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Confessions of an Orchid Addict
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By cneos at 2007-02-03 00:29
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 y name is Joanna and I’m an Orchid Addict. It’s been almost twenty years since I got my first orchid fix … and less than a week since I had my last. Oops – take that back, I’m going to a favorite orchid nursery this weekend where I know there will be something that I won’t be able to resist. One of those will be my (next to) last.
What’s the attraction about orchids? Is it their beauty? Rainbow of colors? The romance or mystery that they inspire? Their unusual forms or flower sizes that range from pin-head to dinner plate? For every Orchid Addict, there’s a different lure. For this OA, it’s all of these plus, living in New Hampshire, it’s a way to enjoy an illusion of the tropics all year long.
My first orchid – a very robust plant in a 10” plastic pot – came from Shaw’s Supermarket early in 1988 as an anniversary, Valentine’s Day or birthday gift. Cymbidium Peter Pan ‘Greensleeves’ HCC/AOS carried five inflorescences, each bearing a dozen or more delicate-looking, fragrant flowers.
I was so impressed with Peter Pan that I began reading everything I could find about caring for orchids. That summer, up went a Janco 14’ x 14’ free-standing greenhouse into which we moved patio tomatoes, several houseplants that had outgrown their places in the living room and Peter Pan (now bearing eight new flower spikes). Everything was perfect until December 16 (1988) when it was 16 degrees F outside. The greenhouse glass was so frosted that I couldn’t read the four-inch tall numbers on the thermometer hanging inside. Everything solid in view outside – trees, shrubs, clothes-line – had a fine coating of ice that glittered like diamonds in the morning sunlight. So did every plant in the greenhouse where the propane heater had failed, plummeting the temperature down to 22! Peter Pan was literally frozen in its pot!
We restored the heat and as things gradually warmed up, we watched as all of our treasured plants turned black and died – except for Peter Pan – it only lost its new flower spikes. If an orchid can survive a night in the tundra, it can handle anything that a fledgling OA can dish out. We still have divisions of our original Peter Pan in our collection.
How should you choose an Orchid? Many of us buy plants in bloom for ‘instant gratification.’ Paph. Mint Imperial was just too irresistible. Whatever your craving, any plant that you bring into your collection should ALWAYS be free from disease, have no pests, and have the genetic ability to grow strongly under average conditions.
An OA will buy plants sight-unseen if she’s patient, willing to take a risk and prepared for the unexpected. A few years ago, a show vendor had several dozen seedlings of a complex Paphiopedilum for sale. The seedlings of [(Makuli x curtisii) x Maudiae ‘The Queen’] x Maudiae ‘Napa Valley’ were in bud, but none had open flowers. I bought two. Now, no two seedlings from the same seed pod have flowers that look exactly alike, but imagine my surprise when ‘The Fluke’ opened with two perfectly formed dorsal sepals! (Subsequent blooms of ‘The Fluke’ have been normal.
You or someone around you will always remember your ‘first’ anything pretty well – first steps, first tooth, first kiss, etc. The OA remembers, quite precisely, everything about every plant in her collection whether it’s 200 or 2,000 plants!
I’ve adapted my Dad’s advice to his six children to “Remember who you are and where you come from” in an Access database that I made for my collection. The basic info reads like a birth certificate listing a plant’s Genus, its species name (if it occurs naturally) or Grex name (if a hybrid), Cultivar or Clonal name, AOS (American Orchid Society) awards, parents (if a hybrid), When-Where-How Much? and a Photo.
Relating this personally, the genus is Mammals, species – homo sapiens / Grex - KBaby, Cultivar – ‘Joanna’, awards – OA, parents – Niko & Genia, etc.
Or using my first orchid for example, Genus = Cymbidium, Grex = Peter Pan, Cultivar = ‘Greensleeves’, Awards = HCC/AOS, parents = ensifolium x Miretta, 1988, Shaw’s Supermarket, $19.99. Note that one of Peter Pan’s parents is a species. In the record of a species, everything would be the same except NO PARENTS would be listed. A species can have a cultivar name and awards, but a species of any genus needs taxonomic verification for an award to be confirmed.
