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Don't miss this fantastic display of unusual-looking and sweet-smelling orchids from the Utah Orchid Society. Society members will be on hand to answer questions about growing orchids in your home. A variety of orchids will also be for sale.
For more information, visit Red Butte Garden's website at www.redbuttegarden.org or call (801) 581-IRIS (4747). Regular garden admission/members free
If you would like more information about orchids, and growing them indoors, contact the Utah Orchid Society via Contact: Shawn Quealy, 131 S. 1000 E. #29, Salt Lake City, UT 84102.
Orchids, mysterious and exotic, belong to one of the largest of all of the plant families. Orchid flowers are sometimes tiny, and sometimes bizarre, but their showiest blossoms are elegant and exotic.
They have long been admired and cherished throughout the world for their beauty and for products such as vanilla. They have a reputation of being difficult to grow, but like most other plants, if their basic needs are met, they will thrive indoors.
Their beauty is one of stark contrast. Without the flowers, orchids are gangly, unattractive plants with little to redeem themselves. The showy flowers more than redeem them from all their plain-ness.
There are several different kinds of orchids that will grow and do well indoors. The most common ones are the cattleya and phalaenopsis. These can be grown on a sunny window sill and will rebloom without artificial light. Their flowers come in a variety of sizes and shapes.
Cattleyas are flamboyant, surrealistic corsage flowers with background petals and a large throat. They are available in a rainbow of colors. Shades of lavender, purple, white, yellow, green, apricot and copper are common. The blossoms last two to six weeks and some even have a fragrance.
These plants are especially unattractive with large, leathery leaves attached to pseudobulbs, or enlarged stems. The pseudobulbs send up flowering stalks with one to five flowers. The plants become tall and gangly and usually need to be staked but are well worth the work for the right show of color.
Probably the easiest orchids to grow indoors are the phalaenopsis, or moth orchids. They get their names from the flower that seems to flutter along arching stems.
These plants look much different - flower stalks arise from a rosette of flat leathery leaves with flower sprays that last two or three months. Pink, purple, white and yellow are available and phalaenopsis orchids bloom from the same leaf cluster year after year.
There are more than 25,000 species of orchids and within these species, many more thousands of varieties. Included in these are some native orchids that grow in our mountains in this area.
The tropical orchids grown in homes need tropical conditions to survive successfully. Mimic their native conditions in your growing area. They grow naturally in rain forests, on the bark of trees, so create similar conditions with temperatures of 60 to 65 at night and 70 to 75 during the day.
Proper lighting is critical to get the plants to bloom. Cattleyas need the most light and do best in south windows with light filtered by curtains. Their leaves are naturally a yellowish color. If they become leggy, and dark green, they need more light. Phalaenopsis orchids need less light and do well in an eastern exposure.
High humidity is important to orchids. Use a humidifier or set the plants on trays filled with gravel and water. The bottoms of the pots must be above the water level. One of the more unusual aspects of growing orchids is that they use no soil. Chunks of bark 1/4 to 1/8 inch in diameter are the preferred potting mix. Use a high nitrogen fertilizer, at one-quarter strength every time you water.
About once a month use plain water to flush out accumulated salts. Although they grow on bark, they do not like to dry out completely. Put your finger down into the bark and if it feels wet, additional water is not needed.
Experienced growers learn to judge by the weight of the pot whether it's time to water. The chunks of bark eventually decompose and the plant will have to be repotted every two to three years.
The society sponsors several shows throughout the year. This provides an excellent place to view some beautiful specimens.
Orchids are actually very tough plants and don't deserve their reputation of finicky specimens waiting to die. Select some nice specimens and provide them with the growing conditions that they need and your reward will be the beautiful exotic flowers.
Orchid show, April 1 - 2, Saturday and Sunday, 9 am - 5 pm
Larry Sagers Horticultural Specialist Utah State University Extension Service Thanksgiving Point Office © All Rights Reserved
