January 29, 2012
We attended an Open House of the PEI Orchid Club at the home of Andrea Studzinski in Cable Head PEI.
Andrea and Marcelo Bosco of West St. Peters PEI,
began the PEI Orchid Club in 2008.
It now has a membership of about forty.
Ian our son has been interested in Orchids for a long time,
and we needed to know more about these curious plants, before investing in them!
Later on, Marcelo gave Ian...
a miniature purple Phalaenopsis
which we have been enjoying very much,
and of which he took very good care.
We gave him...
a large pink Phalaenopsis
at Easter, so he is well on his way!
Orchids exist on all the continents except Antarctica,
in many shapes, types and
sizes!
Orchids may or may not be rooted in soil or other medium.
In Nature they exist as growing in the ground as other plants, or hanging from a tree under the leaf canopy, the roots being used to anchor the plant to the tree with most of the roots bare and exposed to the air.
In the rainforest, they go through a cycle of wetting
when it rains, drying out, and wetting again.
As well, they collect nutrients that drop from above -
bird droppings etc.
This small orchid has its roots tied to
a piece of grapevine wood; it is hanging in a window of Andrea's south-facing sunroom.
Below is another orchid hanging by the roots in a frame;
this is a Vanda type - note the fan shaped leaf structure.
A flower stalk is growing out of a leaf axis, ready to bloom.
this is a Vanda type - note the fan shaped leaf structure.
2. Vanda Viboon x Ascocenda Apinantat
The plant grows longer and longer,
producing flower stalks once, twice, or three times a year, depending on the orchid type and growing conditions.
Andrea sprays the roots with water or
takes them to the sink to soak them and
then let them drain.
She then gives them a nutrient spray
and hangs them back up.
This is repeated every 4-5 days
or as needed (when the roots are dry).
They can absorb moisture from the air as well.
More Phalaenopsis orchids.
These are potted, in a medium of coarse bark
or sphagnum moss.
The small plastic pot is then placed in a heavy clay pot,
so that the plant does not fall over,
as they are often quite top-heavy.
The flower stalks may be staked and clipped to the stake,
to hold them upright,
or in this case allowed to hang down.
Marcelo brought this beautiful Phalaenopsis
to the Open House.
This variety is often seen for sale in local stores.
It is one of the easier orchids to grow.
Another potted orchid;
3. Dendrobium Bill Takamatsu
this one had just begun to bloom for the Open House.
The thickened stems are called pseudo tubers.
They store moisture and nutrients, so these orchids
have more resistance to adverse conditions.
They need watering less often.
Some of the roots are not covered - this is quite normal.
Andrea showed us how the roots are very reactive to water;
when she sprayed them with water
they immediately turn a bright green.
Several flower stems ready to bloom!
4. Masdevallia Razzle Dazzle 'Glitter"
A very pretty smaller potted orchid;
this one has a lot of leaves.
5. Broughtonia
Another large pink orchid...
...with a very long flower stem.
6. Brassada Orange Delight 'Starbek Orange'
Another potted orchid with a most amazing flower.
7. Cymbidium
A large potted orchid - another of Marcelo's,
the leaves resemble daylilies.
This one had several flower sprays like this.
More potted orchids:
takes them to the sink to soak them and
then let them drain.
She then gives them a nutrient spray
and hangs them back up.
This is repeated every 4-5 days
or as needed (when the roots are dry).
They can absorb moisture from the air as well.
or sphagnum moss.
The small plastic pot is then placed in a heavy clay pot,
so that the plant does not fall over,
as they are often quite top-heavy.
to hold them upright,
Marcelo brought this beautiful Phalaenopsis
to the Open House.
This variety is often seen for sale in local stores.
It is one of the easier orchids to grow.
Another potted orchid;
this one had just begun to bloom for the Open House.
The thickened stems are called pseudo tubers.
They store moisture and nutrients, so these orchids
have more resistance to adverse conditions.
They need watering less often.
Andrea showed us how the roots are very reactive to water;
when she sprayed them with water
they immediately turn a bright green.
A very pretty smaller potted orchid;
this one has a lot of leaves.
Another large pink orchid...
Another potted orchid with a most amazing flower.
A large potted orchid - another of Marcelo's,
the leaves resemble daylilies.
This one had several flower sprays like this.
More potted orchids:
8. Phaiocalanthe Kryptonite 'Chariots of Fire'
There are many lady slipper kinds like this one,
which resembles the Pink Ladyslipper found in PEI.
A small orchid... with several flower stems
You can see large slot openings in the clay pot,
which allow air to the roots, to prevent rotting.
More Vanda types...
to develop different varieties...
For the very last!...
...Darwin's Orchid,
also known by other names.You can know from the Latin name (the official name that is used for identification) of this plant
that it is as it exists in Nature -
that it has not been bred or cross-bred by humans.
The first part of the name is the Genus - Angraecum, and the second part of the name is the species - sesquipedale.
The Genus always begins with a capital letter and the species always begins with a small letter.
If humans have developed a Variety from a plant,
by breeding, the name of the variety appears
after the species name, beginning with a capital letter.
Many or most of the orchids seen above have been
bred and cross-bred by humans.
When you become accustomed to how plants are named
it is a great help, because a lot of identifying information is given in the Latin name of the plant.
It helps to take note of the Latin terms as you begin to learn plant nomenclature because the name usually describes some of the identifying traits of plants, such as numbers of leaves, petals, Genus group, etc.
You will see these terms used many times, in the names of many different plants, and it helps to remember the plants, and to what Family, Genus or group it belongs.
This flower opened again, just in time for the Open House.
It originates in Madagascar.
The long spur which can be 10-16 inches long contains nectar.
And yes, there is a creature
that has a long enough proboscis
to be able to reach all the way down to the end of the spur.
comes to this flower at night drawn by the very strong scent;
it unfurls its long proboscis and inserts it right down to the end of the spur, getting the nectar and doing the necessary fertilizing of the flower at the same time.
Click on this video link below to see this
amazing moth in action;
(after the halfway point in the video.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMVN1EWxfAU
So how do all these exotic orchids come to be in Canada?
Marcelo travels outside of Canada to buy orchids
from vendors who specialize in this business.
He brings them back for others and himself.
So how do all these exotic orchids come to be in Canada?
Marcelo travels outside of Canada to buy orchids
from vendors who specialize in this business.
He brings them back for others and himself.
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