Information about plants & gardens for Brisbane & Qld
 

 


Garden Orchids



Rather than trying to cover the huge subject of orchids entirely, on this page the emphasis will be on easy-to-grow orchids suitable for the general landscape in Queensland (including Australian native orchids). Given the current need for low-water use plants and plants suitable for small gardens and patios etc, it may be time to explore the potential of orchids as ornamental plants for the regular home gardener.

Consider joining your local orchid society for information as well as shows, displays, meetings, outings or plant sales. Please check the bottom of the page for links.



News about Orchids

Orchid House Welcomes More Visitors

Expansion of the The Orchid House at the Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens has been proclaimed a great success, with visitor numbers growing to over 15,000 people in 2021. The facility was doubled in size in 2019 and additional improvements made in 2021. Source: Visitor numbers on the rise at the Orchid House (February 2022)

Older news items at bottom of page.



Where to buy Orchids in Qld

Some garden centres will carry a limited selection of orchids. For a larger selection look for an orchid specialist in your area, or a mail order or online orchid nursery. Specialists are also likely to stock the pots, baskets, mixes and fertilisers best suited to orchid culture.

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RED FOX ORCHIDS

191 Dances Rd,
Caboolture, Qld
Mob: 0437 937 505
redfoxorchids.com.au

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Red Fox Orchids carries a large range of genera and is always searching the globe for new and interesting varieties for collectors and landscapers.

A selection of bromeliads including Tillandsia is also available, plus a growing range of tropical plants suitable for indoors.

Buy online and have the highest quality plants and orchid-growing supplies delivered right to your door. Red Fox Orchids staff have developed a packing method that gets plants to their destination quickly and in great condition.

The range is constantly changing, so keep an eye on the WEBSITE or send a message if you're looking for something special. You can also arrange an appointment to visit the nursery in person.


As well as orchid nurseries in Qld, mail-order and online suppliers of orchids to Qld may also be listed here. If you're such a business, learn more: Information for advertisers.



More Online Information

The following links are for general information and research - some species or cultivars mentioned in these websites may be unavailable in Australia

Queensland

Many clubs and societies list upcoming events in the Events Diary, so why not see what's on in your area?

Australia
Australia's Native Orchids Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
Growing Orchids in the Garden Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
Orchid Species Society Inc (Natives and exotics)
More than symbioses: orchid ecology, with examples from the Sydney Region Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney (PDF)
West Australian Orchids by Emily H Pelloe, 1930. (A Project Gutenberg of Australia eBook)
My Favourite Rainforest Plants for Containers by David Ratcliffe, Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
Growing Orchids from Seed Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
Virus diseases of orchids Victoria Department of Primary Industries
Cooktown Orchid Dendrobium phalaenopsis Australian National Botanic Gardens (includes story of its selection as Floral Emblem of Queensland)
Australian Floral Emblems - Dendrobium bigibbum Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
Dendrobium speciosum Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney
Establishing Dendrobium Orchids Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
Dendrobium kingianum Post at "Albert's Greenhouse" blog
Black Orchid Cymbidium canaliculatum, at the Toowoomba Plants blog
Black Bootlace Orchid Erythrorchis cassythoides (Galeola cassythoides), at the Toowoomba Plants blog

International
There are a plethora of websites about orchids on the internet. Just go to your favourite search engine and you'll quickly find copious amounts of information.

Crucifix Orchids
This group has a dedicated page on this website: Crucifix Orchids (Epidendrum species and hybrids)



Older News

Mixed Messages From Alluring Orchid

A little-known fact about mosquitoes is that adults of both sexes feed on floral nectar and other plant sugars. Some plants in turn use mosquitoes as pollinators. A Northern Hemisphere orchid called Platanthera obtusata advertises its nectar by emitting an alluring scent. Scientists have found it's a mixture of different odour compounds in exactly the right proportions that does the trick, but some of the components have a repulsive effect in isolation. They also found that one of the repellent chemicals lights up the same parts of the mosquito brain as DEET. An orchid-inspired compound could provide an effective (and better-smelling) alternative for personal insect protection in the future. Source: Mosquitoes are drawn to flowers as much as people - and now scientists know why. (January 2020)

Nitrogen and flowering in Phalaenopsis

A study on the use of nitrogen by Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) shows that adequate nitrogen fertilisation is required at all stages of growth for good flowering. The uptake and use of the nutrient throughout the growth cycle was followed by using the N15 isotope. It was found that a substantial amount of nitrogen taken up by the inflorescence was derived from fertiliser applied during flower development, but that some of the nitrogen applied in earlier vegetative growth stages also ended up in the flower spike. Source: Nitrogen source determined significant for inflorescence development in Phalaenopsis (March 2014)

Night-flowering orchid discovered

The first known night-flowering orchid has been discovered on an island near Papua New Guinea. Even though many other orchids are pollinated by moths, their flowers remain open during the day. In contrast, the flowers of Bulbophyllum nocturnum open after dark and close in the morning. They last only one night. It's pollinator is as yet unknown, but could be a midge. Source: World's first night-flowering orchid is discovered (November 2011)

Rare orchid flowers for 4th time in 40 years

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne's specimen Bulbophyllum fletcherianum has recently flowered for only the 4th time since it was collected in Papua New Guinea in the early seventies. The species is also unusual in that its flowers smell strongly of rotting meat, and it has leaves that grow to almost 1.8 metres long. Source: Rare 'rotting meat' orchid in flower for first time in six years (June 2011)

Mackay orchid house revamp a success

The success of the Mackay Regional Council Orchid House refurbishment has been demonstrated by a flowering of the rare Tongue Orchid (Bulbophyllum fletcherianum). Tongue-shaped leaves growing to almost 1.8 metres make this New Guinea native one of the world's largest growing orchids, while the short-lived flowers have a colour and aroma that attract blowflies and carrion beetles. The Orchid House in Queens Park, Mackay, also house 675 other orchid varieties. Source: Rare orchid thrives in newly refurbished Orchid House (July 2010)


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