March 19, 2004

Back to the table of Contents Page

Classifieds

Palo Alto Online

Just another houseplant?

by Ann Duwe

P athiopedilum, phragmipedium, sophronitis -- they sound like diseases but are in fact the botanical names of beautiful orchids you could grow at home. These plants, like the more familiar cymbidiums, cattleyas and phalaenopsis, are hardier than you think. Given a few essentials, they adapt from the wild and settle comfortably indoors.

Just ask Betty Lee, who has been growing orchids in Los Trancos Woods for 50 years.

Orchid enthusiasts have a chance to see Lee's orchid collection and learn the basics from her during "Orchids Galore," a field trip sponsored by Gamble Garden Center on Thursday, March 25.

"Light is the key to success," Lee said, welcoming visitors into her entryway. The paneled walls are hung with pots, each one showcasing a spectacular flower form.

There are ruffled corsage-style orchids in shades of magenta and white, tiny red triangular blooms on fragile stems and enormous lady slippers with green and burgundy stripes. Pots of ferns line the walk.

The entryway faces north and was not originally designed for plants, but Lee had an opaque skylight installed to give the space more light. Whether in the greenhouse or inside her own house, she puts the varieties needing the most light at the top and fills in below them with shade-tolerant orchid varieties or ferns.

"Never water after noon," Lee said, especially if the plants are outdoors or in an unheated greenhouse. Orchids need time to dry off before the temperature drops for the evening. She heeds this advice even with plants that are indoors.

She also avoids letting the water pool up in the internal notches of the plants. Sometimes she tips the pots slightly to approximate the orientation the plant would have if it were attached to a tree in the forest.

Another aspect of Lee's care is that she removes spent flowers immediately. "Dead flowers give off ethylene, which makes the other flowers fade," she explained. "It smells a little like dead apples."

Lee's open kitchen faces a greenhouse addition with plant benches at either end. A magical display of flowering orchids are arranged in tiers. On the kitchen island is a large potted stenorrhynchos -- an orchid with 20-inch feathery orange spikes and variegated deep green leaves. This plant won a first-place prize at last year's San Francisco Orchid Society Show.

"I don't grow orchids competitively," she said modestly. "Someone else took the plant to the show, and, surprisingly, it won."

Hanging in the kitchen greenhouse is a relative of the very first orchid Lee received. Like many plants that found their way to her home, this one was given to the Lees by one of her husband Huey's grateful patients. The occasion was the birth of their daughter Phyllis. The plant, a leilia, was presented by someone who worked for Rod McLellan Company. This was the plant that launched a lifetime of interest in orchids.

"Always water first, before you fertilize," Lee said. She admits there are other ways of doing things, though her routine has proved successful over and over. She waters and fertilizes once per week, not because orchids demand such regular attention but because she enjoys the routine.

She even fertilizes plants while they are in bloom. Lee has experimented with various fertilizers and admits that several things will work. Her favorite, by far, is a liquid called Jerry's Grow, available over the Internet.

Learning when to re-pot orchids requires some experience, and like other aspects of orchid culture, there is a bit of intuition involved, according to Lee. Generally, one can wait until the plant outgrows its container.

Lee recommends using a clean kitchen knife or a clean razor blade to cut off dead roots. "Always wash your hands after handling a plant," Lee said. "Viruses spread very easily if you're not careful."

She pots orchids in coir, coconut hulls chopped into particles ranging in consistency from something akin to dry oatmeal to chips large enough to walk on. Her cymbidiums, many of which live outside, are potted in redwood mulch. She keeps a ticket in each pot, noting the variety and other important information such as the date of acquisition, the source of the plant or when it was last divided.

Next to the watering hose in her kitchen greenhouse is a spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol. Lee sprays often to get rid of mealybugs or any other threats to healthy plants.

The orchids in Lee's house come from one of her two outdoor greenhouses, small rooms built by family members. Though they stand side by side, she maintains slightly different climates in each. One is more tropical; neither is heated, and both have very good light. Once a plant sets buds, Lee moves it into the house to watch the drama unfold.

In her experience large, white orchids are the easiest to grow. Colored ones are a bit harder. "Nowadays orchids are so inexpensive, there's no point in struggling to revive one that's failing. Just replace it," she said.

The Nurseryman's Exchange in Half Moon Bay is an excellent source of high-quality plants of many varieties, said Lee, who also recommends Ladera Garden Center as a source of good orchids.

"There are enormous benefits to belonging to an orchid society such as the Peninsula Orchid Society in Redwood City," she added.

Learning from members and sharing what you know is a way of life for Lee, a founding member of Western Horticultural Society who is active with Gamble Garden. She is looking forward to passing on her orchid lore at this Thursday's visit to her home.

Dendrobium, miltonia, vanda -- the names are exotic and difficult, but for Betty Lee they are as easy as any other houseplant.

What: Orchids Galore field trip to see Betty Lee's large collection and learn the secrets of her success When: Thursday, March 25, 9:30 a.m. to noon Where: Meet at Gamble Garden Center, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto to carpool Cost: $15 for members, $20 for non-members, limit 20 participants Info: For reservations, call Gamble Garden at (650) 329-1356, weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.