The Orchids in My Greenhouse
Whenever I am home, I love spending time in my greenhouse caring for my large collection of houseplants.
Houseplants bring life to any room and I love all kinds, especially orchids - the vibrant colors and variations in shape and size make me so happy. My orchids, along with all my other container specimens, are kept in the greenhouse, where they can be nurtured properly. Caring for orchids is a daunting process for many, but if you take the time to understand their basic needs, there is no reason why they couldn't bloom and thrive in your home. Here are some photos of the orchids that have been flowering at my farm over the last several weeks.
Enjoy.
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- My orchid collection takes up two long sliding tables in my temperature and humidity controlled greenhouse. When in bloom, I love to bring various selections inside my home where they can be enjoyed by me and my guests.
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- These are ‘Martha Stewart’ Cattleya orchids. The Cattleya is a genus with more than 100-species and numerous hybrids, which range in bloom size, color, and smell. These are from Kalapana Tropicals. Cattleya orchids are among the most popular. They have often been called “corsage orchids” or “Queen of orchids” because of their big, showy flowers. http://www.kalapanatropicals.com/index.php
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- Paphiopedilum orchids are often called lady slippers or slipper orchids because of their unique pouch-like flowers. These specimens are easily grown as houseplants, and look wonderful with their striking green leaves.
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- The pouch of a slipper orchid traps insects so they are forced to climb up, collect or deposit pollen, and fertilize the flower.
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- Slipper orchids have two fertile anthers — meaning they are diandrous.
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- The key to growing these plants is to keep the root systems strong and healthy. These plants have no bulbs or stems to store moisture and nutrients, so it is important to maintain their roots.
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- Dendrobium is a large orchid genus, with more than a thousand species. This Dendrobium ‘Little Atro’ grows to 20-inches. The evergreen canes are topped by a single three to five inch long inflorescence, each one producing four to eight flowers.
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- This is Dendrobium ‘Aussie chip’ x. Dendronbium atroviolaceum ‘Pygmy’ x. Dendrobium atroviolacrum ‘H&R’. Dendrobiums need lots of light, but not direct sun. A lightly shaded south window is best.
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- Here is a closer look at one of its blooms.
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- Most orchid genera are epiphytic, meaning they grow on trees and rocks rather than in soil. Orchid roots need to breathe and therefore cannot live buried in dirt.
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- This is a reed-stem Epidendrum orchid. These plants thrive with medium to high light conditions and should be potted in a well-draining medium. Reed orchids produce clusters of flowers shaped like those of the cattleya orchid, but much smaller. Here, the bright pink blooms stand out against the green leaves. Epidendrums are tough plants and can do well in almost any temperature above 50-degrees Fahrenheit.
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- These are Cymbidium orchids – look at the vibrant shades of pink. These orchids are prized for their long-lasting sprays of flowers, used especially as cut flowers or for corsages in the spring. Optimum temperatures in winter are 45 to 55-degrees Fahrenheit at night and 65 to 75-degrees Fahrenheit during the day. When plants are in bud, temperatures must be as constant as possible.
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- Here is another cymbidium. The fantastic range of colors for this genus include white, green, yellowish-green, cream, yellow, brown, pink, red and black with a variety of markings of other color shades – every color but blue. The flowers last about 10-weeks.
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- Although generally thought of as a tropical plant, orchids grow on every continent, from the Arctic Circle to the southernmost jungle, except Antarctica.
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- Phalaenopsis, the moth orchid, is perhaps the best orchid for growing in the home, and is also a favorite with greenhouse growers. Well-grown plants can flower often, sometimes with a few flowers throughout the year, though the main season is late winter into spring.
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- I love getting rare and unusual orchids. This one came from the New York Botanical Garden some years back. If you’re in the New York City area any time through April 28th, stop in at the NYBG for their Orchid Show. This year, the show is entitled “Singapore” – a tribute to one of the world’s greatest orchid cultures.
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- At this year’s NYBG Orchid Dinner, I purchased two wonderful plants. This is an extremely rare Angraecum Crestwood ‘Tomorrow Star’. Watering these plants once a week to once every 10-days is usually sufficient for larger plants.
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- Here is a closer look at its delicate star-shaped flowers. This orchid does best where it can get bright light from an east or west window.
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- And this is a beautiful xCattlianthe Big Ben ‘Blue Mountain’ – such a pretty specimen, with its blue-lavender flowers.
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- Oncidium orchids are popular indoor orchids because of their large sprays of flowers.
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- A large, well-grown Oncidium will have several branched sprays of beautiful, colorful blooms.
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- I also love to display cut orchids – these were gifted to me by a friend. They look so pretty in my servery. What orchids do you keep at home? Share your comments in the section below.
And don't forget to mark your calendars for the premiere of Martha and Snoop's Potluck Party Challenge on Wednesday, April 3rd at 10/9c on VH1. Enjoy this promo!
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