Openings: Week of April 30

Cyrtochilum serratum in the Tropical High Elevation House

Whenever one of our ravishing cyrtochilums flowers I want to call the newspaper. They are just so exceptional in every way--exceptionally beautiful, exceptionally rare in cultivation, and unfortunately, exceptionally difficult to grow outside of the cloud forest. I feel flattered when one of ours flowers.

All of the Cyrtochilum species are native to the misty upland forests of the Andes where their extraordinarily long rhizomes scramble up trees and shrubs. But it's the flower spike, or inflorescence, that will make you stop for a second look. It's a graceful twining strand that winds its way up, around and among surrounding trees like rainforest tinsel, with as many as 100 flowers per strand.  Cyrtochilum serratum is  native to Ecuador and Colombia. If you guessed that Cyrtochilum is closely related to Oncidium, the Dancing Lady Orchid, you are correct.

Medinilla magnifica

Magnifica indeed. Without a doubt, the most commented upon plant in the Orchid Center right now is Medinilla magnifica, one of the all time great plants for conservatories. Not an orchid. It is a large shrub in the mostly tropical and frequently ornamental Melastomataceae. I have noticed M. magnifica for sale in Atlanta garden centers this month. It is not hardy in Atlanta. Melastomes, even large ones like Medinilla magnifica, are easily rooted by cuttings.
We have quite a nice collection of melastomes at ABG, and if you like M. magnifica you will love our recently installed Medinilla miniata, similar in size and aspect, but with fiery red flowers. Melastomes come in all sizes, but they are easy to recognize. The leaves are opposite with veins that lie parallel to one another. The flowers have a peculiar feature: the stamens are elbow-shaped.

Pleurothallis cyanea on a tree in the High Elevation House

If you visit the Tropical High Elevation House this week you will see a burst of flowers on some of my favorite clamshell orchids, Pleurothallis cyanea, P. gigantea and P. teaguei,  P. marthae and ever-blooming P. titan. I love the thick coriaceous leaves on Pleurothallis cyanea.

Cavendishia grandifolia

Cavendishia grandifolia is one of the most impressive plants in the Tropical High Elevation House and certainly our largest shrub. It's astonishing to realize that this plant, with its fifteen foot pendant branches is an epiphyte. It's a mighty plant that can support one of these sprawling monsters. Each of the thick platter-like leaves is ten to twelve inches long. You can get a closer look at those gorgeous tubular flowers here. We have two grandifolias: the one pictured above cascades over the waterfall; the other is draped over the arch of the tepui.

Lots of orchids in flower this week! Please stop by for a visit.

Horizontal Twist

Installation of Horizontal Twist, one of Beverly Pepper's marvellous contemporary sculptures, took place in the Fuqua Orchid Center last Wednesday. Horizontal Twist is with us as a part of the Garden's new sculpture exhibition Independent Visions, which opens this week. I must admit I was alarmed when our Exhibitions Manager, Cathleen Hunt, proposed to place the sculpture in the Formal Bed. What kind of crane could fit in a four foot wide space and hoist a 2200 pound work of art over a two foot high water feature and into the center of a bed 25 feet long? It would take hours.

It took about 45 minutes. The sculpture arrived swaddled in protective wrapping and was attached to a gantry crane by a crew of experts while I stood nervously by, holding a camera to stave off hand-wringing. Once attached to a chain hoist, the piece was lifted above the height of the bed.

The hoist moves horizontally on a trolley fitted to a heavy aluminum beam. As the operator pulled the guide chain the sculpture moved forward and across the reflection pond.

The sculpture was steadied so that it didn't fishtail and strike the cedar pergola.

Once it reached its destination the piece was pivoted above the bed.

The piece was centered over a platform that will distribute its weight across the bed.

And finally the sculpture was lowered into position.

A few final tweaks were requested by Cathleen Hunt, Exhibitions Manager.

And the crew sprang into action one last time.

Well done! Congratulations, guys.

What are you going to plant around the Horizontal Twist, Sarah?

