feb 2015

GARDEN
Orchids as part of your
landscape in South Florida
By Guillermo Salazar
They’re not as hard to grow and maintain as you think
Orchids are very unique flowers with over 30,000
different species distributed around the planet.
Orchids are a very specific family of plants that
produce gorgeous flowers with exquisite and
attractive characteristics. Considered by many to
be the queen of all flowers, orchids are undoubtedly
one of the most interesting botanical subjects
of the century. Orchids are admired and desired
by both novice and professional orchid collectors
and gardeners worldwide. Our own sunny south
Florida is no exception to the rule regarding
orchids, as many people purchase them regularly
in hopes of achieving a good culture.
Orchids can be subdivided into three main different
temperature requirement classifications:
cold-cool, intermediate and warm-hot. These categories
help define the ideal average temperatures
needed by each orchid group to grow successfully.
Prosperous orchids bloom profusely every year
and multiply with consistent root growth.
South Florida is a sub-tropical environment,
and luckily, many of the most beautiful orchids
in the world come from tropical and sub-tropical
areas of the globe like: South Pacific Asia, Africa,
the Caribbean, South and Central America, and
Mexico. The tropical areas of the world are important
for orchids, as many endemic species only
grow in these specific areas where tropical, steady,
warm temperatures are found all year long. The
tropical countries of the world in which orchids
prevail are perfect environments that do not suffer
from marked defined winters and never really
experience low cold temperatures.
Orchids are simply fascinating flowers that come
in a huge diversity of forms and growth habits,
from the more traditional ones that can be found
at home improvement stores like: Phalaenopsis,
Dendrobiums and Cattleyas, to the lesser known
ones that are unique, rare and collectors’ items,
only available for sale at orchid nurseries.
Tropical orchids can be used in many ways, from
cut flowers to simply being grown as a durable
houseplant. A big advantage of growing orchids
in south Florida is that we have a typically warm
climate. For this reason, we can efficiently grow
orchids outdoors, helping us beautify our existing
landscape areas, palm and shade trees. Trees can
be used to anchor orchids or add color by attaching
live orchids that can be strategically wired,
incorporating them as part of existing residential
landscape areas.
Many south Florida residents wrongly think that
orchids inevitably perish after their blooming
cycle ends, which is a myth. Others see orchid
plants as disposable, with no real value after their
blooms fall off. Unfortunately, many orchid plants
end up in the trash without any kind of remorse
or awareness. The main cause of failure at growing
orchids comes from a lack of real knowledge
about how to provide for them successfully.
Sadly enough, orchids have acquired an erroneously
high maintenance reputation because of a
common unfortunate misconception that they
are difficult to keep alive. Orchids can easily be
grown all year long, as long as we provide them
with essential care like watering, fertilization and
pest control. Unlike real tropical warm regions,
our area is actually sub-tropical, thereby exposing
us to cold temperatures that sometimes fall below
freezing. Protecting orchids from cold weather
during winter months is imperative so they do
not perish. Despite their difficult reputation, some
orchid species and hybrids are considered hardy
and extremely low maintenance, so anyone can
grow them.
If you like beautiful orchids, you need not panic.
Delightful and fragrant orchids can grow and
thrive in your homes for years to come. Orchids
can be grown inside the house, outside in a greenhouse
or simply attached to shade or palm trees
- a simple and natural way to grow them. P
Guillermo Salazar, M.S., is a professional landscape
designer & consultant, with degrees in
Environmental Horticulture and landscape design.
He is a certified landscape inspector and ISA Arborist.
Guillermo is also adjunct faculty for the Landscape
Technology Program at Miami-Dade College and
owner of Foliage Expressions LLC.
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FEBRUARY 2015