Orchid Show at New York Botanical Garden

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Let’s go visit the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden. Orchids are among the most exquisite plants on earth, some will delight you, others will offend you, but all will intrigue you. Let’s take a look…

The Lorillard Family owned most of the land which became The New York Botanical Garden. That land and adjacent acreage was acquired by the City of New York and set aside for the creation of a zoo (The Bronx Zoo) and botanical garden. The Garden was established on 28 April 1891 on part of the grounds of the Lorillard Estate (formerly owned by the tobacco magnate Pierre Lorillard). The Garden’s creation followed a fund-raising campaign led by the Torrey Botanical Club and Columbia University botanist Nathaniel Lord Britton and his wife Elizabeth Gertrude Britton who were inspired to emulate the Royal Botanic Gardens in London. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1967

Garden highlights include an 1890s-vintage, wrought-iron framed, “crystal-palace style” greenhouse by Lord & Burnham, now Haupt Conservatory; the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden (originally laid out by Beatrix Jones Farrand in 1916); a rock garden; a 37-acre (15 ha) conifer collection; extensive research facilities including a propagation center, 550,000-volume library, and an herbarium of over seven million botanical specimens dating back more than three centuries. At the heart of the Garden are 50 acres (20 ha) of old-growth forest, the largest remnant the original forest which covered all of New York City before the arrival of European settlers in the 17th century.

Let’s step out of the bustling city and into the Florida Keys, where the dramatic beauty of a flourishing tropical garden is amplified by vibrant architecture that recalls this particular island’s charm and ambience. The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory’s sprawling glasshouse galleries are transformed into a modernist Key West estate garden, where an effusion of orchids—including Vanda (rainbow orchids), Dendrobium (cane orchids), and Cymbidium (Asian corsage orchids)—bloom among still, geometric reflecting pools, soaring angular pergolas, and sleek benches.

Orchids thrive in almost any environment around the
world, from deserts to rain forests.

Having evolved and adapted in order to survive and reproduce in such a wide variety of habitats, orchids grow in almost any size, color, and shape imaginable.

There are an estimated 30,000 naturally occurring orchid species and tens of thousands of artificially created hybrids.

Some orchid species mimic bees, wasps, butterflies, and moths; others have unusual buckets, traps, and trigger mechanisms. These adaptations help to ensure that insect pollinators visit the flowers.

Orchids in Nature
Now let’s see how orchids grow in nature. A majority of orchids are perennial epiphytes, which grow anchored to trees or shrubs in the tropics and subtropics. Species such as Angraecum sororium are lithophytes, growing on rocks or very rocky soil. Other orchids (including the majority of temperate Orchidaceae) are terrestrial and can be found in habitat areas such as grasslands or forest. This is how you would expect to see orchids growing in nature…

Phalaenopsis
If you are lucky enough to have a Phalaenopsis, you are about to enter the wonderful world of growing orchids! Phals are one of the easiest orchids to grow in the home. If you follow a few basic requirements, these plants will reward you with several months of beautiful blooms.

It is best to water in the morning. Place the plant in the sink and use tepid water. Do not use salt-softened or distilled water. Let the water run through the plant for a minute or so. Be sure to let the plant drain completely.

If any water remains in the crown (where the leaves join in the center) use a paper towel to blot the water to avoid crown rot.

Phalaenopsis are ‘low’ light orchids. They grow beautifully in an east window and can be grown in a south or west window if protected by a sheer curtain. A phal’s leaves should be olive green. If they are darker it means the plant is not getting enough light; red tinged leaves mean the plant is getting too much light. Once the plant is in bloom you can place it anywhere in your home out of direct sunlight. If your plant does not re-bloom, increase the amount of light that it receives.

Continue watering and fertilizing while waiting for the blooming cycle to begin!

Phals are easy to grow because they enjoy the same temperatures we do – above 60º F at night and a range of 70º F to 80º F or higher during the day. 95º F is the maximum temperature recommendation. Keep in mind that temperatures close to the window on a windowsill will be colder or hotter than your general house temperature. Fluctuating temperatures can cause bud drop on plants with buds ready to open.

Any balanced orchid fertilizer (look at the numbers on the container, 20-20-20, etc.) can be used to fertilize your orchid. Feeding weakly (half strength) weekly works well. Once a month, use clear water to flush any accumulated salts from the potting mix.

Vanda Sansai Blue Orchid
Blue orchids are somewhat rare flowers even some of its species are in danger of extinction. The reason is that their natural environment is being destroyed.

This one is called Vanda Sansai Blue Orchid

Cattleya
Cattleyas are among the most popular orchids. Their culture is often used as the basis for comparison with other types of orchids. Cattleyas and their related hybrids come in many colors, shapes, forms and sizes.

Slipper Orchids
Thought to be one of the slowest-growing plants in the world, the lady’s slipper orchid takes between 6 and 11 years of growth before it actually produces flowers. The seeds are minute, dust-like particles that contain no food reserves. The materials needed for germination are derived from a symbiotic association with a mycorrhizal fungus. Orchids can be difficult to propagate in artificial conditions for this reason, but the lady’s slipper orchid has been studied and successful ex-situ propagation techniques have been devised. It is dormant in winter, does not form tubers, but has creeping rhizomes.

Check out these other interesting specimens…

Asian Corsage Orchid
Cymbidium species are the most widely known of all orchids. The native species are not widely cultivated which is a great benefit in preserving them in their native habitat, whereas Cymbidium hybrids are the most popular orchids grown and easily lend themselves to cultivation. They require bright light and cool nights. Many cymbidium hybrids can be quite large yielding as many as 20-30 blooms or more on a single spike.

Darwin’s Star Orchid is a rare treat for visitors to this year’s Orchid Show. Like the vanilla orchid, it’s seldom they get to flaunt this beauty in full bloom.

Aren’t Orchids amazing? They can devise buckets, triggers and traps to catch pollinators! I wonder if I can even grow these….

What a nice looking tree…I wonder what kind it is…

Thanks for spending the day with me…

I know that’s a White Birch Tree.

There’s my train…I should make it home in time for dinner…

• 22 Mar, 2014
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