By LANNAN M. O’BRIEN
Cypripedium acaule, also known as the pink lady’s slipper.
Small doesn’t always mean insignificant, and the orchid is proof of that: its tiny, dustlike seeds are responsible for producing the second-largest family of flowering plants in the world. This is just one of many reasons why people are drawn to orchids, devoting time and energy to growing them and seeking wild, rare species wherever they bloom. Societies dedicated to orchids span the globe, from Melbourne, Australia to right here on Cape Cod.
For Brian Leib, the co-president of the local group—the Cape & Islands Orchid Society, or CAIOS (pronounced “chaos” with a bit of humor)—his fascination with orchids is all about the blooms. “I like to see what the flowers look like, what the leaves look like,” he said. He spends much of his spare time growing orchids at his Marstons Mills home. “It’s my way to unwind after work,” he said.
Ludisia Discolor, also known as the Jewel Orchid
Mr. Leib’s interest in the plant was piqued while working as an intern at Mount Auburn Cemetery’s greenhouse in Cambridge. He came across the Restrepia cuprea in a Brooklyn Botanic Garden book about orchids—a small flower that, to him, resembles a caricature of a chicken. “I thought it was really funny, and I started to grow it,” he said. From there, he started to grow other types of orchids, including reblooming an Asiatic lady’s slipper, and in his words, became “hooked.”
Today he has a setup at his home that comprises grow light carts for myriad types of orchids (his carts are from Gardener’s Supply, but many companies sell them). “I think I might be up to 100 plants now,” he said. But you don’t have to buy special light fixtures to grow orchids—many types will thrive on your windowsill, or even outside. People often grow them in greenhouses.
Paphiopedilum, also known as Slipper Orchid
But it’s important to remember that “orchid” is a general term that refers to more than 25,000 species. In Massachusetts, Mr. Leib said, there are about 52 varieties of orchids. One that locals will recognize—but might not know is part of the orchid family—is the Cypripedium acaule, or the pink lady’s slipper. If you’re looking for these, Mr. Leib said, you’re sure to find them on a popular bike path: “The largest clump I’ve ever seen of them was on the Falmouth Shining Sea Bikeway,” he said.
Another species that people might grow for years without realizing it is an orchid, Mr. Leib said, is Ludisia discolor, or the jewel orchid. “They grow it for its leaves,” he said, but the plant also blooms tiny, white flowers.
Phalaenopsis, also known as Moth Orchid
Mr. Leib recommends that beginners start with a Phalaenopsis, commonly known as moth orchids, or a Paphiopedilum, referred to as “slipper orchids.” The former is the type of orchids typically sold in the floral departments of grocery stores. When caring for moth orchids, it is often the case that less is more (he calls this “benign neglect”), as overwatering is more likely to harm your plant than underwatering. “Paphs,” on the other hand, require more-frequent watering. “You have to learn a little bit about the plant you’re growing. Some need a cold or a dry period, and some should never have a cold or dry period,” Mr. Leib said.
The CAIOS website (caios.org) can be a helpful resource for novice orchid growers, as it is filled with information on orchid culture, including potting, growing orchids outside, fertilizers and much more. Growers are also welcome to attend a monthly meeting to ask members questions. Had enough of your orchid? That’s okay, too; the society accepts plant donations for its yearly auctions.
Whatever you do, Mr. Leib said, “Be careful. Because once you get into orchids, it’s hard to come back sometimes.”
Orchid Myths
- Your plant didn’t die—it simply finished blooming. Many novice growers become frustrated when their orchid flowers fall off, when really this is nature at work. If you have a moth orchid, for example, you may choose to cut the spike (flower stalk) at the base, or cut the stem and leave two nodes, or growth points. Then wait for your plant to rebloom—but be patient, as it will take weeks or months to flower again.
- Orchids are rarely, if ever, blue. Those vibrant blue orchids you found at the grocery store are most likely dyed, Mr. Leib said. Don’t be surprised when the flowers rebloom white.
- Ice cubes should never be used for watering. There are companies that promote using ice cubes for easy watering of moth orchids. In reality, Mr. Leib said, “They don’t like cold temperatures.” Instead, he recommends letting water come to room temperature before watering.