Vivi's Orchid Corner October 1999 - Volume 4, Issue 8 Treasures in your South Florida garden Dear Orchid Friends: One of life's simple pleasures is strolling in your yard or garden and coming upon a blooming orchid. Instantly, oohs and aahs emanate. Hobbyists in South Florida are fortunate to grow orchids in our gardens year round. Many varieties of orchids can be naturalized into our gardens. The key is choosing appropriate orchids for your yard. With a little trial and error, you can have different blooming orchids year round in your garden and enjoy wonderful surprises. The following listing is merely a small sample of orchids that can be grown in your garden-- this is not to be considered an exhaustive list. Nearly all epiphytes can be naturalized on trees. Cattleya hybrids, Encyclias (i.e. Encyclia tampenese), Epidendrums, Brassavolas are good choices. Cane Dendrobiums and even Dendrobium aggregatum and similar types are also easily mounted on tree branches. Some other interesting choices include Schomburgkias, Cattleyatonias, and all the Vandaceous orchids. Ensure these orchids have adequate light. Phalaenopsis orchids can be attached to trees or hung, but place them higher up in the canopy to get more shade and diffuse, dappled light. Consider placing your orchids on trees in front of windows. You will enjoy viewing these flowering orchids from inside your home. Buttonwood, Citrus, Oak, Maples, Tabebuia are wonderful hosts. I also mount my orchids on Palm trees and Plamettos. Hang your pots and baskets from tree branches or actually mount orchids on trunks and limbs. When mounting orchids, take the root ball and securely tie to the bark with the new growth next to the bark. You may wish to place some tree fern fiber or sphagnum moss next to the roots. There are a variety of ways to secure your plants to trees or mounts. Monofilament line, telephone wire, cords are all readily available. Other great devices include old nylons. Cut the nylons into thin strips. Nylon strips are easy to work with and are easy on the plant and plant roots. They will "give" as your orchid grows. Remember to water and fertilize. Should you forget to water your newly placed orchids, fear not, most likely they will survive but will take a bit longer to adapt. Over time, your orchid will attach its roots to the branches. A hot sun is the essence of Florida, so plan accordingly. For yards that receive lots of direct sun, plant your garden with orchids that tolerate full sun. Vandas, Vanda teres (Terete Vandas), Arachnis, Vanilla are excellent choices. Vandas can be hung in baskets or mounted on trunks. Terete vandas grow tall and have pencil-like stalks. Plant these orchids in the ground or in pots and be certain to stake them. Attach to fences, tree trunks, poles or even just plant in the yard. Prolific blooms are certain to please throughout the year especially in the hot summer months. Arachnis and Vanilla are also great additions to the yard and are good climbers, otherwise known as vining type orchids. Let these orchids climb up and around fences, tree trunks and allow them to meander in an unruly fashion. Their aerial roots will grow freely getting moisture from air and rain. If these orchids become too tall, cut them back and plant your new cuttings. Easy! These orchids like warm temperatures, high sun, high humidity and healthy amounts of water. Some orchids can be grown in beds. For areas of your yard that are shadier and retain moisture, terrestrial orchids are types that grow well in the ground. Many of these orchids prefer shadier conditions but there are a few that tolerate the sun. Some interesting choices as bedding plants include: Phaius (Nun's Orchid), Spathoglottis, Epidendrums and warm growing Cymbidiums. These orchids require moister conditions and semi shade. They will grow in soil that has relatively good drainage. Their foliage adds to your landscape even if the orchids are not in bloom. Provide for adequate drainage. Ludisia discolor can be grown as a ground cover but necessitates high shade, lots of water with good drainage. Ludisias also make great houseplants. This orchid has beautiful veined leaves that add an interesting color and texture to your garden pathways. Ludisia really doesn't look like an orchid! The Terete Vandas, etc., as mentioned above are terrestrials as well. These prefer drier conditions and bright sunshine. Group your orchids together to ensure the same light and watering requirements. Don't plant sun loving orchids with those requiring shade. Orchids mounted on trees use the branches as a place to live. They get their nutrients not from the trees but form the decaying leaves, moss that accumulate among their roots. Perhaps you have a few orchids that are not doing so well in their present pots. Consider mounting those orchids as a change. Mounted orchids experience less of the problems associated with decaying medium, overgrown pots. They "naturalize" themselves on the trees and because the roots are exposed, one seldom has to worry about too much water and root rot. Blooming orchids make spectacular additions to any landscape. Your orchids may experience some shock initially after being mounted. It does take them a while to adapt to their new environment. Be patient and over time new roots appear and attach to the tree limbs. Then when you least expect it, you will happen upon a budding inflorescence and delightfully you will hear yourself exclaim "Oh look!" and "aahh!". Until next time, Vivi

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