What's New
Our Staff
Landscape Design
In the Greenhouse
In the Nursery
Gift Shop
Gardener's Calendar
What's Bugging You
Garden Basics
Specials and Coupons
Member's Area
 

ORCHIDS: Exotic Beauties
To Warm The Winter

Orchids are some of the most exotic plants on earth. They display and amazing range of diversity in the size, shape and color of their unique flowers. There is a misconception, however, that these floral treasures are difficult to grow. Not true. More and more gardeners are growing and collecting orchids each year. Provide the essentials and you too can grow orchids easily!

Cattleya
Commonly called the Corsage Orchid
Warm. Large standard varieties bloom once per year. Blooms last about 3 weeks, depending on temperature, watering, humidity, light etc. Miniature varieties can bloom 2-3 times per year. Many fragrant varieties, colors and sizes of flowers.

Cymbiduim
Corsage Orchid
Cool. May require as much as 3-4 minor frosts before they spike in late fall or winter. (Be careful, a frost can vary nightly.) Develops spikes once a year producing numerous blooms per spike. Blooms last up to two months.

Dendrobium
Evergreen
Warm. Spikes can last up to 4 months. Can rebloom 1-4 times per year. Many fragrant varieties, available in many colors.

Deciduous
Cool. Spikes can last for two months. Blooms once a year. Many fragrant varieties, available in many colors.

Oncidium
Dancing Lady Orchid
Warm. Usually blooms once per year and lasts 6-8 weeks. “Sherry Baby” variety smells like vanilla icing.

Paphiopedilum
Lady Slipper Orchid
Cool. Blooms once per year with blooms lasting 6-8 weeks. Very exotic. Repot with a mix that contains charcoal in order to keep the soil sweet.

Phalenopsis
Moth Orchid
Warm. Can continue to spike up to 9 months during the year. Considered the easiest to bloom. Can be grown with as little as 20% humidity.

Perennial Plant of 2012:
Brunnera m.
‘Jack Frost’

This year, with 431 total nominees, the prestigious Perennial Plant of the Year award has been bestowed upon one of last year’s runner ups; Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’.

Description

The heart shaped leaves of ‘Jack Frost’ are dark green with a heavily frosted metallic silver overlay which allow only the green veining to peep through giving the plant a crackle-like finish. Sprays of bright blue forget-me-not like flowers spring forth in mid to late spring.

Use

Excellent in a woodland garden, the genus Brunnera is a group of classic perennials valued as a shade tolerant ground cover. The variegated forms are slower to spread than the species. This plant is fabulous as a specimen plant or may be massed to show off it’s phonomnal floral display. ‘Jack Frost’ would make a wonderful addition to a shady containers garden. The flowers are long-lasting when cut and this plant is deer and rabbit resistant.

Care

Brunnera is a woodland plant that should be grown in full shade and consistently moist soil in southern regions. In the north, morning sun is acceptable as long as the soil remains moist. Although tolerant of many soil types, this plant will grow best rich soil. Little care is needed once Brunnera is established. Cut back the old foliage in the spring rather than in the fall; it will help to protect the crown during the winter. A winter mulch is also recommended.