The exhibition, Independent Visions: Sculpture in the Garden features 19 works by nine different artists. It runs from May through October. The Member Opening is tonight!

Eight Ways to Kill Your Orchid

Confession: Like most professional growers I have killed a shocking number of plants during my career. But wait a minute. Should this be shocking? The way I look at it, if you haven't failed --if you haven't killed lots of different plants during your career as a horticulturist-- then you haven't been stretching yourself enough. I'm not happy about the ones I've loved and lost, but my point is that a good grower --one who learns from her mistakes-- can tell you just as much about how to kill a plant as she can about how to grow it. So here's the guide you won't find on Martha Stewart TV.

Eight Ways to Kill Your Orchid

1. Water it every day.

The Most Frequently Asked Question that we receive at the FOC is, "Do you water the orchids every day?" The answer is, "No, but we check them every day." Checking means looking at the potting mix to see if it is dry. A good grower checks the potting mix daily and learns to recognize the change in color that accompanies the drying process. Checking is what separates the green thumbs from the black thumbs.

2. Establish a watering schedule for your orchid. Make it conform to your schedule. Water it on the same day of the week that you go to the gym, or the grocery or the car wash.

This one is really tempting. But let's say it's September. Did you notice that yesterday was one and a half minutes shorter than the day before? Maybe not, but your plant did. Did you notice that the sun is now lower in the sky than it was in July? Your plant did. So, two months from now, when your plant receives one less hour of light and considerably weaker light intensity does it make sense to water with the same frequency?

3. Water your orchid whenever you water your other plants.

Convenient, yes. Good horticulture, no.

4. Water your Phalaenopsis orchid with ice cubes.

Tell me you don't do this. In nature a Moth Orchid seldom experiences temperatures below 60º. And you're thinking about applying ice water to its roots? Seriously? Why not just put it in the freezer for a day? You can revive it later by dropping it into a pot of boiling water.

5. Find out where your orchid is native to and water it when the weatherchannel says it's raining there. This strategy wouldn't work even if you and your houseplant lived in its country of origin. Why not? Microclimate matters more to an orchid than macroclimate. Even if your condo is located in the rainforest, the kitchen window microclimate where your potted orchid resides is different from the microclimate within the tree canopy outside.

6. Force it to live its entire life in a beautiful pot with no drainage holes, in a dense soil mix, and smothered with florist's moss. 

I know you received it from the florist this way. It looks great, I admit. Shouldn't they know better? What do you think? I think the florist's priority is how the plant looks, not how well it grows. 

7. Force it to live its entire life in the same soil mix that the grower put it in.

After two years an orchid mix is history. Orchids in conventional (peatmoss-based) houseplant soil should be sold with CAVEAT EMPTOR (Buyer Beware) stamped on the pot. The structure of peatmoss (and composted pine bark) is too fine and too dense to be a good long term medium for plants that in nature grow in trees. It retains loads of water and breaks down quickly. At our Orchid Care Clinic we do more post-mortums on orchids in this mix than any other.

You may have received it from the grower in this mix. Shouldn't they know better? Look at it from the grower's perspective. Peat-based mixes are cheap, widely available, uniform, sterile and lightweight (meaning inexpensive to ship). Young orchids reach flowering size rapidly in this mix, saving production time and labor, and then can be swiftly passed along to the consumer. What's not to like?

8. Bring your orchid to our Orchid Care Clinic (good so far) on the coldest day in January. One the way home leave it in your unheated car while your visit every store in Lenox Mall. 
Oh no. More blood on my hands.

Do you have a similar list? Don't hide it. It means you've learned something, and that's good. It means you're growing ...even when you're plants aren't.

How to Grow Dendrobium nobile

Dendrobium Red Emperor 'Prince'

Dendrobium nobile hybrids make stunning potted plants. Staked upright they look exactly like a living bouquet, with flowers spaced so closely that it becomes hard to see the plant underneath. Dendrobium Red Emperor 'Prince', which we used in our Orchid Daze display,  is an especially vivid color combination--deep fuchsia and yellow. We are selling them today and tomorrow at our Gently Used Plant Sale.

