Discuss "Orchid Muse" with the Washington Gardener Magazine Garden Book Club

UPDATE: Exciting news! Author Erica Hannickel will be joining us for the book discussion.

For our next Garden Book Club selection, we will be discussing: 

Orchid Muse: A History of Obsession in Fifteen Flowers by Erica Hannickel

You can order it new or used at our Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Yoo42b

or at our Bookshop store: https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9780393867282

In the December 2022 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine, reviewer Jim Dronenburg wrote, "... even if you never intend to have, wear, or grow an orchid, it is a fascinating read." 

Our Fall 2023 club meeting will be on Thursday, November 30 from 6:30-8pm ET via Zoom. 

To join us, register here: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkc-ygrzMiH9z6ekl2ip3wn8PLuyFrG9r9

The Washington Gardener Magazine's Garden Book Club meets quarterly via Zoom and is free and open to all. We will announce the details of each upcoming meeting about two months in advance. Please check back on this blog for schedule updates and announcements.

Want to read ahead? The next book club selections are

• Winter 2023/24 - American Roots by Nick McCullough, Allison McCullough, and Teresa Woodard

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Bletilla Plant Profile

Bletilla Plant Profile

Bletilla (Bletilla striata) is also known as Chinese ground orchid, Urn orchid, or Hyacinth orchid. This beautiful perennial plant is known for its pink, purple, or white flowers that resemble a Cattleya orchid. It is in fact a hardy terrestrial orchid.

It stays in bloom for several weeks in the garden and makes a great cut-flower. This is an easy-to-grow and low-maintenance plant. When not in bloom, the plant has elegant tall, accordion-pleated foliage to admire.

Bletilla prefers to be planted in well-draining soils amended with composted material. Give it a top dressing of shredded leaves in spring and fall. It likes consistent moisture but not to sit in wet ground. It does well in part shade out of the harsh afternoon sun.

It is hardy to USDA zones 5-8 and it is reported to be deer-resistant.

Bletilla forms clumps over time that can be divided and moved around the garden. Plant them shallowly (about one to three inches in depth). It is best to buy mature plants. If you purchase them from bare-root pseudobulbs, note that a new planting can take two to five years to bloom.

Bletilla: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Video, audio, and text by Kathy Jentz

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GardenDC Podcast Episode 15: Orchids, Insects, and Hummingbirds

Carol Allen

This episode, we have a wide-ranging conversation with plantswoman Carol Allen about Orchids, Insects, Hummingbirds, and more. The plant profile is on Common Milkweed and I share why gardening has real value.

BTW, YOU can become  a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!See how at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/support. 

The episode is posted at: 
https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/episodes/June-13--2020---Orchids--Insects--and-Hummingbirds-ef9r08

It is also available on -

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardendc/id1502631179

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AsWArNpQo8OlzHoMDMSI8

• RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/gardendc-G2ql5V

• Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/gardendc

• PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk

• Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1502631179/gardendc

• Google Podcasts at this link, either now or soon (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices)

We welcome your questions and comments!

You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

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Orchid Spectrum exhibit at U.S. Botanic Garden

The U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) presents Orchid Spectrum running through April 8, 2018. This annual orchid exhibit, in partnership with Smithsonian Gardens, highlights the world's largest plant family and the USBG's most extensive plant collection.  

Found on every continent except Antarctica, orchids showcase a wide spectrum of diversity in color, shape, size, habitat, scent, and many other aspects. Explore thousands of amazing orchid blooms arranged in captivating displays, and appreciate many unique, rarely seen orchids from the USBG's and Smithsonian Gardens' extensive plant collections.  

The exhibit celebrates orchids through a large orchid arch filled with over 700 orchids, a hanging curtain of colorful orchids overhead, a large orb made from 90 orchid plants, more than 1,000 orchids mounted vertically on palms and columns in the Tropics house. Throughout the Conservatory, discover stories such as orchid fragrances from enticing to grotesque, the diversity of orchid habitats, conservation of rare and endangered orchids, the spectrum of North American native orchids, modern orchid growing techniques, and more. 

During Orchid Spectrum, the U.S. Botanic Garden will offer orchid-themed programs and activities for adults and children, including orchid care demonstrations and workshops, art and photography workshops, lectures on orchid diversity, conservation, and more. Visit www.USBG.gov/OrchidSpectrum to learn more about the exhibit and associated programs. 

The U.S. Botanic Garden is open to the public, free of charge, every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Conservatory is located at 100 Maryland Ave. SW, on the southwest side of the U.S. Capitol. Visitors are encouraged to use Metrobus and Metrorail. More information is available at www.USBG.gov.

