The Fascination of Orchids show is a twice-a-year event in Santa Ana, CA. It used to be only once a year inside the oh-so-fabulous South Coast Plaza. It was huge and extremely crowded with the center orchid display going up to 30-, 40- feet high. Although I never counted, I think it might have close to a hundred vendors selling at the show. But for some reason, the Fascination of Orchids changed location. I wouldn’t be surprised if the fire department recommended the relocation due to the fact that it was just impossibly crowded.
Since the relocation, the show became a meager event, relatively speaking. It is still a good show with maybe 15 or 20 vendors, which is all I need to see anyway. It doesn’t excite me too much to see the same type of plant twenty times at different vendors.
I bought this free-flowering orchid Encyclia garciana from Andy’s Orchids. It had a flower and 3 more new growths. I can’t wait till I see another spike.
I also got some potting medium called Orchiata. According to besgrow.com, “Orchiata is a sustainable orchid growing substrate produced from the finest quality, 100% pure New Zealand Pinus radiata bark. Pinus radiata is sourced from renewable, man-made forests ensuring availability into the future.” Besides the green effect, my orchid plants seem to like it quite a bit. Some people mix it with other material, like perlite, since it can get a bit expensive if you just use it straight.
Back to the show, there were about 10 displays in the show area. There weren’t any 30, or 40-foot displays, but the orchids were beautiful nonetheless.
I was fascinated by an orchid vendor from Japan who sold just Neofinetia falcata. While I don’t understand why some of them are sold for $250 when not in flowers, I still appreciate their beauty. I was told that there are some that go up to $2500. That, I will never understand. But I suppose it’s supply and demand – when someone is willing to part with that amount, then there will be a vendor who will supply it at that price. I also admire the gorgeous pots that Neofinetia falcata is grown in.