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When you enter the world of orchid growing, you’ll certainly hear the word “species”.Species (noun) 1. “The fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus. Species names are represented in binomial nomenclature by an uncapitalized Latin adjective or noun following a capitalized genus name.” (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.) One of our favorite examples is the Cattleya wa… Read more

Sooty mold is a collective term for different Ascomycete fungi that affects various plants including orchids. By itself, this black, soot-like coating on leaves is not a direct threat and does little if any harm to the plant. The fungus itself merely blocks sunlight, and very rarely may stunt a plant's growth and cause foliage to yellow.Sooty mold is primarily a cosmetic problem in most gardens and plant collections.Treatment is necessary when th… Read more

Just imagine, months have passed since you've enjoyed the flowers from your first orchid and you begin to see new growths. That burst of joy and excitement tends to come with the question: “Is it a spike or a root?!”So, as a new grower you ask, how can you tell the difference between a spike and a growth? What characteristics should you look for?The answer basically comes down to the shape and location.Orchid SpikesWe cannot argue that some of ou… Read more