Miltonia spectabilis var alba x odm Holiday Gold

This is another interesting orchid from my collection that just flowered - its Miltonia spectabilis var alba x odm Holiday Gold. Its rather a rare cross and a beautiful orchid to have and to admire.

Despite being a collectors item its actually very easy orchid to grow and lends itself well to specimen culture.

The flowers of this orchid is very large (approx 20 cm across), it flowers freely and producing impressive display. The beautiful white/burgundy flowers open very widely and each flower spike carry 4 - 5 huge flowers.

These orchids native to Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica and they grow naturally on rocks and tree branches in cloud forests where morning mists and afternoon showers are the norm. In our climate they are quite happy in the shadiest part of my garden and they love frequent watering.

Cymbidium Orchid - James Toya Velvet

This cymbidium orchid currently in flower in my garden - it's name James Toya Velvet and it's been created by one of the innovative cymbidium AU breeder for a cut flower market.

Couple of years ago I was able to obtain a few unflowered seedlings of this variety and been patiently waiting for it to produce it's first for me blooms, and as you can see, it is a beauty!

The plant is very strong and carry 5 large blooms. The flowers are flamboyant hot pink color with mild spicy scent, which is unusual for cymbidium orchid. The lip of the flower showing white/dark pink velvety texture and overall appearance effect is very pleasing. I think James Toya Velvet will be another winner in the cymbidium circle because it will appeal to many orchid collectors and gardeners alike.

Cymbidium Orchid -Kakadu Sunset Firegold

Here is another Cymbidium orchid currently in flower from my collection. It's name - Kakadu Sunset var Firegold. It's been created by one of the well known Australian orchid breeders and the plant really lives up to it's name.

The flowers are huge of beautiful lemon color with distinct red colored lines running through the petals and the middle of the flower displaying bright red velvety lip - very pleasing to the eye combination of colors.

The plant is quite strong with many flower spikes and while each flower spike have only 3 or 4 flowers, they are quite spectacular in appearance, real showbench quality. One can actually see the creator's thoughts in this beautiful Firegold.

Oncidium orchid - Facade x Quennervaris

Oncidiums are one of the wonderful genus for orchid collectors since it contains huge numbers and a large diversity of plant habits and floral features that a grower can spend a lifetime collecting and learning about them.

They currently numbering more than 750 species and these orchids distributed in southern Florida, Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South America. Their habitat range from the lowlands to high elevation in the mountains and most species grow on trees and rocks.

Oncidiums are generally regarded as being an adaptable group of orchids but even so a consideration of their area of origin can help in cultivation and help to avoid any problems. Those species from high elevation in the Andes are cool growers, while those originating in the lowlands require heat.

My oncidium Facade x Quennervaris just started flowering - its a beautiful cool growing orchid and it flowers with these special large, rather huge white flowers that have bright yellow spots all over them. Its rather a "collector's item", since not many plants of this cross currently in existence, but hopefully it will change in the near future so that many more growers can appreciate this beauty from cool mountains of Andes.

Cymbidium Orchid - spp insigne

One of the beautiful cymbidium species, cymbidium insigne in my collection currently in flower.

This species native to China, Vietnam and Thailand, grows in high altitudes and have many showy pale pink flowers.

Its one of the most important species in the cymbidium world, since all of the modern pink color cultivators own its origin to this special plant and it's been used extensively by cymbidium breeders to create bold pink hybrids with multiple flowers.

The plant in its original state is a beautiful sight - my orchid just started flowering and I am looking forward seeing many more of these fragrant blooms for a few weeks.

Cymbidium Orchid - Viva Las Vegas

This is another of my cymbidium orchids that currently flowering and its name - Viva Las Vegas.

It's flowers are large brown/bronze color with spotted velvety lip and it was bread for cut flower markets by one of the most innovative Australian cymbidium breeders.

Its parentage Coratea x Pearly Pepper and plants are of medium size with only a few large flowers on each spike - but what a beauty! Its fairly new release here in AU.

There is nothing modest about this cymbidium orchid - I feel that Viva Las Vegas have "an attitude" - bold, uncompromising, showy, primal energy, "like me or live me" type of plant and its very interesting for me see the hand of the breeder when he was selecting parents to came up with new beautiful creation, like an artist with a final goal in mind.

Viva Las Vegas does not dissapoint and I am sure in the future it will be popular in many gardens around the world.

Cymbidium Orchid - Pure Lama

This beautiful cymbidium orchid currently in flower in my garden. It's full name - Pure Lama var Golden Goddess.

