So, who knows about Native (to North America) orchids?

16 years ago

So I'm asking myself, what kind of orchid mother am I? My chids (yes, sounds like "kids", I get it) are not doing well in school, are probably on drugs, and have suspicious bruises...I need a chid social worker. You know, someone to come by and "just see how things are going" (quick, hide the bulbs, flush the hormones) ...and they are stressing me out!

So this logically led me to wonder, what's an orchid that would thrive in my environment? What's a good zone 7 orchid? OMG - is there one that might be growing in the woods behind the garden? There is!!! Where can I get a bog orchid? Calopogon Sp.? And what does that mean? does it have to live next to carniverous plants? (I do live in eastern NC) Grass pinks...that the common name. How many have I "weeded" out of the garden?

Just a thought...

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Comments (9)

howard_a
16 years ago
Forget it. All those native species are endangered and therefore collection is illegal. Think you have it bad now? What about when you have a felony conviction on your rap sheet. Your 'chids street cred will go through the roof and the city will take them away because that is when they will truly become uncontrollable. But there is also this: the nanosecond you take a plant into your home any relation to the environment outside ends. Even if you lived in some native orchid paradise when you grow indoors your success or failure possibilities would be no better than someone living in the NorthWest Territories. Obviously this is a slight overstatement but only slight. Obviously growing indoors can be done. It does take some equipment and some deliberation but this isn't because you live in Zone 7 and your orchids would rather have Zone 16. It is because indoors the chief issue isn't temperature its light and that will be an issue whether you live in Zone 16 or in Zone 7.

H
scott361
16 years ago
"All those native species are endangered and therefore collection is illegal."

Excuse me??

What in the world are you talking about?
Is there something that I'm missing here?

Virtually all of our native orchids are available for purchase.
Legally, with certain exceptions.

Numerous members have posted photos of their cultivated natives.
We just had a bunch of great examples of Habenaria photos posted.

I've posted several from my own native collection, as well as wild ones.

At last check, I grow all of these natives.

Calypso bulbosa var occidentalis-
Cypripedium acaule-
Cypripedium californicum-
Cypripedium calceolus var.pubescens-
Cypripedium Reginae-
Elepogon ÂCarson WhitlowÂ(Eleorchis japonica x Calopogon tuberosus)-
Goodyera pubescens-

Most native orchids require certain criteria before purchase.
If you do some research on soil requirements, dormancy, etc and get everything into place, you should have many years of joy.
My own natives are among my easiest and most cherished orchids! :~)

I have files and files on cultivation and sellers.
I tried to post a link last night and GW deleted my whole post! :~(
(I'm still very angry about it, as it's typical and why I hesitated to join here!)

Just do some Googling!
You'll find most of what you're looking for.
Although, many are sold at certain times of the year and not all of the time.
Price is all relative but, some of these aren't cheap and look their best in goupings.

Scott
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wilford
16 years ago
I have been growing several North American native orchids for about 15 years. Two of the easiest are Calopogon tuberosus, and Spiranthes cernua var odorata, and these are readily available, commercially- Calopogons and hybrids from Carson Whitlow, the web master for the Orchid Mall; and Spiranthes from several good garden centers, such as Barry Glick, Sunshine Farm, Rennick, WV; and Roslyn Nursery, Dix Hills, Long Island, NY. These can be grown in pots, placed in a refrigerator or cold frame for their dormant period, and placed outside in the spring.
For pictures and culture notes see Orchids, vol 68, #3, 1999.
howard_a
16 years ago
I agree with you both Wilford and Scott but I couldn't pass up a chance to riff with fatplant, s/he understands I'm sure. Still, nothing either of you said makes temperate zone terrestrial orchids easier indoors than what we already know and grow as orchids.

H
wilford
16 years ago
I just think it is nice to grow a few native orchids, together with all of the others. Also, even though I have a greenhouse, I grow these outside, in pots, and one does not need a greenhouse, windowsills, or lights inside. Makes it easy and available for anyone.
fatplant30
Original Author
16 years ago
Wilford, I completely agree with you. To be honest, I have sadly realized I just don't have what it takes to be an orchid enthusiast. I can learn about them, enjoy them, but I don't have the resources (money, time, space) to grow tropical plants. I may in the future, but for now I'll probably slowly kill the 2 1/2 phals I have and maybe plant some lady slippers in the spring. As for their endangerment, I can see myself growing native orchids just to ensure that they will be around next summer. I live in Wyerhauser country (tree farms) and my whole family is saddened by the very visible effects logging has on our community.
tuezday1
16 years ago
Aside from the plants already mentioned there are also bletilla and habenaria and possibly a few more, depending on how cold your winters are.
orchidaholic
16 years ago
It's very interesting learning about the plants in general that in in you local habitat and further research into you native orchid population can be quite intriguing too. I live in VA and we have over 50 native species of orchids. I think that's the most natives than any other stats! I collect natives for my personal collection and for conservation. Most people here would want to stab me in the face with a hot soldering iron because of that statement... But I only collect from places that are marked off for clear cutting for residential\commercial development! I posted a link to the USDA where you can research about your natives

Here is a link that might be useful: http://plants.usda.gov/dl_state.html
scott361
16 years ago
"...I couldn't pass up a chance to riff with fatplant..."

That was why I asked what I was missing.
Although I've heard a lot of info that I've disagreed with over the years from others, I was baffled at what you were saying.
It didn't sound at all like you! ;~)

"...my whole family is saddened by the very visible effects logging has on our community."
'

I, too, have been horrified at the logging going on around me! :~(
It was all but shut down, until 'shrub' campained his "Healthy Forests" scam up here.
I can be arrested if I collect Cyps, Darlingtonias, etc, but it's acceptable to run over them with a Caterpillar!
Virtually all of the fishing streams are protect from fishing, but it's fine to fill them with silt from the logging runoff.

It's all being sent to Japan anyway and doing the locals no good, especially in the long run.
It's like trying to protect the "Golden Goose" and being out voted by the other geese!:~(

"I collect natives for my personal collection and for conservation."

Good for you!! :~)

I have no problems with responsible stewardship!
Someone has to do it.
Most of the horror seems to come from those that are just professional protesters and don't actually do much.
You do know that 'shrub' has added mining, officially, to the list of forest activities.
I'd rather have logging any day!;~)

If you're interested, I added a link to a set of photos of my local SW Oregon natives that I've found.

Here is a link that might be useful: Native Orchids/Plants

So, who knows about Native (to North America) orchids?

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So, who knows about Native (to North America) orchids?

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