Have you ever wondered why Orchids remain a favorite with plant lovers everywhere? You are most likely drawn to their flowers in different colors, shapes, sizes, and even scents. Orchids are also marketed as easy-to-grow ornamental plants, and newbies most likely took home a flowering Phalaenopsis orchid (moth orchid) from the local supermarket.
Sean and Nate O’Donnell, twin brothers from Marco Island, are both third-generation orchid growers and started their orchid collection from what their grandfather gave them. Now, their children are learning orchid care and propagation from their grandfather, Tommy O’Donnell.
According to Nate, the oldest orchid in his collection is a Vanda tricolor, which he got as a cutting from his grandfather. When he passed away, he took over the care of the entire plant, which is now over 100 years old. Vanda tricolor displays flowers in three distinct colors – purple, yellow, and white and is native to the forests of Southeast Asia.
Sean also received his first orchid from his grandfather in 2000 and started adding more to his collection. Now he has at least a thousand orchids between his house and the greenhouse he shares with other family members. Sean showed an orchid hybrid growing under a live oak in Nate’s front yard. It is a Renanthera, about 12 years old and about 10 feet high, and is native to the Philippines and Thailand. It is a coastal warm variety and grows well on Marco Island. It likes the salt air, sun, and can take lots of rain, water, and fertilizer.
According to Nate, “the key is picking the right orchid that grows in our environment, and the Renanthera orchid’s original growing habitat is so similar to Marco’s – almost a duplication of the habitat where it came from.”
Nate’s favorite orchids to collect and grow are the Florida native orchids. The live oak in his front yard is filled with a thriving variety of native orchids such as Encyclia tampensis, Flamboyant Mule Ear Orchid (Oncidium karwinskii), Epidendrum nocturnum (very fragrant), and Prosthechea cochleata, commonly known as the Florida clamshell orchid. Mixed in are other non-natives, such as Schomburgkia myrmecophila with its impressive “cow-horn” hollow bulbs
with ants living inside.
Lindsay Boehner, Nate O’Donnell, and Sean O’Donnell with an 18-year-old purple dendrobium growing outdoors in front of Nate’s garage. The plant is exceptional with a prolific flowering habit. Once it bloomed non-stop for four years!
Photos by Maria Lamb
According to Sean, they also have a greenhouse with a lot of propagated orchids and would be happy to recommend orchids that will thrive in Marco’s coastal environment. They have over 25 years of growing experience, and they have plants that they have been propagating for over 100 years.
Bill Gorski of Marco Island is a different type of orchid grower. He calls himself a hybridizer, which to him is the next level of orchid culture. For Bill, the challenge is to develop new hybrids with unique colors and patterns, and the anticipation of seeing what the first bloom seedling flower will look like. His process is highly influenced by the genetic differences of the parents. Hybridizing orchids is a slow and tedious process and takes a lot of patience since the time element from pollination to first bloom can be four to five years. It is an enjoyable hobby to develop and see beautiful flowers.
Lindsay Boehner, also of Marco Island, is an orchid hobbyist and shared a photo of a fragrant Brassavola nodosa (Lady of the Night) orchid she just brought back from Jade Orchids. Florida’s warm and humid climate is a haven for growing orchids, and a colorful blooming orchid inside the pool cage always adds that “exotic” beauty to its location.
Orchids sold from local plant nurseries like Jade Orchids are affordable for beginners and come in many colors. They are stunning house plants with lasting blooms. Before venturing into an outdoor display, seek expert advice on the right orchid to grow for your location and the conditions that it needs. Caution – this hobby can quickly turn into a passion!
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