Its intermediate size cymbidium with stunning pale lemon color flowers that have velvety yellow spotted lip and overall visual effect reminds me of many golden bells swaying in the wind. It's quite prolific in in it's flowering with many medium - sized round sculptured flowers carried on flowering stems.

Like many cymbidium orchids it's been created for cut flower trade and flowers lasts quite a long time - giving this appearance of color, texture and scent that very pleasing to the eye and senses. Pure Lama is a beautiful orchid to have in one's collection and I am sure we will see many more varieties of this cymbidium orchid in the future.

Cymbidium Orchid - Eazan Shining "Royal Flare" x Death Wish "Speckled Spectre"

Here is another cymbidium orchid from my collection - beautiful new hybrid created especially for cut flower production. Its full name - Eazan Shining "Royal Flare" x Death Wish "Spekled Spectre".

The flowers are full, bronze color and have long-lasting qualities and it belongs in the "novelty" class of cymbidium orchids. It's interesting to see how the "Death Wish" cultivator been used by the breeder to create completely different looking blooms.

At present, work on cymbidium hybridizing is being carried in several countries. As I've mentioned in my previous post, there are many innovative breeders in Australia, but also in the Uniting States, Holland and England. Some do this on a small scale, while others have vast planned breeding programmes covering the whole colour range and different times of flowering.

In the future, I feel, novelty type breeding should prove very interesting and will involve selections for flamboyant colour combinations which will benefit orchid lovers everywhere.

Cymbidium Orchid - Death Wish "Saratoga"

We are right in the middle of winter in our part of the world, and it means that its cymbidium orchids flowering season upon us. Many of my orchids are currently in spike and I'll be featuring more of them in this blog.

More than any other genus, cymbidiums been subjected to very intensive selection and breeding programs, resulting in production and registration of many wonderful and unusual hybrids. Here in Australia orchid lovers are spoiled for choices when it comes to these orchids, since we have many dedicated breeders who constantly working in improving quality of breeding gene pool.

The cymbidium orchid in the picture called Death Wish "Saratoga", its a cross between Pywacket x Disney Girl and belong in "novelty" class of cymbidium orchids. It have unusual, bold blooms with large beautiful spotted colored flowers. Its a standard cymbidium with long arching spikes. I've purchased it a couple of years ago and its flowering first time for me. More pictures of this blooming plant down the page.

Bulbophyllum orchid - var lobbii

Bulbophyllum huge genus numbers more than two thousand species and these are widely distributed in most tropical parts of the world, with a concentration in New Guinea where more than six hundred species occur. All species are grow on rocks or on trees.

Because of the large number of species and wide distribution, it is difficult to generalise about this genus. While those species which are highly ornamental or distinct novelties have become well known in cultivation, by the large very few species of Bulbophyllum are commonly grown - this is a great disappointment for many species are rewarding subjects and adapt well to cultivation.

My Bulbophyllum orchid is var lobbii (named after Thomas Lobb, original collector) - its a wonderful orchid valued for its large, interesting flowers which have fragrance similar to cucumbers. Its native to Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, commonly grows in the mountains at altitudes of 1000 - 5000 m and its quite happy growing in my garden outside. It likes filtered light and plenty of air movement. Currently I've been growing it in the pots but waiting until spring time to mount it on a tree fern slab so it can show off its beautiful flowers to full advantage.

Wardian growing case for orchids

Modern homes and open-plan offices lend themselves very well to miniature indoor orchid greenhouses - the modern counterpart to 19th century's Wardian cases. They are available in great variety and styles to suit any location.  They are constructed either in traditional materials, using a wooden framework for the plate glass sides, or with stainless steel frames to suit a modern setting. 

This type of orchids growing may not satisfy the compulsive gardener, but it does enable orchid lovers with very limited time to have an aesthetically pleasing growing area with vast collection. A growing case is also the perfect answer for flat dwellers, or handicapped people who may not be able to go into the garden.  The attractive Wardian case with it's automatic heating and lighting in the picture was featured in one of the orchids shows.

The origins of Wardian cases go back to Victorian England. Horticulturists and wealthy patrons was hiring collectors to roam the world's remote regions in search of rare orchids. In the race to discover new species and stake claim to exclusive rights on behalf of their employers, collectors ransacked the sites and literally stripped bare vast areas of forest, so that certain species became rarer then ever. This collecting mania, together with the hazards of long-distance transportation inflated the value of precious plants beyond all reason. 

So, throughout 19th century there was a ridiculously heavy traffic in orchids. They were dispatched to Europe in their hundreds of thousands, carelessly and inappropriately packed, often destroyed by insects en route. Only a small proportion reached their destination in a more or less satisfactory condition. 

