Happy Spring! It is rather ironic that I typed that as the heat came on in our house. Spring is a relative word in Michigan, but if you look outside, the signs of the season are everywhere: lilacs blooming, green grass, tulips, and I saw my first poppy of the year today. In the greenhouse–hey! we […]
The 2015 Collection
***THEY ARE HERE*** The journey was long for all involved, but in the end, there are plants, and they are beautiful. Knowing that some of you are looking for new and unusual varieties, I hand-picked many plants based on their interesting physical characteristics. Neo lovers, you will see gorgeous stripes and some interesting new bean […]
The Plants Are Coming!!
Dear Friends, I hope that you are staying warm and well this frosty February. I have been back in the States a full 24 hours now after a 10-day, action-packed trip to Japan. I feel almost normal. Almost. But I have to tell you, the trip was very fruitful in terms of plants and pots […]
Christmas Break
It’s Christmas time which you might have noticed if you have been to any store since the day after Halloween. I hope that your holiday plans are all going well and your orchids are enjoying a little down time over the winter. I am still collecting pre-orders for Japan, so feel free to send those […]
New World Orchids December Sales List
Happy Holidays, my friends! ‘Tis the season to be jolly, and what makes anyone happier than a new orchid? Not much! To show you that I am in the spirit of giving, too, I am offering free shipping on purchases over $200, and an additional free gift with purchases over $300. Ho, ho, ho! Because the […]
For Neo Neophytes
I just got a question from someone new to Neos (i.e., a Neo neophyte), and I remember answering this question about a month ago, so I thought it would be helpful to post this. The big question is, “Where do I start?” Because most beginners are starting on a strict budget (we’ll see how long […]
Specimen Plants
Specimen plants are so named because they are worthy of special recognition or a place of honor in order to be better seen. The word “specimen” comes from the Latin root “spec-” which means “see” or “look.” “Spec-” gives us other common words like “spectacles” (the better to see you with, my dear) and “spectacular” (looking […]
Pots at a glance
Many of you have expressed interest in the traditional hand painted Japanese pots that we carry. We have many, but it is hard to catalog them all properly with prices, names, etc. In an effort to allow you to at least see some of what we have, I am just posting the pictures here. Also […]
Don’t Bug Me!
Neo lovers are fortunate to collect plants that are relatively safe from bugs and disease. Compare them to Phalanopsis, for example, and Neos are like Superman! I have noticed, however, that there are a few varieties of Neos that seem to be more susceptible to problems. I thought that sharing the names of these more […]
Hybrid Vigor
A hybrid is cross between two species. Generally, Mother Nature disapproves of hybrids–species that are dissimilar genetically may be able to exchange gametes (eggs and sperm), but often they will not produce viable offspring. Plants tend to be much better able to hybridize than animals, though, and in the process we can see a phenomenon […]