Other Orchids

This post will cover the Brassias, the Cattleyas, the Cymbidiums,
the Dendrobiums, the Epidndrums, the Masdevallias,
the Miltoniopsis, the Odontoglossums, the Oncidiums,
the Vandas and the Zygopetalums.

You might be curious as to why I have lumped so many orchids
into one post when the earlier posts have been
on single or similar orchids.

The reason I have done so is because there simply
were not as many of these orchids at the show as there
were the Phalaenopsis, the Paphiopedilum or Phragmipedium
orchids.

In looking through my photos,
I realized that there were no Brassias at the show.
But I will give you a description and growing advice anyway.

Brassia orchids are also called spider orchids.
Their long pointed sepals give them the appearance of
having spider legs.

Brassias must not be allowed to dry out while
actively growing and do well in a bark mixture.
They need brighter light in order to rebloom,
and will be happy in a sunny eastern or southern window.
If kept in a western window, it will require some shade.

Vanda orchids are a very popular cultivated orchid.
They come in a wide variety of colors – even blue - and patterns
and those have been mixed to great success by hybridizers.

Many vandas have a thick, generally upright stem
that supports a fan of leaves marching up the stem.
This growth pattern differs from other orchids.

Vandas require intermediate to warm temperatures
And high light.
Wooden slat baskets are the usual choice for growing Vandas,
But a pot with coarse bark would work as well.
With care, a beginner could grow a Vanda orchid.

Odontoglossum orchids hail from South America.
They produce showy blooms that are long-lasting.

These orchids require cool to intermediate temperatures
and medium light.
This is another orchid that is best left to the experts.

Miltoniopsis orchids look like pansies
and are called pansy orchids.
They are native to the New World.

They require cool to intermediate temperatures and
low to medium light.
These are not orchids for the beginner.

Zygopetalum orchids are known for their lovely perfume.
They are native to the northern area of South America
and there are about 15 species of this orchid.

Some hybrids will flower twice a year.
The plant should be kept evenly moist.
Grow in a peat-based medium and allow
to dry out partially before watering again.
They require cool to intermediate temperatures
and medium light.
This is not an orchid for beginners.

Cattleya orchids are the orchid most people
see outside of the greenhouse.
That makes sense as the cattleyas
are the corsage orchids of choice.

Cattleyas are easy to grow as their thick pseudobulbs
allow them to survive periods of underwatering.
They do best in a coarse bark mix
and they should be allowed to just dry out before watering.

Oncidium orchids are often called dancing ladies
as the blooms remind one of ladies dancing in their finest
dresses on the dance floor.

There are about 150 species native to the New World tropics
in this group.

Yellow and brown are the usual colors of Oncidium orchids,
but one can find the occasional white, purple, pink or green as well.

Oncidiums require intermediate temperatures and
medium to high light.
They also need a well-drained medium and
should be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings.
This is an orchid for beginners.

Epidendrum orchids hail from the New World
and encompass some 1,000 species that are distributed
throughout South America, Central America, Mexico,
Florida and the Caribbean.
Furthermore, new species are still being found,
adding to that number.

There are two main types of Epidendrums:
Those with reedlike stems and those with pseudobulbs.
Some of the ones with pseudobulbs have been
renamed by botanists and have been place
in the genera Encyclia or Prosthechea.

The reed-stem types are too tall for indoor plants
and require too much light,
but make wonderful outdoor garden plants
in areas where frost is rare.

Masdevallia orchids are known as kite orchids
Most flowers are triangular in shape
and the showiest parts are the sepals.

Dendrobium orchids produce showy blooms that can last
up to a month.
Dendrobiums are native to the Philippines
and require cool to intermediate temperatures.
Pot in a coarse bark mixture with good drainage.

Though you will find Dendrobiums in the
big box stores, these are not recommended for the
beginner grower.

Cymbidium orchids have a waxy flower
and often show up in corsages and cut sprays.
They come in all colors but blue.

Cymbidiums are hemiepiphytes;
this means that while they grow on the ground,
They are not in the ground and they derive their
nutrients from the air.

Therefore, they require a turfy or humus-rich medium.
Cymbidiums require moisture at all times,
but they do not like to be water-logged.

Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium

- the Slipper Orchids

Paphiopedilum orchids have fan-like leaves and a pouch,

or slipper, as part of the flower.

The pouch’s purpose is to trap a pollinating insect.

The insect is first lured to the lip of the pouch before it slips inside.

Then it must use a ladder of small hairs that are covered

with pollen to climb back out,

thus ensuring that the plant can spread its pollen to another orchid.

These are usually terrestrial orchids,

growing in the ground

and deriving their nutrients directly from the soil.

They are evergreen plants and do not have psuedobulbs.

There are about 65 species of Paphiopedilums found primarily

in India, China, South-East Asia, Philippines,

Indonesia and New Guinea.

As with many of the orchids,

hybridizers have been busy with the Paphs.,

creating new and exciting crosses.
Paphiopedilums are valued for their longevity

and some plants have been known

to live for 150 years in collections.

Paphs. should be repotted once a year,

like other orchids,

but the roots should not be disturbed

and the pot should be kept as small as possible.

Use a bark-based compost growing medium.

Paphs. should be kept out of direct sunlight

and should be kept evenly moist all year long.

It is recommended that they be fed with a balanced fertilizer

at half-strength weekly.

The blooms need to be supported

so that they are shown to their best advantage.

Phragmipediums are also called slipper orchids.

Phragmidediums are mainly

terrestrial (grow in the ground),

epiphytic (growing on trees),

or lithophytic (growing on rocks) plants

and are native to South America.

Thus far only about 20 species have been found.

In the last part of the 20th century

a bright red Phragmipedium orchid

was found clinging to the sheer face of an inaccessible cliff in Peru.

It was spotted from the air by helicopter and this Phrag.

soon took the orchid world by storm

and pushed this genus of orchid to the forefront.

The previously muted, drab-colored orchids

were now being crossed with this new vibrant red orchid,

creating brighter red and orange orchids.

Phragmipediums should be planted

in sand and peat or sphagnum moss if they are terrestrial orchids

and coarse bark mulch if they are epiphytes or lithophytes.

They should be kept evenly moist throughout the year.

The terrestrial Phrags. actually prefer to be constantly wet.

Feed every other watering.

Provide shade in the summer and give more light in the winter.

And you can certainly see why one of the

members of our group wanted to take

home one of these beauties.

She didn't this year,

but I have a feeling she won't be able

to hold out forever.

After all, she has been bitten by the orchid bug.

Next time will cover the other orchids:

the Brassias, the Cattleyas, the Cymbidiums, the Dendrobiums,

the Epidndrums, the Masdevallias, the Miltoniopsis,

the Odontoglossums, the Oncidiums, the Vandas

and the Zygopetalums.