In 1860 important progress was made when the English horticulturalist Nathaniel Ward invented a closed glass case, virtually a portable greenhouse, in which orchids could be planted in moss or a slightly moist compost. The Wardian Case, as it was called, enabled orchids to be transported in far better conditions and these days this name used for special portable orchids greenhouses.

Cattleya orchid - var Grapewax

Cattleya genus, perhaps more than any other, has captured enthusiasm and imagination of orchid growers throughout the world. Many growers specialise in the cultivation of Cattleyas and related genera,with flamboyant colourful hybrids, replacing the species in many collections. But its all started from very humble beginnings...

As with many major events in history, the most significant usually occur by accident. So it was with "cattleyamania" that was to sweep Europe, and subsequently United States. 

A consignment of topical plants was being dispatched to England in 1812 from South America by a mr William Swainson who supervised collected orchids shipments and who, to protect them, packed round them some other tropical plants bearing strong "stems" and tough foliage. At least some of this consignment reached mr William Cattley, of Barnet, a keen cultivator of tropical plants and one of the first amateur orchid growers. Cattley was intrigued by this "packing material" and succeeded in growing some of them, the first of which flowered in November 1818. The large flowers with their flamboyant colors created a sensation, as nothing similar had been seen in cultivation before. It was studied by Dr Lindley, who found it to be an entirely new genus and named it after its owner.

From these humble beginnings sprang fascination and obsession of collecting these beautiful Cattleyas by orchid growers from all over the world.

Now we know that there are about 65 species of Cattleya, all growing in Central and South America. They grow on trees or rocks often in very exposed situations and range from lowlands to above 2500m altitude. In parts of their range the climate is strongly seasonal with distinct wet and dry seasons and this seasonality is reflected in the distinct dormant and active growth stages of many species in cultivation.

My cattleya that just flowered is var Grapewax - with beautiful large dark pink color flowers. Its easy to grow and it likes bright light, plenty of air movement around it . It gets plenty of water during growing season and then reduced watering during winter. 

Cattleya's are easy to grow orchids for the beginner, providing understanding of the seasonal  growth is observed and they reward one with these large beautiful flamboyant blooms year after year.

Cymbidium Orchid - Ruby Brook "Falling Fire"

This cymbidium orchid is one of the new beautiful varieties in cymbidium orchid world - its a cross between Ruby Eyes x Brook Street . Both parents are pendulous and "Falling Fire" showing same pendulous characteristics with arching flowering spikes.

It's an intermediate cymbidium with flowers of solid red color with dark red, approaching black, nearly solid, velvety labellum. The flowers are very good size and this variety would be welcome addition to any orchid collection.

Last autumn I got a few un-flowered seedlings of this new variety and did not expected it to flower until later on, but  one of the plants decided to send out its flower spike that early in the season. Must be something to do with our erratic weather at the moment - cold and wet and dark one day, beautiful sunny warm the next. Can't complain though since it gave me a chance to see this beautiful variety in flower and appreciate its beautiful colors. "Falling Fire" it is.

Cymbidium Orchid Anne's Balls

Its autumn in our part of the world and it means that beautiful cymbidium orchids starting sending out flower spikes. 

More than other orchid genus, Cymbidiums has been subjected to an intensive selection and breeding which resulted in the production and registration of thousands of hybrids. Valued for their ease of culture and prolific production of large, colourful flowers, these orchids are the basis of cut flower industries in many countries.

My cymbidium in the picture just started flowering and its called "Anne's Balls and its parentage Bridal Bouquet x Earlisue. It's an intermediate cymbidium with full shape flowers. The flowering spikes are upright and carry up to eight beautiful white color dark pink spotted labellum flowers. My plant is a few years old and many more spikes developing now which will give me quite a display this season. 

These orchids are easy to grow for a novice as well as experienced gardener even though many volumes are written about their cultivation. They need free draining potting mixtures, they like plenty of water during growing seasons and to be drier prior to production of flower spikes, they happy to be in bright light during autumn and winter and in a bit of shade during warmer months and they like air circulation around them. With the exception of a few australian species, majority of them originating and distributed from mountains of Northern India to China and they are quite happy growing as a cool growers.

Epidendrum cochleatum orchid

This orchid known mostly by it's common names - Clamshell orchid, Cockle Shell orchid or Octopus orchid. This species has the honor of being the first tropical epiphytic orchid to flower at Kew Gardens, England in 1787. 

Its native to Mexico, Central and South America and West Indies, grows in a wide variety of habitats and one of the favourite orchids in cultivation. These orchids are evergreen but have a distinct period of dormancy when watering needs to be reduced. They are easy to cultivate and need plenty of water and fertilising with a lot of air movement during actively growing season. 