For example, a plant known to us as Aerangis splendida was given a provisional CHM (Certificate of Horticultural Merit – 85 points) in October 2006. In order for the award to be confirmed, we sent a few pickled flowers to the Orchid Identification Center at Selby Botanical Garden in Florida where the taxonomist identified the plant as Aerangis brachycarpa. splendida is a nicer sounding name than brachycarpa, but only a taxonomic authority can confirm (or change) a species name - this OA will have to be happy that her awarded plant bears the Cultivar name ‘Joanna.’
Why do you need a Grex or hybrid name? An orchid seed-pod can have a million seeds, potential for a million seedlings with a million different names! A Grex or hybrid name is a way to identify all offspring of the same two parents; having a registered Grex name validates an AOS award.
Registering a hybrid is also how an OA can have a say in the name of a potentially-awardable plant, recognize a special person or event, or simplify pronouncing the names of the plants in her collection. For example, Aerangis biloba x citrata might have ended up as Aerangis Biltrate instead of Aerangis Mani’s Star; our niece has a Vanda named for her in honor of her 13th birthday (coincidentally, V. Fuchs Rosy Charm x Banghikhan Blue was hybridized in 1993, the year of her birth!); and Ascocenda Kinikia is much easier to pronounce than Rakpaibulsombat x Yip Sum Wah!
Our orchid database also includes info about a plant’s temperature, light and water requirements; repotting or division dates and any special used; feeding info; insect prevention or treatment regimens; bloom cycle with description of flowers; awards or special recognitions; and anything else the OA thinks might be important someday. The database now contains records for more than 400 plants that have grown successfully or died trying.
Did I say ‘death’? It’s a fact that more orchids are killed by kindness rather than neglect. Picture a phalaenopsis that your friend ‘lovingly’ waters everyday of your two-week vacation – it’s drowned before you get home! Or the same friend thinks the same phalaenopsis isn’t getting enough light or enough heat so she takes it outside to ‘bask’ in the sunshine – it’s toast before you get home!
Orchids are found all over the world, except for Antarctica, in cool, intermediate and warm climates. Generally, light, humidity and air movement requirements coincide with the various climates. Take advantage of the hot spots and cold spots in your house. Your goal in buying (or caring for) an orchid should be to select plants that will thrive in an environment that you can realistically (and cost-effectively) provide. You might even find snow in Hawaii so that so that you can bloom those cold-loving Draculas.
Who’s got the best advice? Everyone – read all you can find about the plants in your collection and ones you want to add; talk to folks at orchid society meetings, shows, and anywhere else that you see an orchid; listen to what people are saying but remember that what works for me may not work for you.
Our favorite plants are the Vandae. Like mermaids, vandae like the sun in their face, the wind in their hair and gentle waves lapping their feet. Translated to OA speak, this means a 440W HPS lamp that extends daylight to 16 hours a day; a dozen fans moving air 24/7; a fogger to keep humidity at 85%; and on sunny days in summertime, two thorough waterings a day (morning and mid-afternoon). It takes the two OAs in our household 3-4 hours a day, 2 – 3 times a week to tend 175 plants in our collection.
Size doesn’t matter, does it?
Q. How many Vandae can you hang in a square yard space?
A. Nine – if they’re in 6” baskets; 18 – if they’re simply hanging on a wire.
Q. How can I grow anything that has a six feet inflorescence?
A. Oncidium altissimum inflorescences coil very nicely!
Q. What am I going to do with this monstrosity?
A. Divide and conquer.
Q. Should I only buy small plants that won’t take up much space from now on?
A. One tiny piece of Liparis viridiflora quickly grows from mini to monster. When that time comes, the OA should divide his plant and give pieces away to another OA who ALWAYS has room for one more orchid.
The objects of this OA’s addiction tell me what they need … yes, I hear voices when I walk into the greenhouse. When my plants say it’s time for a bigger greenhouse, it’s music to my ears. I’m going to be the first one into the show sales area for my next fix!
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I thought I had read them all! But I missed one! Your article is excellently written, it has a great personality, and speaks to me, and I bet every member of the board! Great article, and supererb power point presentation!!!! Did you give the presentation to someone at your orchid society or something?
Yay!!! Our club members from Spring Hill actually contacted you? I'm impressed!!! LauraN (above) is a member of our club too 
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