Orchid exhibit might tempt you to grow your own

It’s difficult to walk through the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s “Orchid Daze: Gorgeous Meets Glass” exhibit opening Saturday and not be bitten by the orchid bug. With their graceful curving stems, electric colors and delicate buds seemingly suspended in air, orchids entice many an unsuspecting person into ownership.

But bring them home and you’ll likely discover what the rest of us have: They are too much drama. The tempestuous little beauties don’t like too much sun, but don’t want to be hidden in the shadows. They need some moisture, but a healthy watering can be torture. Don’t even try to use potting soil; the plants accustomed to living under trees prefer moss or a special orchid bark mix.

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JESSICA McGOWAN/jmcgowan@ajc.com

Beallara Marfitch ‘Howard’s Dream’ and a glass sculpture by Stephen Powell are on display at the Atlanta Botanical Garden during its ‘Orchid Daze: Gorgeous Meets Glass’ exhibit.

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JESSICA McGOWAN/jmcgowan@ajc.com

Becky Brinkman, orchid curator at the garden, gives advice on how to care for her orchid.

EXHIBIT PREVIEW
"Orchid Daze: Gorgeous Meets Glass"
• Feb. 7-April 5, Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. Tickets: adults, $12; seniors and children ages 3 to 17, $9; free for children under 3 and garden members. 404-876-5859, atlantabotanicalgarden.org
• Clinic: Orchid experts are on hand 10 a.m.-noon the first Saturday of each month to answer questions and repot your orchid (suggested $5 donation).

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Indeed, there seems a magic combination of love and neglect for orchids to thrive, and this garden writer hasn’t found it.

Luckily, the doctor is in at the Atlanta Botanical Garden during “Orchid Daze,” mixing the country’s largest permanent collection of the flowers, plus some special hybrid blooms, with 50 pieces of contemporary art glass in varying shapes, electric colors and funky textures.

Knowing that the orchid care formula is hard for many novice owners to find, the garden offers an orchid care clinic the first Saturday of every month during the show, continuing through April 5.

So with my two surviving oncidium-types in tow, I got a sneak peek of the clinic with orchid curator Becky Brinkman. But before assessing why I’m a bad orchid mother, Brinkman sought to dispel my stigma.

“There’s a whole high-maintenance aura around orchids that intimidates people, but I don’t think it’s justified,” she said.

Tell that to the shriveled moth orchid I just dumped in the trash, I thought.

But maybe’s she right. After all, the trained horticulturist has about 10,000 orchids of countless species thriving under her watch at the Fuqua Orchid Center.

The good news first: My orchids are alive, even showing new growth. New growth means a chance the plant may reflower.

Further, Brinkman said, I’m using the right bark, though my pots are too small. I’m not overwatering, but my plants are slightly thirsty. And those leaf spots? They can happen to the healthiest of orchids, she said. Just consider them as freckles.

“I think your orchid is going to be fine if you get it repotted soon,” she advised.

That I’ll do, but not before studying her tips for orchid survival:

1) Buy the bark: You may buy an orchid potted in a peat moss-based potting mix, but that can hold too much moisture for an orchid’s liking. Brinkman advises that once the flower fades, repot your plant in orchid bark. Look for one made of fir bark, as pine is bad for orchids, and soak the bark overnight before potting your plant. Some people use premium moss — not decorative moss — with success, but it can be hard to find, she said.

2) Size it up: Choosing the right pot makes a big difference for an orchid’s mood. My smaller oncidium was placed in too small a ceramic pot for its roots, leaving little room for orchid bark. Brinkman said to find one in which the roots make contact with the pot without being cramped. An oversized pot is as bad as too small. “They like to feel the pot under their roots,” she said. “And if it wobbles in the pot, it’s going to have trouble getting established.” Also note you’ll likely need to re-pot every two years.

3) Consider light: This may be the trickiest portion of orchid care, as the varying types have different light requirements. Phalaenopsis, or “moth orchids,” generally tolerate low light, she said. My oncidium types, however, are best in brighter light. Most importantly, Brinkman stressed, is to gradually introduce orchids to brighter light. Before moving an orchid from a shady room to a bright spot, move it closer to the light each week.

Don’t place your orchid in any place you would get a sunburn. Brinkman adds that if the leaves of the orchid are ever hot, you know it’s time to find a new spot.

4) Drench and dry: The No. 1 killer of orchids is too much water, Brinkman said. Make sure when watering that the roots aren’t sitting in water; rather, good drainage is key. Only water when the orchid bark has dried out, resulting in a lighter color. Water even less frequently when the orchid has stopped flowering. Ceramic or plastic pots hold in moisture longer, whereas clay pots may need to be watered more often.

Fertilize once a month when watering with a quarter-strength of fertilizer.

5) Humidity matters: Don’t waste your time spritzing your orchid with a fancy mister, Brinkman said. The plants that thrive in tropic climates do well with humidifiers or even a saucer holding rocks and water at their base.

Still wary? Take “Orchid Daze” exhibition manager Cathleen Cooke’s advice: Treat that orchid you bought at the grocery store as a cut flower.

For a typical price of $17.99, enjoy it while it lasts — guilt-free.