Bright, beautiful color doesn’t have to be confined to the
outdoors. Add life to your home’s interior with this long-lasting
plant
The recent rain in the South Valley caused floods and some damage, but it also helped to paint the hills and lawns vivid shades of green. But with bulb-planting season just beginning and gardens looking bare, some homeowners are wondering how to bring that color indoors. A beautiful, long-lasting solution? Orchids.
“Usually when I’m looking for a houseplant the options are a fern, a palm or another plant that’s straight green,” said San Martin resident Cynthia Rojas while shopping at Orchard Supply Hardware in Gilroy this week. “I like to have greenery in the home, but some color would be nice.”
Color is one characteristic orchids are known for, adding subtle hues to bathrooms or vibrant splashes to living rooms. Their long-lasting blossoms make the flowers ideal for home décor.
Orchids will be the focal point of the 54th Pacific Orchid Exposition, which takes place in San Francisco in February.
“Orchids are a great plant to have in the house because the blooms last for months,” said Dan Tan, manager of South Pacific Orchids in Gilroy.
But the flowers weren’t always used simply as decorations. Orchids have been used in fragrances in China for centuries, and as a main ingredient in several so-called love potions. They’ve also been known as aphrodisiacs in many parts of the world.
With more than 25,000 species, orchids grow on every continent except Antarctica. Certain varieties of the flower grow better in certain climates, and the South Valleys variety of micro-climates means several kinds of orchids do well here, including cymbidiums and Australian dendrobiums. These two species enjoy hot, dry weather during the day and cooler weather at night, which is typical of this area.
Frances Larose, an orchid enthusiast and marketing specialist for the San Francisco show for the past 14 years, said that although some orchids are difficult to grow, starting with a certain type can make it easier.
For example, the phalaenopsis is known as the “beginner’s orchid” and is good for gardeners who haven’t planted orchids before. Identified by its small, rounded petals in shades of pink and white, the phalaenopsis grows well inside the home and can hold blooms for several weeks.
“The real trick is getting those beauties to re-bloom,” Larose said. “The most important thing for a grower to remember is to provide proper light, fertilizer and water.”
Depending on their rarity and size, orchids can cost anywhere between $10 and $500 per plant. Unlike other houseplants, which grow with a mix of fertilizer and potting soil, orchids grow in bark and should only be watered once a week. Dennis Westler, also known as the “orchid doctor,” will be on hand at the show to answer questions about keeping orchids healthy.
Growing Orchids in the South Valley
With a little care, certain kinds of orchids grow well in the South Valley. Here are some tips for outdoor and indoor growing.
Outdoors
Summers in inland areas like the South Valley are hot and dry, while winters are much colder than on the coast. Cymbidiums and Australian dendrobiums, two varieties of orchids, can grow outside, but the flowers must be watched carefully so they don’t burn during the summer or freeze during the winter.
Indoors
The varieties that grow well in the house are phalaenopsis, cattleyas, ondidiums, paphiopedilums and dendrobiums. The phalaenopsis and paphiopediliums should be raised in medium light, while cattleyas, dendrobiums and oncidiums like much brighter light.
