s an unusual mutation. The first eight photos in this post show varieties where it’s the usual form. The last seven photos, starting with the Vanilla planifolia vine, show ones with mutations. These mutants may sometimes revert to growing their typical all-green leaves. If so, it may be necessary to cut off the all-green growth, and only allow the variegated parts to remain.

The final row of photos highlights the centuries-long traditions of cultivating variegated East Asian orchids. Patterned Samurai Orchids, Cymbidiums, and others, like the Phalaenopsis japonica (also known as Sedirea japonica) in the final photo, can command extraordinary prices among orchid lovers. Flawlessly raised in stunning flowerpots, they are each treasured works of art. They also exemplify why variegated plants are always in fashion.

Dogs are helping orchids. The North American Orchid Conservation Center has two projects where dogs are working to save endangered species (the article is in the middle of their newsletter.) With their keen sense of smell, specially trained hounds have learned to identify the orchids from dried specimens. They can locate wild plants when they’re out of bloom, and even when they’re completely dormant. The Small Whorled Pogonia, Isotria medeoloides, can stay dormant underground for over a decade. It can be very difficult to find, but the pups are learning how. Canelo Hills Ladies’ Tresses, Spiranthes delitescens is a rare orchid from only a few Arizona locations, but the dogs sniff it out easily. With canine assistance, conservationists are learning more about these species, and improving the odds that they can preserve them.