The flower heart-shaped and broadly striped grow upwards while the narrow yellow-green petals hang downwards - giving appearance of some exotic sea creature.

Maxillaria nigrescence orchid

Although this genus has captured the attention of many orchids growers, it has not achieved the heights of popularity reached by many other genera. This is perhaps surprising for it embraces a range of growing habits and most species have colourful, interesting flowers. With about 300 species, Maxillaria is a highly significant genus and provides an abundance of choice for growers who find these orchids to their liking.

These orchids are native from  Mexico to West Indies and various countries in Central and South America, extending well into tropics of Argentina. While many found in the warmer forests, the genus reaches its greatest variety in the mountains especially the Andes in Peru and Brazil where most species occur.

These orchids are easy to cultivate and they like abundant air movement, regular watering except for a two or three week period after the pseudobulbs have matured when plants are kept on the dry side. They don't like excessive light and prefer more shadier situations.

My Maxillaria is var nigrescense and in autumn flowering with these beautiful burgundy color star shape flowers. The flowers arise in clusters of two or three from each pseudobulb. This species native to cloud forests at about 2,500m  altitude and found in British Honduras and Guatemala. (another picture down the page)

Miltonia spectabilis var moreliana orchid

These beautiful orchids are native to Brazil and grow at low to intermediate altitudes and were once locally abundant but have now been reduced by clearing and over-collecting.

They are easy to grow when provided with warm, humid conditions and an abundance of air movement. With their fine roots, these orchids are very sensitive to stagnant conditions and excessive watering can quickly lead to rotting. They prefer bright, but diffuse light for flowering.

My plant is a few years old and in autumn flowering with these beautiful large free flowering purple blooms. Its just started flowering with many more flower spikes developing and I am anticipating extended flowering period this season.

Masdevallia Tungurahua orchid

From quite a range to choose from, these orchids have earned their place as a firm favorite with growers in many countries.  The genus numbers more than 350 species and is distributed in Mexico, Central and South America. The majority of species found in high, mountainous regions where conditions are cool, moist and humid all year around. Under such conditions the plants have no requirement for moisture storage and storage organs such as pseudobulbs are unknown in the genus. All species have a compact growth habit and free-flowering producing beautiful floral displays.

Masdevallia's have a reputation of being tricky to grow, however as with all orchids, knowing their origins helps with cultivation. They have very fine roots which rot quickly if the potting mix becomes clogged. My Masdevallia Tungurahua just started flowering and I expect many more blooms during this season.

First orchids plants - starting collection

Where does one get first plants? Perhaps a friend given you a plant. May be you have seen them in a local nursery. However you get them, you need to know their names and their needs. One should never buy an unnamed plant unless it is a species and you think you can figure at least what genera it is. Then you can bloom it and refer to botanical descriptions or expert to find its full name. 

Unnamed hybrids are virtually valueless, unnamed plants can not be shown and half the fun of growing orchids is learning about their origins and genealogy.

Keep in mind your conditions when buying your first plants. Until you have really accumulated lots of experience in growing orchids, you should not try plants whose needs you can't meet.

Many modern hybrids are so complex that these plants less fussy about temperatures. Modern hybridizers have "warmed up" many cool growing orchids by breeding them with species from warmer areas. For example miniature Cymbidiums are intermediate while standard one's cool growing.

If you have joined your local Orchid Society, you will have immediate access to good plants. Most growers have divisions to give or sell. Try not to invest in an awarded plant until you know you can handle it, however do try to get plants in good growing condition. Seedlings and back bulbs are not for a beginner - they may be years from blooming.

Some of the members of your local society will be commercial growers. Make an appointment to see them, be ready to listen and learn, and ask for their recommendations. You can ask to visit some member's greenhouses - every greenhouse is different, but there is something to learn everywhere. When you get there, try not to look at plants only. Look at benches, the heating, shading, watering, hoses, etc... See how plants are arranged. Not everything you see will apply to your own conditions, but keep an open mind. Make notes or sketches and ask questions.

Another good advise for a beginner - don't load up only one genus. Try different orchids if your growing conditions are intermediate. Sticking to just cattleyas or just cymbidiums makes a dull collection and a look of sameness. Most people don't realize how different orchid blooms can be.

However you get your first plants, through friends, commercial growers, ads, catalogues or auctions, try to buy plants that give you flowers at all seasons of the year.

Some Cattleyas bloom more than once a year. Some bloom in season. Most Phalaenopsis bloom in spring. Cymbidiums start in autumn and go on through spring. Catalogues will tell you if an orchid is early, middle or late flowering. Find out about expected bloom period of plants, trying not to buy three of four purple Cattleyas all blooming in autumn.

