Growing orchid plants is not difficult. In fact, all it takes is a few simple tips to become a successful grower of orchid plants. Orchids are the largest flowering plant family, with over 25,000 recognized species. Most people associate orchids with tropical climates. But orchids grow on all continents in the world except Antarctica. Native orchid plants grow from the Arctic region to the southernmost tropical forest. I often receive questions such as, “How can I grow an orchid that won’t die?” or “My orchid plant never blooms, what am I doing wrong?” Here are my Top 10 Tips for understanding orchids and growing them successfully. Growing Orchid Plants Tip #1: Identify Your Orchid Variety Orchid varieties, just like people or pets, can have specific needs. Finding out what kind of orchid you have will help you determine what kind of container to use, lighting conditions, necessary humidity and temperatures, and blooming period. Here are some popular types of orchid … [Read more...] about Tips for Growing Orchid Plants
Orchid Garden Pool Landscape
I never expected to design an orchid garden pool landscape. But then I visited a new landscape design client. I quickly realized that just past their front door was a gorgeous swimming pool. How do you landscape a front entrance that’s a pool lanai? Most swimming pools in Florida are surrounded by garden beds with tropical plants on the inside of their screened enclosures. But this pool lanai was surrounded by four bare walls. Deciding on a design theme was easy when I found out my client was an orchid lover. I decided that I wanted to display an orchid garden on the tiled walls. But how to connect them together and take care of them properly and without a lot of maintenance? That part would be a challenge. The Orchid Garden Pool Landscape Design Up to the challenge, I searched for driftwood that would securely hang on the walls. I wanted to attach the various orchid species, tillandsias, bromeliads, and ferns just like they hang from trees in their native … [Read more...] about Orchid Garden Pool Landscape
How to Create a Goth Garden
Halloween marks the beginning of the trifecta of big Fall and Winter holidays. Whether you are into scary gardens, a witch’s medicinal ‘cures and curses’ herb garden, or a Goth garden full of vampires and zombies-- creating a Halloween landscape doesn’t have to be a nightmare. But trends being the way they are, Goth gardens aren't just for Halloween anymore. A sinister-looking Goth garden can be awesome all year long. A Goth Garden and the love of Goth gardening is inspired by the dark, brooding Gothic gardens popular in the Victorian era. Quite simply, a Goth garden suggests a fascination with cemeteries and death. Themes of death and decay dictate the use of black plants. Today, expressing your inner dark side with homemade or store-bought tombstones, gargoyles, flickering lights (no open flames, please) and cobwebs will add drama as uneasy guests make their way to your front door. A Scary Goth Garden Creating a Goth garden is the perfect time to repurpose any lifeless … [Read more...] about How to Create a Goth Garden
