A BLOOMING BUSINESS Casualties aside, orchids are currently the largest potted flower business in the U.S., worth about $288 million last year, surpassing poinsettias, once the queen of potted plant sales, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Once considered 74 South Bay Accent ROX COX Miltoniopsis weather is perfect for all kinds of orchids,” says Nguyen. “We can grow anything we want, from hot to cold.” Other popular orchids include cattleyas, lady’s slippers, oncidiums, vandas and dendrobiums. Some people will land on a favorite species and focus on propagating them. That penchant, no surprise, applies to Rogers, who is considered a pioneer in breeding. He was bestowed with one of the greatest honors in the orchid world: the American Orchid Society named a plant after him, the showy and beautiful sobralia rogersiana. “That made my life. I can die anytime,” Rogers says happily. Part of why orchid sales are soaring is their modest cost; for less than the cost of a cut bouquet, buyers can expect to enjoy a dazzling display of flowers for more than a month. However, depending on the rarity of a species, how difficult it is to propagate, or the degree of care needed, orchids can surge in price. As Rogers puts it, “There are orchids, and then there are ‘nice orchids.’” The difference? “About $10,000,” he jokes. COLLECTION OBSESSION Talk to an orchid lover for a while and it becomes apparent that once the bug bites, collecting orchids evolves into an obsession. “I suppose I do have one embarrassing passion,” Orlean wrote. “I want to know what it feels like to care about something passionately.” She is not alone in her fervor for these flowers. Many South Bay collectors graduate to propagating, resulting in overflowing gardens on the verge of taking over entire homes, yards and greenhouses. It’s not unusual for some collectors to amass thousands of plants. Nguyen, who lives near Willow Glen, estimates she has at least 5,000 plants inside her home and greenhouse, and another 6,000 to 7,000 outdoors. Her love of orchids began as a young girl in Vietnam, painting pictures of the orchids her family grew. When she came to the U.S. that she began growing and collecting orchids. Today she volunteers with various local orchid societies, organizes orchid shows and educates the public about her favorite topic. In her business Orchid Designs, she offers orchid arrangements along with website designs that reflect her love of the natural world. Bruce Davidson, organizer of the annual San Jose Orchid Exposition, takes a slightly more moderate approach. He Ready to take your passion for petals to the next level? Our roundup of Bay Area orchid lovers’ resources will keep your hothouse flowers thriving throughout the year. Get Creative Local luminaries and expert growers offer consulting and design services to make your orchid visions a reality. • Angelic Nguyen, Orchid Design, orchidesign.com • Bruce Rogers, brucerogersorchids.com • Barry Zimmerman, bz12345@comcast.net Join the Club Local societies welcome fellow flower enthusiasts to meet and greets, tours and exhibitions. • Gold Coast Cymbidium Growers, goldcoastcymbidiumgrowers.com • Malahini Orchid Society, malahini.org • Peninsula Orchid Society, penorchidsoc.org • San Francisco Orchid Society, orchidsanfrancisco.org • Santa Clara Valley Orchid Society, santaclaravalleyorchidsociety.org • Santa Cruz Orchid Society, santacruzorchidsociety.org Buy and Board Grow your collection and keep your prized plants green between blooms at these specialty shops and floral boarding facilities. • Brookside Orchids, brookside-orchids.com • Melissa’s Orchids, melissaorchids.com a luxury flower, the wholesale price of orchids has dropped by 30 percent since 2004, when Taiwanese imports were first permitted. Sales have increased every year since then. Most of what shoppers find in local stores is the orchid phaleanopsis, affectionately known as “phals” in the orchid world; it’s a Greek word meaning “moth-like,” named for the flower’s shape. Another ubiquitous variety is the cymbidium, which can grow either indoors or out, especially in the Bay Area’s temperate climate. “The California
South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2017
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