Often you will find "combination offering" at reduced prices and these are good deals for a beginner to try to grow different species and to see the magic of orchids.

(Photo from  Australian Orchids Council screensaver)

Native cymbidium from a garbage dump

Well, everyone will agree - not much to look at, dry and shriveled, not many roots and one will not call it "beautiful" or "special" by any stretch of imagination. Still...

This plant came to me couple of days ago via friend who spotted it while driving and noticing land clearing for new housing development - all vegetation was dumped in a garbage baking under the hot sun and he though that it may be a cymbidium orchid. He stopped, pulled it out from the dump, found old black plastic pot, covered it with soil and brought it to me.

I am very grateful to him for his effort and for this plant - its Australian native cymbidium var suave and its going to be really nice and beautiful plant when it recovers. Cymbidiums suave recently been used in crossess quite a lot to produce miniature size cymbidiums, since they have smaller leaves and flowers and very nice sweet scent.

I've already cleaned it up, cut down all dry leaves and roots, repotted it into fresh compost and at the moment its placed in the shadiest area of the garden to recover. All I need to do now is to keep watering and checking it out regularly. I am sure it will recover soon - its a tough variety with masses of beautiful small flowers and I'll be taking pictures of it when its starts flowering.

One of the rare Natives

This beautiful Geodorum densiflorum orchid one of the rare terrestrial orchids from tropical regions of Queensland and currently registered on plants threatened species list.

 Its dormant in winter with bulbs half buried in the soil. It grows in open eucalypus forests displaying large leaves with long erect stem.

It flowers in January, with stem holding up to 20 pale pink flowers and as it matures, it nods, hence the orchid's common name - Pink Nodding Orchid.

This picture was taken by my friend who's active in Landcare, Coastcare and local bush regeneration groups. A small colony of these orchids was spotted and pictures were taken, then left them in the wild to grow and multiply for the future. What an absolute privilege to see this beautiful, rare plant growing in its native habitat!

Phalaenopsis by the pond

This orchid is another success from my "intensive care orchid unit" - it came to me via friend couple of years ago in a rather poor state. It was all dried up with no flowers or leaves and no visible roots and was destined for the compost bin.

The challenge was to keep it barely alive until it started to grow new roots and from then on, it was just a matter of providing conditions that it liked. I've potted it into small plastic pot in pure moss so that it could start growing roots and was misting it with water regularly. Then the leaves started grow and finally the flower spikes.

Its turned out quite a beautiful color luminous yellow/hot pink/green phalaenopsis of larger size and as you can see in the picture (another picture further down) its growing strongly.  Last summer I've potted it into larger pot and its started showing its true colors. At the moment, in the middle of summer, our weather is quite hot and dry and this plant very happy sitting on the edge of my small water lilly pond, absorbing additional moisture through the leaves and the roots.

These days a lot of phalaenopsis orchids sold as an indoor plants and of course they are beautiful plants and can decorate any room with their magical blooms, however they should never be allowed to dry out. They don't have any bulbs or canes to reserve moisture and once dried up, its difficult to bring them back to flowering state. Difficult, but not impossible since its all about understanding what they need. If ever you come across dried up, shriveled, leafless orchid, give it a go and try to get it growing again - it will reward you for many years to come.

My smallest orchid

This tiny Australian native dendrobium orchid is the smallest orchid in my collection. Its just started flowering couple of days ago and the flowers are pale cream color with quite a strong sweet scent.

I've mounted it among my other australian native orchids on the fern slab since its more practical for it to grow this way than in any type of container. In its natural habitat it grows on branches of trees in our native forests. Like all dendrobiums it holds moisture reserve in its bulbs. Its easy to grow since its requirements are very basic - a bit of light, a bit of moisture and good air circulation.

This orchid been with me quite a few years now and every year in summer it develops another tiny bulb and then sends flowering spike. Another example of the diversity of these beautiful magical plants.

Bifrenaria harrisoniae orchid

This popular orchid has been in cultivation for a very long time, being one of the first one's introduced to England during 1821 and since been popular with orchid growers all over the world.

A native of Brazil, it grows on rocks and trees in warm, humid rain-forests. Its loved for its wideley-opening, waxy flowers which are usually cream with magenta color labellum. They have a strong fragrance, angular pseudobulbs and large, thick leaves. This orchid require bright light and gentle air movement to flower well. Watering needs to be rather heavy when plants are in active growth, but then sparingly after the growth have matured and during cool temperatures and short days of winter.

These orchids are relatively easy to grow but can suffer a setback from repotting and hence should be repotted only when absolutely necessary.