Dendrobium nobile hybrids are seldom seen at retail outlets, unlike the ubiquitous Dendrobium phalaenopsis hybrids which you are probably familiar with. Dendrobium is a huge genus, widespread throughout Asia and diverse in morphology. Thus, there are many types (the group is divided into sections) of dendrobiums with different cultural requirements.

The Yamamoto Dendrobium website gives an illuminating description of the habitat: The nobile type Dendrobiums are  native to SE Asia and grow on branches of tall trees (read: needs very bright light) in cool areas up to 3,000 ft. elevation where night temperatures may drop near freezing in winter (read: cold temps are required in winter for bud initiation). There are two seasons: rainy summer and a dry winter in which there is very little rain for four months.'

In a nutshell: warm moist slightly shaded summer followed by cool dry full sun winter. We grow our plants in a 50% shade humid greenhouse and move them to a cold greenhouse (53 to 55 º nights) from November to New Year's.

The folks at Yamamoto have produced some terrific pages with detailed cultural information. If you are buying Dendrobium  nobiles at our Gently Used Plant Sale I would recommend that you keep them at 55º to 75º in order to maximize the longevity of the flowers.

How to Grow the Oncidium Intergenerics

Beallara Big Shot 'Kitty Kat'

Among the Dancing Lady orchids, subtribe Oncidiinae, the Oncidium intergenerics are the ballet corps: beautiful, even fragile looking, but in fact, quite strong.

Beallara Marfitch 'Howard's Dream'

Subtribe is one rung above genus on the taxonomic ladder. Genera within the (formerly) large genus Oncidium are closely enough related that hybridization is possible among them.

Beallara Tahoma Glacier 'Sugar Sweet'

Beautiful but tough--that's the goal of all of the breeding involved in making one of these complicated hybrids.  Want to buy one of those gorgeous high elevation Odontoglossum for your place in Atlanta? Why not just set your money on fire? Try a Beallara instead. Beallara combines four genera. Odontoglossum and Cochlioda for frills plus Miltonia and Brassia for warmth tolerance. There are lots of different Oncidium intergenerics bred for beauty and ease of growing.

Odontioda  Hot Pants 'Hot Stuff'

Oncidium intergenerics

Light

A few hours of mild but direct morning sun on an east facing window sill will provide enough light intensity for flowering. Make sure there are no trees or buildings blocking the light. A west-facing exposure will work if you make sure the leaves don't feel hot to the touch. In a greenhouse, 50% shade.

Temperature

All orchids like a daily 15º difference between day and night temperatures. The annual temperature range should be between 58º low (at night in winter) and 83º high (daytime in summer).

Water

Take a good look at the potting mix every day for the next week and learn to recognize the change in color & moisture that accompanies the drying-out process. The top 1/2 inch of potting mix will be lighter in color and drier on day six than on day one. Drench thoroughly from above when that top 1/2" looks dry. Saucers that allow standing water to accumulate and flow back into drainage holes are a bad idea.

Pots and Potting Media

You did pick a pot with drainage holes, right? Putting that pot inside another pot without drainage holes is cheating. Your plant will know. Your plant will know that you value waterstain-free furniture above its own life and it will die.
Oncidium intergenerics like to grow in relatively small pots in either a fir bark-based orchid mix (which you can buy from most garden centers) or a New Zealand sphagnum moss mixture (purchased online).

Fertilizer

1/2 strength all purpose soluble fertilizer every two weeks.

Odontocidium St. Anthony of Egypt 'Huina Road'

How to Grow the Pansy Orchid (Miltoniopsis)

The Pansy Orchid (Miltoniopsis)

If you're thinking about dropping by our Gently Used Plant Sale on Wednesday or Thursday of this week to scoop up some of the delicious orchids from our OrchidDaze display you may want some information about how to grow them. I'll post a new care sheet each day this week for you.
The Pansy Orchids are gorgeous.

