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Maxillaria picta

 Species
Jan 012011
 

Species of the month: Maxillaria picta

Maxillaria picta belongs to a large genus of orchids which are native to Central and South America. Many of these are well suited for growing in the South Florida area.

Of these, M. picta is one of the prettiest. This warn to cool growing species is native to Brazil and Argentina and blooms from winter to spring. The fragrant yellow flowers are marked with red and have white lips and a mature plant can make a spectacular display when it’s in bloom.

From experience with my plant, it likes bright light, moderate water and fertilizer with a bit of a dry rest and good air circulation. Plants bloom from January to March.

Look for it at the upcoming Ft. Lauderdale and Tamiami shows.

Prostechea boothiana

 Species
Jan 012011
 

Get Growing with Lou Lodyga… Prostechea boothiana

A Florida native, also found in the Caribbean and Mexico in dry scrub forest and tropical deciduous forests as a hot to warm growing miniature to small sized epiphyte. It is found from sea level to 150 meters in elevation, it is commonly called the dollar orchid for the shape of it pseudobulbs; it grows best on a mount in bright light and blooms in the summer.

Spikes arise from newly formed bulbs and tend to be larger than the plant. They can carry up to 5 long-lasting flowers. Like all Florida orchids, this one is illegal to collect in the wild. Plants are available from several nurseries.

Cattleya perciviliana

 Species
Dec 012010
 

Species of the month: Cattleya perciviliana

One of the Christmas blooming orchids, this species is native to Venezuela where it is found at altitudes of 1300 – 2000 meters, however the plant will grow and bloom well at sea level as it grows well for us in South Florida.

Like many cattleya species, other color forms include alba, semi-alba, and coerulea, as well as its normal pink. These plants are fragrant, although the scent is not pleasing to all.

Cattleya perciviliana is well known as one of the so-called Christmas orchid, named for their tendency to bloom in time for the holidays. Other such orchids include Laelia anceps and Angrecum sesquipidale, the “Star of Bethlehem” orchid.

Bulbophyllum guttulatum

 Species
Nov 012010
 

Species of the month: Bulbophyllum guttulatum

This is a small warm to cool-growing member of this large class of orchids which is found in the Himalayas, Assam, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Vietnam where it grows at elevations of 1000 to 2600 meters.

It is an easy to grow miniature which blooms from summer to fall on an inflorescence which carries between 6 to 8 inch long flowers in a loose umbel above the foliage. Well grown plants can be very floriferous and give quite a display.

Like all bulbophyllums, these plants like to be kept moist and need light and good air circulation to bloom well. This genus grows very well in Florida and is frequently seen at society meetings and shows.

Laelia Anceps

 Species
Nov 012010
 

Get Growing with Lou Lodyga… Laelia Anceps

Laelia anceps is an undemanding and easy plant to grow for most people. This species is naturally occurring in Mexico and is extremely drought resistant as well as temperature tolerant.

It will thrive in temperatures from 20 degrees F. (-5 degrees C) to 100 degrees F (32 degrees F) as long as it is given enough moisture. It is known as a vigorous grower of medium size with long inflorescences from which it will have 3-5 lavender flowers measuring three to four inches. They are known for their Christmas blooming period although they can bloom from November to January.

Two distinct varieties are recognized by taxonomists an eastern variety and a darker western variety.

It needs a lot of light and needs well draining media. It grows best mounted where it can dry out completely between watering. Water 2-3 times during the summer and give a rest period in winter after it blooms.

It produces large clumps when mounted in trees where it provides a spectacular display. For this reason, it is very popular in mild winter climates like Southern California and Southern Florida.

 

Fall Orchid Growing Tips

 Fall
Sep 012010
 

by Susan Taylor
Originally published in BellaOnline

Water and fertilizer requirements change – As cooler weather slows growth on your plants both water and fertilizer requirements change. Watch temperatures carefully and tailor your watering to the needs of the plants, rather than to a rigid schedule which worked during the hotter summer months.

Watch the changing light conditions – Spring and fall are times when you need to pay particular attention to changing light conditions. As the sun moves, the light conditions on both your indoor and outdoor orchids are also changing. Make sure that low light plants are not suddenly in a hot spot of sun. High light plants should be watched for too much shade. Mid-fall is the time to remove shade cloth from greenhouses and extra shading from windows.