This orchid and me now reached an understanding - I got it a few years ago and in its first year, after a few months, moved it from one growing container into another and could not understand why in its first couple of years with me it would not flower. All I got very nice, green fleshy leaves, that's all. But once its established in its new situation its started flowering and flowered every year since then in summer. Ahhh... so much to learn from these beautiful plants.

Stanhopea Tigrina orchid

Yesterday morning my Stanhopea Tigrina opened up its flowers and as usual presented its beautiful majestic flowers in its full glory. It took only a few minutes for it to unfold from the tight flower bud to this unusual and delightful strongly vanilla/ chocolate scented marvel.

Stanhopea Tigrina native to Mexico's mountain regions and been popular with orchid collectors since its discovery by english explorers in 1800's.

These orchids are not hard to grow but they do have their specific requirements - they have to grow in an open planters so that they can send their flowering spikes through the bottom of the planter. They need shady situation and copious amount of watering during growing time with drier conditions in winter and they prefer warmth, humidity and a lot of air movement.

Stanhopea flowers stay open on the plant only for a short time - 3 or 4 days only and every year in early summer its a waiting game to see if I get any flower spikes on my plant since stanhopea's flowering can be effected by many factors such as unusually cold winter temperatures or low humidity. This year my plant developed a few flower spikes and I am looking forward seeing extended flowering period. More pictures further down the page.

How does one describe stanhopea orchids - rare, unusual, spectacular, fascinating, amazing, astonishing, majestic, beautiful, temperamental, frustrating, capricious, and if you prepared to wait about 360 days to see the magic, they will not disapoint you.

Orchids - understanding their requirements

Orchids plants are easy to grow as can be testified by the huge number of growers to be found in various countries around the world. Its easy for people in the tropics to grow orchids but even in extremely cold climates it is possible to create suitable conditions and grow these beautiful plants.

A novice orchid grower usually is somewhat starry-eyed about the subject and tries to grow as wide a range of orchids as possible. Experience is the best teacher and hardened growers realize only too well the folly of trying to grow orchids which have vastly different cultural requirements together, in similar conditions. With such a tremendous range of orchids available to select from, its not difficult to choose a group which will thrive in a particular set of conditions. The message then for a beginner is to gain as much knowledge as possible from experienced growers, orchids periodicals and books. Joining a local orchid society is one of the best ways to start.

In my personal opinion, the best orchid growers are those who have a good understanding of the requirements of their plants. One of the most effective ways to gain this knowledge is to observe orchid plants growing in their native state. Unfortunately this is not always posiible and the next best approach is to read avidly. Orchid journals can provide wealth of information not only directed to cultivation of plants but also in reports of collectors who have been fortunate to visit out-of-the-way localities.  Even a photograph of the terrain can provide clues - note whether the vegetation is open or dense, the topography flat or steep, large boulders and cliff faces obvious or the mountain tops covered in mist. These are the sort of conditions that can influence the requirements of a species and an observant grower takes note of them.

As an example I am attaching some photos of orchids growing in the wild and as you can see some require a lot of air movement and light, some prefer humid, misty situations, other prefer drier situations with plenty of light but no direct sunlight. By observing and learning of cultural requirements of a particular orchid specie you will know if its suitable to grow in your particular environment.

Brassia verrucosa orchid

Brassia orchids are easily recognized by their elongated segments, distinctive floral arrangement on the racemes and the entire column and labellum. Because they are easy to grow and always rewarding with their massive display of flowers, they are firm favorites with experienced orchid growers as well as the novice.

Brassia verrucosa native to shady mountain forests of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Venezuela, they grow as epiphytes and appreciate gentle air movement, high humidity and bright light, but not direct sun which can burn them. They grow in an altitude of over 1500m and quite cold tolerant. The spidery flowers are long lasting and have an attractive light jasmine scent.

My Brassia plant is a few years old and always flowering at Christmas time - I took these pictures yesterday to show this magnificent display of flowers. I grow it under the shade of the tree and it gets normal watering and occasional feed. The flowers a bit difficult to photograph as they sway in gentle breeze, dispersing their beautiful scent. The flowers will stay on the plant for about 3 weeks and this easy growing and rewarding orchid welcome addition to any orchid collection.

Stanhopea orchid

Its beginning of summer here in Sydney and it means that stanhopea orchids waking up from their sleep. They are fascinating plants and never fail to delight and to amuse orchid growers.

Stanhopea's native to Central and South America and Mexico and they are one of the most beautiful orchid species. They send their flowering spikes through the bottom of the planters. My stanhopea just started developing flower spikes and I've captured in the picture three spikes currently developing. The spikes will be growing and maturing for another couple of weeks or so, and then flowers will open with most heavenly vanilla / chocolate scent. The flowers stay on the plant for a very short time, only 3-4 days or so, but well worth waiting for.

