Wednesday, 28 March 2012
A Visit to Parkside Orchids
Garden club meeting today. We're gathering at Parkside Orchids at 2503 Mountainside Drive in Ottsville, Pennsylvania to hear a lecture on repotting orchids, stroll through their greenhouses filled with exquisite orchids, and - oh yes - have the opportunity to purchase orchids and supplies. Joan and I carpooled, and agreed we'd get there ahead of the scheduled meeting start time for that crowd-free photo opportunity.
They have the most immaculate greenhouses I have ever visited. Impeccable. And the plants reflect the
attentive care they receive. Clean leaves, perfect flowers, unobtrusive support from staking where its
needed. Orchids in pots. In hanging baskets. Miniatures on cork bark hung from lattice. And humidity
is well provided, as displayed by the great long beards of Spanish moss dangling hither and yon.
Another greenhouse, a different bench, this one filled with a precise display of Miltonia orchids.
Hanging basket with a pink moth orchid, Phalaenopsis. Elegant, indeed.
Tohickon Garden Club members began to arrive and also wandered in to the three greenhouses.
. . . . . 
I was so entranced that I didn't make note of names. The two above are Cattleya Alliance, but blessed if I can
tell you their names. And I can't even tell you that much for the two below. Can say they are just stunning.
. . . . 
.
But I do know that this one is a Vanda.
Tom Purviance, one of the owners of Parkside Orchids, gave us a lucid,
thorough, entertaining and informative lecture about potting orchids.
Sterilize equipment to avoid transmitting disease such as a virus from
one plant to another. A propane torch works very well for this purpose.
Repot yearly, whether you use sphagnum or orchid bark mix. Avoid the chain store "orchid bark"
as it's one size fits all. Parkside Orchids sells mixes tweaked for phalaenopis, adjusted for cattleyas,
specifically for paphiopedilums. Also sphagnum for them what likes it. Translucent plastic pots. Etcetera.
Clean off all the old potting material. Dunk the roots in water to flush off the last fragments and hydrate the roots. Watering is critical for orchids. Better too little than keeping them soggy but when you do water, water thoroughly. The gray-looking exterior of the roots will absorb water like a sponge and green up. Now look them over - the roots that is.
Most of the time roots need no trimming. If they do, use your disinfected, sterilized scissors.
Firm potting is a must. Finger pressure won't do. Tom uses a potting stick made from a short length of
broom handle, one end shaved down but not to a sharp point. Tamp. Tamp. Tamp some more. When done
he was able to lift the newly potted orchid by its old, trimmed back flower spike. Note the month and year
on the label, water, and you're done with that one. Resterilize scissors and move on to the next orchid.
An excellent outing enjoyed by everyone who attended. Should you want to visit yourself, remember that Parkside Orchids is open to the public on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and by appointment. You'll be in good company. They provide the orchids for the New York Botanical Garden's shop in the garden (where the orchid show is open through April 22) Cannot get to Parkside or NYBG? Parkside has mail-order and orchids for everyone from novice to expert. You don't have to be Nero Wolf to love orchids.