Prepare to bring plants inside – If you’ve been lucky enough to be able to summer your plants outside, start preparing them for the move back inside. Check for insects in the media by dunking in a pail of water to force the insects out and kill any that you find. Roaches love to live in orchid mix and will eat roots while they are there. Clean and cut back old growth so that when a sudden weather change comes you can easily move your plants inside.

Clean up your indoor growing area – Prepare your greenhouse or indoor area for your plants. Clean any areas and straighten up supplies. This is easier to do when you have fewer plants in the space. Are you planning to add humidity trays or fans for this growing season? Go ahead and order the items and install them so that your plants will have the best conditions you can supply.

Check your orchid labels – As you are checking your plants, make sure that the labels are clear and readable. It normally only takes about three years for the labels to deteriorate — less time if they are of poor quality. Use heavy labels and an indelible marker to clearly identify your plants. Even if you have only a few plants it is important to know what they are so that you can give them the proper conditions to grow and bloom.

Phals need a cooling period – Fall is the time to move your Phals to a cool spot, around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit or 10-15 degrees centigrade at night, until you see inflorescences starting at the base of the plant. When the growths are about 2 inch or 5 centimetres long, the plants can be moved back to their normal growing conditions and the spike will continue to grow.

Repotting Keikis

 Q&A
Aug 202010
 

Question:  I have a healthy vanda that flowers freely. Now, however, it is growing two plantlets. How do I remove them and pot into their own baskets? M.H. Starzinger

Answer:  The offsets are known as keikis which means “baby” in Hawaiian. When the young plants have developed roots of their own that are 2 inches or more long, they can usually be broken off the mother plant quite easily. Some growers snap them off, while others sever them with a sterilized blade, taking care not to injure the main stem. Winter is not a good time to perform this operation, however, especially as far north as you are. Rather, wait until spring when you see active new root growth. The plants may then be put into appropriately sized baskets and will quickly establish. Alternately, you may wish to simply leave the keikis attached and allow the plant to form a clump, which will give proportionately more flowers than will the single stem. See our Video Library for tutorials on removing and potting keikis. Ned Nash

HOT! HOT! HOT!

 Summer
Aug 012010
 

Ideally, most orchids do best in the 70’s and 80’s, going cooler at night. During mid-summer, when they receive week after week of 90 degree temperatures, they need a bit of extra TLC to keep them happy.

Misting your plants will help to cool them off. In very humid climates, one needs to mist very lightly so that the plants don’t stay too wet. In a hot and DRY climate, one can mist more heavily to create a bit of humidity. The water droplets on the leaves help to cool off your orchids’ leaf tissue.

Shade your plants heavily during hot summers. Think of yourself sitting in the hot sand at the beach. If you sit in the shade, you feel much cooler. Taking a dip in the water (or misting yourself) will bring down your body temperature. The same holds true for plants.

Back off a bit on fertilizer when extreme heat hits. When it’s 95 degrees plus in the greenhouse, I very rarely feel hungry during the day. Orchids also seem to slow down their growth in extreme heat. Skip a week or two of food every so often during those high heat weeks to give your plants a break from the high nitrogen rush!

Air movement is also a key. Just as I like to stand in front of a fan during a warm spell, our orchids also will benefit from extra air movement.

The flowers on those few orchids that are brave enough to bloom this time of year don’t last very long. This time of year our Phalaenopsis fold after 4-6 weeks, whereas during the cooler winter/spring season they last 3-4 MONTHS. This is why most orchids bloom between Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day. Summer is more of a “growing” season for plants.

Try not to add undue stress to your plants during extreme heat. Usually it is fine to repot throughout the summer months. However, when extreme heat hits, it is best to wait a week or two until things cool off. We usually try to repot our most tender orchids in Springtime (March through May), leaving some of the sturdier varieties (i.e. Cattleyas and Dendrobiums, etc.) for summer potting.

If growing in a bark mix, watch for moldy bark (snow mold) this time of year. It is very common due to the high humidity levels. It helps to use a fungicide periodically during very humid months. Physan 20, Captan, and Phyton 27 all will help to keep mold and rot at bay. If you do see mold in your mix, it is usually best (and cheapest) to simply repot the plant in fresh mix.

Stay cool,

Liese

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