The Pansy Orchid (Miltoniopsis)

Miltoniopsis is a genus of six tropical orchid species native to Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. They grow in moist humid forests ranging from warm lowlands to cooler highlands up to 2200 m. The hybrid offspring of these species which are commercially available today have been bred for large flower size and warmth tolerance. The hybrids typically flower in April, May and June, but commercial growers can force them into flower year round by giving them two months of short days at 68º, followed by two additional months of short days with nighttime lows between 52º and 58º.

Light

Miltoniopsis need to be shaded from hot sun. A couple of hours of mild morning sun in an unobstructed east window is good. In a greenhouse 75% shade.

Temperature

Miltoniopsis like mild temperatures. Try to keep the daytime temperature below 80º. Most orchids like a 15º difference between the daytime high and the night time low temperature. Miltoniopsis need cool temperatures at night (52º to 58º) in winter in order to set buds.

Humidity

70% to 80% is ideal.

Pots & Potting Media

Grow Miltoniopsis in relatively small pots. Two mixes work well for us: a bark-based mix (equal parts fine fir bark, charcoal and perlite) or a moss-based mix (equal parts New Zealand sphagnum and tree fern fiber). Repot every two years.

Water

Miltoniopsis should dry slightly between watering, but never become bone dry. Drench thoroughly. The drainage holes of the pot should not be immersed in water.

Fertilizer

1/4 to 1/2 strength every two weeks with a soluble general purpose fertilizer.

The Gently Used Plant Sale!

Pansy Orchid (Miltoniopsis)

When: Wednesday April 18 & Thursday April 19 from 9 am until 4 pm.
Where: Georgia Pacific Classroom (located in the Fuqua Orchid Center)
Prices: Start at $15 for blooming orchids; 2 for $15 for non-blooming orchids

Almost as popular as our annual Orchid Daze display is the Gently Used Plant Sale! that follows it, when we sell off many of the display orchids.

The orchids look great. The Pansy Orchids above were bought in three weeks ago in bud in order to get our display through its final two weeks. The flowers should last for weeks.

Beallara Tahoma Glacier 'Sugar Sweet'

At the sale there will be written information and volunteers available to answer your questions about orchid care. On Monday and Tuesday I will post orchid care information on this blog.

Beallara Marfitch 'Howard's Dream'

This year's orchids were exceptionally beautiful. Plan to come to the sale early to scoop up the freshest material. The sale is very popular. Some of you (names withheld) have been giving our plants the 'shoppers eye' for weeks.

Phalaenopsis hybrid

True story: On Wednesday I got a call from our receptionist. Standing in front of her was a hand wringing bride-to-be who had the mistaken notion that our sale was today. The woman's wedding is this Saturday. She was planning to buy all of our white orchids for wedding decorations and, Could we please remove the orchids from the display now and sell them to her? 


I've been taking calls like this all week.

The Phal Blast

Sarah Carter creating the Orchid Daze Phal Blast last January

Many of the walls within the Orchid Center are covered with cedar trellis. The trellis was designed and built by one of my all-time favorite volunteers, a talented Brazilian man named Ricardo, as yet another venue for displaying orchids.

During Orchid Daze our usual treatment of the trellis is to cover every square foot in Phalaenopsis orchids in order to create our Phal Blast. The Phal Blast has become an enormously popular backdrop for family photos.

For their part, the Phals don't particularly like being stacked vertically, one above the other. This sort of treatment can lead to crown rot in the plants in the lowermost rows that receive excessive run off when we water the plants above. Vertical stacking is not something we would ever do to our collection Phalaenopsis. The hybrids will tolerate it for ten weeks, though we have probably shortened their lives somewhat. Many display techniques can be harmful to orchids, the epiphytes in particular. In short: don't try this at home!

This weekend is your last chance to see Orchid Daze 2012, Hanging Gardens. Don't miss it!

The Orchid Tapestry

The Conservatory Lobby features an Orchid Tapestry 

Orchid Daze 2012, Hanging Gardens was designed by Tres Fromme of StudioOutside. Tres' design for the entrance makes brilliant use of the soaring space inside the Conservatory Lobby. The orchid tapestry measures 12' from floor to ceiling. As seen from above its curving outline is broadly S-shaped as it traces a path between two opposing beds. The tapestry forms a vertical arch above the pathway in several places, allowing visitors to walk beneath it.

