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The 13th Annual International Orchid & Garden Festival

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Here in South Florida, orchids are extremely popular. Not only are they some of the most unique and visually stunning flowers in the world, but our warm and humid climate makes them well suited to thrive in our local environment. This is why we are able to grow them in abundance throughout our estate and is also the reason Evelyn Bartlett was able to collect them so prolifically.

To honor her collection, and accommodate local interest, we host an annual International Orchid & Garden Festival each spring. We are thrilled to once again present our annual International Orchid & Garden Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 2nd and 3rd, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Festival welcomes orchid enthusiasts and plant lovers alike to vividly experience – and purchase – diverse, colorful and fragrant varieties of orchids, tropical plants, herbs, and fruit trees sold by local and international vendors from Thailand, Malaysia, Ecuador, and Hawaii.

This popular event will feature breathtaking orchid displays and over thirty exotic plant vendors from all over the world. Guests can also purchase and view attractive and unusual forms of garden art, and listen to gardening lectures from local growers. Guests can also enjoy a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments, as well as delicious food from local vendors.

Admission for this event is $12 per adult and includes both admission to the Orchid Festival and a self-guided grounds tour. Self-guided house tours are available for an additional $8 and children 12 and under are free. Discounts or group rates do not apply, and there will not be any guided house tours during the festival weekend.

We hope to see you and your loved ones at this year’s 13th Annual International Orchid & Garden Festival. To learn more and purchase tickets in advance, click here.

Orchid Display House

A Complete Guide to Orchid Care

By Bonnet House Blog 3 Comments

At Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, we understand the importance of caring for one’s orchids, sharing South Florida’s history, and the unique natural environment that we call home. Even in a warm, sunny environment like South Florida, orchids can be a challenge to grow and specific techniques vary based on a multitude of factors. We’ll take some time in this blog to highlight some of the basics of orchid care. The first step to basic orchid care is  understanding what type of orchid you want to grow. Each orchid is unique and requires a different balance of sunlight, water and food in order to grow.

The first step is to consider the amount of sunlight your plant will require. Essentially, orchids need just enough sun so that they have somewhat yellow-green foliage and strong, vertical growths. If your orchid is exposed to too much sunlight, the foliage will appear dark green, and will not have the typical strong upright growths.

The roots of your orchid, as well the entire plant will not survive without sufficient exposure to moving air. For this reason, most orchids do not actually grow in soil, with the exception of a few terrestrial varieties. When potting your orchid, your pot should be open with good drainage, but it should still be capable of holding enough moisture to support the plant’s needs. Typically, orchids are intolerant of an environment with little to no airflow. When considering where to keep your orchid, you should ensure that your plant is exposed to gentle air movement at all times. If you are growing your orchid in an indoor environment, you can simply use an overhead fan on a low setting, or a portable oscillating fan that is directed away from the plant.

Watering is the most common issue faced by orchid owners. In order to properly water any plant, you must consider both quantity and frequency. Due to the specific nature of your growing environment and the type of orchid itself, there isn’t an exact answer to how much and how often you should water your orchid. However, the main rule of thumb is to give the plant some water just as it dries out. The most effective way to determine whether or not your orchid has begun to dry out is to insert your finger into the soil and determine the moisture content yourself. This will not cause harm to the plant, and will let you know whether or not it is time to give your orchid some water. When your orchid is ready to be watered, it will require copious amounts. Continue watering your plant until you start to notice water running freely from the drainage holes in the pot. This will not only soak the potting medium, but it will flush away salts that naturally accumulate. At a minimum, be sure to water your orchid at least once a month.

If you care for your orchid properly, it will be able to grow and flower for long periods without the use of fertilizer. However, feeding orchids fertilizer regularly does yield better results. Typically, orchids should be fertilized once a week in the summer and every two weeks during the fall and winter times. Regardless of what brand or type of fertilizer you select for your orchid, most experienced growers recommend that you use no more than one half of the label-recommended strength after you water your plant.

Here, at Bonnet House, we have an orchid curator and orchid care volunteers who maintain the two greenhouses and display house.  The Orchid Display House is part of the house tour.  Visitors can visit the estate and enjoy a self guided tour of the house and grounds, view the beautiful orchids grown throughout the estate and on display in the Shell Museum Complex.  Click here to purchase your tickets.

Orchid Care – Repotting & Mounting plus Combating Pests & Diseases 1pm

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This class will cover all aspects of transplanting with emphasis on techniques and the use of different materials including cork, driftwood, plaques, baskets and mounting on trees. Proper sterilization of tools will also be discussed in order to limit spread of virus to your collection.  Each class is followed by a guided tour of our Orchid Display House as well our Orchid Greenhouses.

Join our orchid curator, Jose Exposito, and his team of orchid care experts on the historic Bonnet House Estate for orchid cultivation classes.  Jose is the founder of Soroa Orchids, senior judge of the American Orchid Society, world renowned speaker including World Orchid Conferences in Brazil and Malaysia. He has been featured in Orchids Magazine, Vogue, Martha Stewart Show, and many other National and International publications.

Tuesday, January 16
9:30 – 11:30 am or 1:00 – 3:00 pm

$30 Member/$35 Non-Member. All class registrations are final and non-refundable.
Register Here!

Orchid Care Basics 9:30am

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Welcome to Orchids 101!  Students will be introduced to the various types of orchids, selection of best locations for growing, and provided an introduction to basic cultivation techniques including watering and fertilization techniques.  Each class is followed by a guided tour of our Orchid Display House as well as our Orchid Greenhouses.

Join our orchid curator, Jose Exposito, and his team of orchid care experts on the historic Bonnet House Estate for orchid cultivation classes.  Jose is the founder of Soroa Orchids, senior judge of the American Orchid Society, world-renowned speaker including World Orchid Conferences in Brazil and Malaysia. He has been featured in Orchids Magazine, Vogue, Martha Stewart Show, and many other National and International publications.

Tuesday, August 6
9:30 – 11:30 am
$30 members / $35 non-members (all sales are final and non-refundable)

Register Here!