View more photos from the exhibit here on our Facebook page.

Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchids: You Can Grow That!

It is a myth that all orchids are necessarily hard-to- grow, expensive, and are only safe in the hands of experienced gardeners. The most commonly available orchids are the Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchids. These so-called “grocery store” orchids are tolerant of the conditions inside most homes and make ideal “beginner” plants for first-time orchid growers. They are also quite inexpensive now due to cloning or tissue-culture reproduction, which has really brought down the prices of these plants in the last decade.

They have long-lasting blooms, often going for several months. The height of their natural bloom season is from November through March, but you will find them for purchase forced into bloom at all times of the year.

Phalaenopsis orchids need lots of air movement, even moisture, and several hours of indirect (but bright) sunlight each day. Avoid direct sunlight, which is too harsh for them.

They prefer temperatures no lower than 60 and not much higher than 85 degrees. They dislike sudden temperature changes. Cold temperatures will cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop. If this occurs, remove the yellow foliage and continue caring for the plant normally.

Water them when dry and allow the soil to dry out between watering.  The plant uses more water when it is in flower. However, it does store moisture in its canes, and can withstand short dry periods. Add a weak solution of liquid orchid fertilizer to the water, but cut that back during its blooming time.

And whatever you do, don’t add ice! Despite what the marketers tell you, these tropical plants do not appreciate freezing cold water on their root zones.

Repot them every year or two in a slightly larger pot and use a potting mix specifically formulated for orchids. Your orchids will also appreciate a “summer vacation” outside in a lightly shaded spot, just remember to bring them inside before a frost.

For more about orchid care, visit the National Capital Orchid Society at www.ncos.us, the Maryland Orchid Society at www.marylandorchids.org, or the Virginia Orchid Society at www.vaorchidsociety.org.

To see other videos in our Plant Profile series., go to:
~ Japanese Anemones - click here
~ Asters - click here
~ Toad Lily- click here
~ Pink Muhly Grass - click here

All who are involved with You Can Grow That! (YCGT!) believe that plants and gardening enhance our quality of life. We want people to be successful with what they grow and to become more aware of the many gifts that horticulture brings. Find out more at http://www.youcangrowthat.com/.

Video Wednesday: How to Properly Water Orchids

Tom Mirenda of Smithsonian Gardens shares tips how to properly water your orchids.

Video Wednesday: Orchid Potting

Carol Allen of Behnke Nurseries demonstrates how to re-pot or pot-up an orchid.

Lewis Ginter Orchid Show Winners

Our February 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest winners are:
~ Judy Thomas
~ Madeline Caliendo
~ Judith Daniel
~ Janet Benini

Janet said, "My favorite orchid is the purple paleopsis that I've had for 6 or 7 years. This year it has THREE spikes with a total of 16 blossoms (so far). It's in a window with a plant light above and a humidifier nearby and seems to be very happy!  Thanks for the great work you do. I always look forward to receiving my Washington Gardener."


Judy T. noted, "Naming my favorite orchid is like naming my favorite child, near impossible. But I will share an orchid that I find fascinating, that I have never seen except in photographs: the ugly, Warty Hammer Orchid: it has an impossibly cool pollen-delivery method. I learned about it though John Alcock's An Enthusiasm for Orchids' Sex and Deception in Plant Evolution 2006, Oxford University Press."

They each receive two passes (valued at $44) to Orchids Galore! at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, VA. Orchids Galore! running from March 10 - April 22. Hundreds of orchids will dazzle the senses with color, fragrance and beauty throughout the Garden’s Conservatory. Discover how orchids traveled from native habitats to become a popular fixture in many homes, including tales of plant explorers who traveled far and wide to collect these enchanting plants. Learn about current issues related to conservation and saving wild orchids threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and over-collection.

Win Tickets to Orchids Galore! at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

For our February 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away two sets of four passes each to Orchids Galore! at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, VA. Orchids Galore! runs from March 10 - April 22.

Hundreds of orchids will dazzle the senses with color, fragrance and beauty throughout the Garden’s Conservatory. Discover how orchids traveled from native habitats to become a popular fixture in many homes, including tales of plant explorers who traveled far and wide to collect these enchanting plants. Learn about current issues related to conservation and saving wild orchids threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and over-collection.

To enter to win one of the four sets of two passes (valued at $40), send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on February 29 with “Orchids Galore” in the subject line and tell us: what is your favorite orchid. In the body of the email, please also include your full name and mailing address. The winner will be announced and notified by March 2.