The Pansy Orchid (Miltoniopsis) is a terrific subject for this display. Miltoniopsis flowers are as large as those of Phalaenopsis and nearly as long lasting. The arching spikes are shorter than those of Phalaenopsis, but the plant typically produces 5 or more spikes of beautifully presented flowers. Miltoniopsis is much more tolerant of cool temperatures than Phalaenopsis, and so pairs well with Cymbidium, Dendrobium nobile, Masdevallia and other cool growing orchids that wither in the company of warm-growing Phals. 

And they smell delicious. In fact the fragrance in the Conservatory Lobby is overwhelming--in a sweetly floral way.

Oncidium Twinkle (we used two color forms: 'Red Fantasy' & 'Yellow Fantasy') makes a perfect pairing with Miltoniopsis hybrids, in texture, color and fragrance. The delicate texture of the flowers looks wonderful alongside the bolder flowers of the Pansy Orchid. I have always wanted to use Oncidium Twinkle in a display and finally had an opportunity this year.

Orchid Daze 2012, Hanging Gardens runs through Sunday April 15.

Shiny Rings & Orchid Things

It was pure pleasure selecting the orchids for the giant shimmering rings suspended above the Formal Bed in the Orchid Display House. When you are working with a palette of cool colors the choice of orchid varieties expands enormously.

Doritaenopsis Long Pride 'Sparks' HCC/AOS

Phalaenopsis are an obvious choice for any orchid display, with their graceful arching habit, large flowers and amazing longevity. The Doritaenopsis in our display are an intergeneric cross between Phalaenopsis and Doritis, two orchid genera so closely related as to be considered synonymous by some taxonomists. Doritaenopsis Long Pride 'Sparks' HCC/AOS is one of the most beautiful harlequin varieties that we have ever featured in our display--certainly worthy of the spotlight.

Beallara Tahoma Glacier 'Sugar Sweet'

Beallara is the name given to the offspring resulting from a sequence of crosses between the genera Brassia, Cochlioda, Miltonia and Odontoglossum. Thus, Beallara is an intergeneric hybrid, as is the Doritaenopsis above, only more complex in its genetic background.

I love the über-feminine look of these beallaras. They wear their frothy Odontoglossum lineage on their sleeves. Tahoma Glacier is pure white overlaid with rosy markings and a favorite of mine in a display where white is needed. 'Howard's Dream' is one of only a few Oncidium intergenerics with a large flower that reads purple, not red violet.

Beallara Marfitch 'Howard's Dream'

One unfortunate characteristic of some Beallara cultivars is their extremely weak flower spikes. The spike will often break under the weight of its full complement of mature flowers unless it is staked along its entire length. We learned this the hard way, of course, after an entire bed of 'Howard's Dream' collapsed prematurely during Orchid Daze 2007. So, beware. If not staked 'Howard's Dream' becomes Howard's Nightmare.

Beallara Big Shot 'Kitty Kat'

Finally, the diminutive Big Shot 'Kitty Kat,' which we just used to replace the 'Howard's Dream.' Most of the Oncidium intergenerics last about eight weeks in flower under our conditions. Since Orchid Daze lasts ten weeks we do a switchout at week eight. 'Kitty Kat' is a new variety for us and an unexpected delight.

Sunday is the last day to see Orchid Daze 2012! We are open every night until seven pm.

Our Kennel of Bulldog Paphs

"Bulldog" Paphiopedilum hybrids displayed on the Cube in the Orchid Atrium

Probably the most popular orchids on the hanging Cube in the Orchid Atrium are the Asian Slipper Orchids, the paphiopedilums, or "Paphs." These particular Paphiopedilum hybrids are colloquially known as "bulldog Paphs" on account of their broad-faced flowers and drooping petals. Among the most famous of the bulldogs is Paphiopedilum Winston Churchill. You can read more about this famous hybrid here.