Depending on the weather, some years my stanhopea orchids flowered right on Christmas day, and some years just before or just after Christmas. I have couple of varieties of stanhopea's and will take pictures of them when they are in flower.

Coelogyne massangeana orchid

These beautiful orchids in its native habitat grows on trees or rocks often in bright but diffuse light. They are popular with collectors and generally easy to grow and flower freely. They must have excellent drainage, bright diffuse light and good air movement.

Coelogyne massangeana producing strongly pendulous racemes which can carry up to 20 flowers. The racemes are capable of extremely rapid growth and all of the beautiful flowers open within a short time of each other. The flowers are cream/pale yellow, about 6 cm across and very strongly fragrant. They have prominent brown labellum with a distinctly warty surface. Its native to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand where it grows on ridges and lopes in the mountains. This orchid quite cold tolerant and have distinct period of rest when water should be applied sparingly.

My orchid in the picture is a few years old and always flowering in early summer. Its always interesting to witness this rapid growth of flower spikes - once they start growing they add about 5 cm in size every couple of hours. More flower spikes are developing on the side and back of the plant and I am looking forward enjoying its extended flowering period. Its a rewarding and easy species to grow for a novice as well as experienced collector.

Orchid Dendrobium thrysiflorum

The dense, bunch-like inflorescence, pendulous racemes of this dendrobium orchid are eye-catching and in flower is a beautiful sight to behold. With its white flowers and contrasting orange labellum its beautiful at flowering time. This orchid is native to Burma, Thailand and Laos.

Dendrobium thrysiflorum is an evergreen orchid with dark leaves with flowers appearing in trusses early summer. It grows quite successfully in my garden under the shade of the trees and it gets regular watering during spring, summer and autumn. It needs to be rested during winter months and allowed to dry out almost completely with its pseudobulbs shrivel - a process necessary to initiate the production of flowers.

My plant is a couple of years old and as it develops more canes it will form more flowering trusses. The flowers remain on the plant for about 3 weeks and its unusual and delightful flowers make it desirable addition to any orchid collection.

Cymbidium Orchid Gladys Whitesell x Bulbarrow "Gayserland"

The cymbidium orchid in the picture is another of the beautiful cymbidiums in my orchid collection. Its of intermedium size and have these delicate beautiful pink flowers. The flower petals appears as if been painted by brush strokes and dark burgundy color labellum feels velvety to the touch.

This cymbidium orchid is var Gladys Whitesell x Bulbarrow "Gayserland" and I've acquired it a couple of years ago as a mature un-flowered seedling. Last year it sent out one flower spike, but it was enough for me to appreciate its beautiful coloring and to look forward to seeing more flowers. This spring it developed six flower spikes and started showing its beauty in full glory. It kept its flowers for more than a month and I was bringing it inside a couple of times to decorate dinner table.

In late autumn I've planted it into beautiful wooden round planter to give it a setting it deserves - picture of it in full flower further down the page.

Cymbidiums are beautiful orchids and easy to grow for a beginner as well as experienced orchid collectors and they start flowering at the end of winter when not many plants are in flower, giving these bursts of colors around the garden.

Dendrobium Orchid

These beautiful orchids has always been held in high esteem by orchid growers throughout the world. They originating from Himalayas and southern India, through Malaysia, China and Japan, and also in parts of Northern Australia. There is currently an estimated over 1,500 species of Dendrobium orchids.

They are quite easy to grow in our Australian conditions - they store food and water in swollen stems that enable the plant to survive the dry season. Many varieties are deciduous, shedding their leaves after season's growth and remaining dormant during dry season, but at the start of spring they burst forth with new growth and flower buds.

The Dendrobium orchid in the picture is var Mousmee and one of the beautiful orchids in my collection. The plant is over 10 years old now and every spring it flowers with these delicate beautiful flowers. The flowers stay on the plant for about 10 days. 

At flowering time the completely bare plant, looking like a cluster of dead canes, becomes transformed into this most beautiful display.

Phalaenopsis Orchid

This type of orchids found in tropical parts of India, China, Malaysia, South-east Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea and Australia. With their long arching racemes of showy, widely-opening flowers they are amongst the most beautiful of all orchids and very popular with orchids collectors.

They are easy orchids to grow if given their basic requirements, however they also die quickly if they are unhappy with their surroundings. They are a shade lovers and will grow and flower well under conditions of low light. They love warm to hot conditions, with high humidity, gentle air movement. Phalaenopsis orchids have no capacity for water storage and hence must never be allowed to dry out. They are heavy feeders and respond well to liquid fertilizers.

