See the Amazing Orchids Unfolding at a New York Garden Show
August 27, 2019
There is a second from the 2002 Charlie Kaufman movie Adaptation, which is based on Susan Orlean’s book The Orchid Thief, when the toothless orchid hunter wades through chest-high swamp water in search of a rare varietal known as the Ghost Orchid. At first you think, “Oh come on. All this for a plant?” However, the more you understand about orchids — and the more you stare in their mesmerizing flowering faces — you start to comprehend the almost spiritual hold they have a tendency to have on people.
The lush, vibrant, sensually shaped kinds of orchids and their seemingly endless varieties — there are several 30,000 naturally occuring species, meaning this is the largest family of flowering plants — create them somewhat of a mythical flower. If you are in New York between now and April 22, 2013, you can see over 7,000 orchids during The Orchid Show at The New York Botanical Garden, the nation’s largest curated show featuring this plant.
The exhibition takes place from the garden’s Victorian-style glass house, which is the largest of its kind in the country, and includes orchids, aroids, ferns, bromeliads, epiphytic cacti and more.
Info: The Orchid Show, The New York Botanical Garden; March 2 to April 22, 2013; open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed on some holidays); $10 to $25
Unique this season is that the incorporation of Hurricane Sandy–damaged trees, which will be utilized as design elements in the show and to support tree-dwelling plants.
The New York Botanical Garden
Whimsical detailing on this Reed Orchid brings to mind a cartoonish personality.
The New York Botanical Garden
The Reed Orchid has a special fusion of soft and harsh forms.
The New York Botanical Garden
The Slipper Orchid could have exaggerated teardrop-shaped petals. Hybrids of this flower have been created to make them easier to grow inside.
The New York Botanical Garden
This specific Slipper Orchid seems to be enticing a praying mantis.
The New York Botanical Garden
A head-turning fractal layout identifies the Butterfly Orchid.
The New York Botanical Garden
Darwin’s Star Orchid is a pointy combination with a creamy, tasteful color.
The New York Botanical Garden
The Cane Orchid drips and droops using a soft purple shade.
The New York Botanical Garden
This Cane Orchid oozes with lavender.
The New York Botanical Garden
The delicacy of this Renanthera is balanced by the strength of its fiery reddish color.
The New York Botanical Garden
Pattern and color on this American Moth Orchid create a stunning design.
The New York Botanical Garden
How to Begin Your Own Orchid Screen at Home
You can purchase an Assortment of orchids in almost any city. The most frequent type is that the Moth Orchid (revealed), which, based on garden designer and writer Jenny Peterson, is among the simplest to maintain and keep inside. Frequently available at supermarkets or Home Depot, Moth Orchids aren’t as finicky as the exotic kinds, which are available only at technical orchid growers and nurseries and have a tendency to require exacting requirements and humidity management. However, the payoff — crazy-looking petal patterns and color combinations — is worth it.
The New York Botanical Garden
Peterson’s Moth Orchid care tips:
Moth Orchids normally arrive already potted in a special soil mix which has a high peat content. Or you could grow them on a piece of tree bark.Always place the plant in direct sunlight. A south- or east-facing window is best.Maintain a moderate temperature, between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Even in a distance cooled by an air conditioner, an abysmal near a semisunny window will be only fine.Don’t overwater! A frequent suggestion is to water after every seven to 10 days, but Peterson recommends watering just twice per month. She gives her orchids about half a cup of water to the first and 15th of every month. For bark-grown variations, mist the bark or submerge the bark piece from water once a week.Fertilize once a month using a special mix made only for orchids. Give bark-grown orchids a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen content.Don’t give up. Peterson says it is ideal to keep consistent conditions and care, as orchids flourish with a normal routine. Their glowing blooms can last for months, and if you continue to water and simmer yours even after a bloom dies away, it ought to rebloom in a few months. Can you grow orchids? We would love to see them!