The bulldog Paphs make outstanding display orchids. Their enormous shiny flowers are mesmerizing when viewed at eye level and they are extraordinarily long lasting (for Paphs, anyway)--eight weeks if you can keep the daytime temperatures at or below 72º.

Paphiopedilum species in nature are usually, but not always, terrestrial. They often grow as understory plants, or wedged into crevices in rocky limestone or granite outcrops. Adapted to an environment where there is a fairly dependable reservoir of moisture surrounding their roots, Paphs are not as drought tolerant as their epiphytic relatives, like Cattleya and Laelia, which often possess thickened leaves to resist moisture loss and pseudobulbs to store water.

Thus, in cultivation, Paphiopedilum orchids enjoy more subdued light, a more moisture retentive medium, and more frequent watering than Cattleya orchids.  They do well under lights or on an east facing windowsill. On a windowsill they will need a few hours of mild morning sun in order to flower. Most growers pot their Paphs in a mixture of fine grade bark, charcoal and perlite, often with some additional peat or milled sphagnum.

You won't want to miss these extraordinary orchids. And don't forget your camera!

The Garden is now open every night until 7 pm. The Orchid Daze display runs through April 15.

Dramatis personae: the orchids

The hanging Cube in the Orchid Atrium

Now that you've seen the Orchid Daze 2012 display as a whole you might like to meet some of the individuals in leading roles--the orchids, of course.

Rows of Dendrobium nobile occupy one side of the Cube

Dendrobium nobile hybrids are among the most rewarding orchid hybrids to grow and display. A well grown Dendrobium nobile hybrid will put any of the ubiquitous Dendrobium phalaenopsis hybrids completely into the shade. The flowers are larger, more colorful, more abundant. They make a gorgeous bouquet-like presentation. And they last a good 8 to 9 weeks in perfect condition before the flowers show any sign of decline. Once you have mastered these you may never want to grow another Den. phal hybrid.

Dendrobium Red Emperor 'Prince'

Dendrobium nobile hybrids are easy to grow. You just need to know one thing about them, and it's that one thing that sets them apart culturally from their Den. phal cousins. In a word, it's seasonality. In nature the growing conditions that they experience in summer are dramatically different from the conditions that they need in winter in order to set buds. In short: warm moist summers and cool dry very bright winters. These are the conditions you have to mimic in order to grow Dendrobium nobiles well.

In the summer we grow our Dendrobium nobile orchids in a 50% shade greenhouse at 80% humidity. We fertilize every two weeks with Cal Mag 15-5-15 from April through August and then stop the high nitrate fertilizer in order to harden off the new canes, which are staked for support. At Thanksgiving we move the nobiles (and the Dens in section Callista) into a nearly full sun greenhouse that drops to 53º at night, watering about every two weeks. This year, admittedly, a freaky warm year when all growth has been accelerated, they flowered in March.

The renowned growers and breeders of Dendrobium nobile hybrids at Yamamoto Dendrobiums have produced a terrific cheat sheet for growers. Don't forget to check out their gallery, which ought to get your pulse going!

Orchid Daze 2012, Hanging Gardens

Orchid Daze 2012, Hanging Gardens still looks magnificent in week 9.

In fact the entire Orchid Center & Conservatory are at their spring best, full of flowers (and flower photographers) and bursting with color.

The hanging tapestry of Pansy Orchids (Miltoniopsis) in the Conservatory Lobby is one of the most popular elements of the Orchid Daze display. Pansy Orchids produce a wonderful fragrance--far better than any synthetic perfume. They are one of my favorite orchids for big displays, with bold, long lasting flowers, good presentation, fragrance--and they look great with fine textured orchids like Oncidium Twinkle.

The  modernist Cube in the Orchid Atrium allows visitors to appreciate the orchids at eye level. It has become a favorite stopping place for photographers.

In the Orchid Display House three shimmering orchid rings hover above the Formal Bed.The metallic silver of the rings looks terrific with the cool colors of the Beallara and Phalaenopsis hybrids.

Orchid Daze 2012, Hanging Gardens runs through April 15. Be sure not to miss it!