The orchid in the picture was given to me last year in an attempt to rescue it - it was in very poor condition, all dried up with one small leaf all yellow and scorched and the original owner marked it out for the rubbish tip. The name label was lost so I don't know its variety.

I've repotted it into fresh compost and kept misting it with water until new leaves and roots started to grow and then flower spikes started showing up. Like all Phalaenopsis, its "an escape artist", trying hard to push its roots from its pot and may be at the later stage I will pot it up on bark or fern slab. At the moment, though, its growing very well and many more flowers are developing.

I've got what some friends call "intensive orchids care unit" - sometimes orchid plants come to me in a rather sorry conditions and I nurse them back to their formal glory. I enjoy the challenge discovering their beauty and have a few of them growing splendidly all over my garden.

Cymbidium orchid Memoria Marvin Gaye "Royale"

This cymbidium orchid variety was recently commercially released here in Australia, but I was able to get a few small seedlings some time ago and this spring couple of plants started flowering. As you can see - its an absolute stunner!

The plants are of intermediate size with really beautiful flowers - deep bronze color with bright red color labellum - the most unusual and pleasing combination. The parentage is Brook Street x Tom Thumb and this spring two of my plants developed couple of flower spikes. The plants kept their flowers for more than a month and I was able to enjoy its flowers for an extended period of time.

As my plants maturing, I am looking forward seeing more and more flowers of this variety. Cymbidium orchids are not hard to grow, they have their own basic growing requirements - plenty of moisture and fertilizer during growing time ( spring, summer and autumn), filtered light not to burn their leaves and good air movement - that's about it, but they reward you with beautiful blooms for a long period of time.

Paphiopedilum Orchid

These lovely lady's slipper orchids flower in striking, often bizarre, color combinations: background colors may be white, yellow, green, or a combination, with markings in tan, mahogany, brown, maroon, green or white. With their lacquered or waxy textures, these flowers sometimes appear more artificial than real.

Paphiopedilum orchids are native to India, Southern China, South-east Asia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The majority of species grow as terrestrial in pockets of debris in rocks, in sandy soils, among tree roots. While most species favor shady forests where they may receive dappled sunlight, a couple of species grow in sunny locations.

Despite an absence of pseudo bulbs, these orchids are quite able to withstand fairly long dry period and very suitable to our Australian climate - most of the species grow naturally in areas where climates are strongly seasonal.

My Paphiopedilum orchids ( var insigne) grow under the shade of a large tree all year around, where they appreciate good air movement. I water them every couple of days in spring and summer and less in autumn and winter, if needed. I've been growing them for the past 6 years or so, and while the plants are not big, without fail, they are flowering every year.

Angulocaste var Tudor

These orchids are from remarkable group of terrestrial orchids with pronounced pseudobulbs and large spoon-shaped leaves. In summer they produce dramatic tuliplike flowers. These plants prefer cooler temperatures.

They need to be protected from the summer sun or their leaves will scorch, but in winter they prefer a lot of light. They also prefer winter dry rest with may be occasional misting, but watering should be resumed when spikes start to appear at the bases of the bulbs.

My orchid is variety Tudor and displays these beautiful large yellow tulip type scented flowers. Its not hard to grow and welcome addition to any orchid collection.

Zygopetalum orchid - var Blue Lake “Atlantis”

One of the great attractions of Zygopetalums is the contrast between the color of the sepals and petals and that of the lip. These orchids require good light with plenty of moisture at the root when in full growth. Air movement around this orchid in conditions of high humidity is very important, otherwise the leaves can become badly spotted. In our Australian climate, this specie flowering during early spring, producing heavy scented flowers that last for 4 or 5 weeks.

My Zygopetalum orchid var Blue Lake "Atlantis" been repotted last summer and this spring it rewarded me with these heavenly perfumed beautiful flowers. Few orchids are easier to grow than Zygopetalums and these orchids are excellent subjects for the beginners.

Cymbidium orchid - var “King Agate”

The Cymbidium species are quite diverse and are found growing wild over a wide range from foothills of the Himalayas to the coast of China, and as far as south as Australia. They live in a range of habitat from tropical rain forests to relatively dry conditions. Most of the cool growing cymbidiums hybrids so wildly grown today have been bred from species originating in the foothills of the Himalayas.

My cymbidium orchid King Agate just finished flowering. Its one of the beautiful intermediate cymbidiums in my collection. The flowers are nicely positioned of burnt-fark orange with dark brown color and this year it flowered with five flower spikes.

As all cymbidiums, it keeps its flowers for about a month and its a beautiful addition to any orchid collection.