Orchids in Alaska??
 

Here's a question for any of you who might know. My
husband recently spent a few days in Alaska and men-
tioned that he didn't see any orchids anywhere. We've
been discussing the reasons for different things he
noticed (a more 'weathered' appearance of buildings
and roads, lots more rusted out vehicles, not many
buildings over 3 or 4 floors, etc.,) and I got to
thinking about the special problems someone would have
with trying to grow orchids in Alaska. A few would
be:

1. How to get them up there? At least, any quantity
of them. One or two you could carry on the plane with
you, but as far as shipping a large batch of them,
it would be logistically a nightmare, wouldn't it?

2. How to maintain them once they're there. Keeping
a outdoor greenhouse going (at least of the wood
frame/plastic type) that would do the job would also
be a nightmare, right? And the long winters would
require lots of augmentation of light and heat.

I said a few, but I can only think of a couple right
now. Anyone know anyone who raises orchids in Alaska?

Tracey

Orchids in Alaska??
 

I have several customers in Alaska, and as far as I know, all grow indoors
under lights.

Shipping is no problem once you add heat packs - same as I do for pretty
much all of the continental US all winter.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!

.. . . . . . . . . . .
"Tracey" wrote in message
...
Here's a question for any of you who might know. My
husband recently spent a few days in Alaska and men-
tioned that he didn't see any orchids anywhere. We've
been discussing the reasons for different things he
noticed (a more 'weathered' appearance of buildings
and roads, lots more rusted out vehicles, not many
buildings over 3 or 4 floors, etc.,) and I got to
thinking about the special problems someone would have
with trying to grow orchids in Alaska. A few would
be:

1. How to get them up there? At least, any quantity
of them. One or two you could carry on the plane with
you, but as far as shipping a large batch of them,
it would be logistically a nightmare, wouldn't it?

2. How to maintain them once they're there. Keeping
a outdoor greenhouse going (at least of the wood
frame/plastic type) that would do the job would also
be a nightmare, right? And the long winters would
require lots of augmentation of light and heat.

I said a few, but I can only think of a couple right
now. Anyone know anyone who raises orchids in Alaska?

Tracey

Orchids in Alaska??
 

Tracey,

Are you spending a few days in Alaska or are you living there? Alaska
is blessed with some beautiful Cypripediums (slipper orchids) or
moccasin flowers to those in the midwest. For a vicarious experience of
the Alaska orchid, you might take a look at WILD ORCHIDS ACROSS NORTH
AMERICA by Philip E. Keenan. No, I, too, spend three weeks driving the
Alaska highways from Valdez to Nome, visiting the Alaska State Fair in
Palmer (near Ankorage) and did not see a single orchid -- it depends on
the time of year -- (loved Fairbanks) and mainly spent tracing the route
of the Aleyeska Pipeline.

.. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tracey wrote:

Here's a question for any of you who might know. My
husband recently spent a few days in Alaska and men-
tioned that he didn't see any orchids anywhere. We've
been discussing the reasons for different things he
noticed (a more 'weathered' appearance of buildings
and roads, lots more rusted out vehicles, not many
buildings over 3 or 4 floors, etc.,) and I got to
thinking about the special problems someone would have
with trying to grow orchids in Alaska. A few would
be:

1. How to get them up there? At least, any quantity
of them. One or two you could carry on the plane with
you, but as far as shipping a large batch of them,
it would be logistically a nightmare, wouldn't it?

2. How to maintain them once they're there. Keeping
a outdoor greenhouse going (at least of the wood
frame/plastic type) that would do the job would also
be a nightmare, right? And the long winters would
require lots of augmentation of light and heat.

I said a few, but I can only think of a couple right
now. Anyone know anyone who raises orchids in Alaska?

Tracey

Orchids in Alaska??
 

Xref: kermit rec.gardens.orchids:49476

Interestingly, this has come up before. I corresponded with a
woman that wanted to bring her orchids with her, and I asked about the
logistical issues of taking orchids through Canada to Alaska. Her reply
was archived in the orchid FAQs back in 1997. It may be found he

http://members.cox.net/lmlauman/osp/...ds_alaska.html

I think others have covered *how* they are grown pretty well; if
you want more info, you might contact the Alaska Orchid Society in
Anchorage:

http://communitynews.adn.com/main.wsi?group_id=635
http://user889628.wx10.registeredsit...e.asp?state=AK

There's also the Orchid Patch, which is a commercial grower and
supplier in Anchorage:

http://orchidpatch.alaska.net/

Cheers,

-AJHicks
Chandler, AZ

Orchids in Alaska??
 

There is a grower in Alaska who advertises on Ebay selling Masdevallia etc
that she grows on her back patio during the "summer" (which would grow on my
patio during the winter). I was a little surprised. Her pictures were great
and shipping under 1 Lb USPS Priority was the same as for anywhere else in
the US. Actually her charges were lower than many others in the continental
US. You obviously can do what you want if you really want to.

"Tracey" wrote in message
...
Here's a question for any of you who might know. My
husband recently spent a few days in Alaska and men-
tioned that he didn't see any orchids anywhere. We've
been discussing the reasons for different things he
noticed (a more 'weathered' appearance of buildings
and roads, lots more rusted out vehicles, not many
buildings over 3 or 4 floors, etc.,) and I got to
thinking about the special problems someone would have
with trying to grow orchids in Alaska. A few would
be:

1. How to get them up there? At least, any quantity
of them. One or two you could carry on the plane with
you, but as far as shipping a large batch of them,
it would be logistically a nightmare, wouldn't it?

2. How to maintain them once they're there. Keeping
a outdoor greenhouse going (at least of the wood
frame/plastic type) that would do the job would also
be a nightmare, right? And the long winters would
require lots of augmentation of light and heat.

I said a few, but I can only think of a couple right
now. Anyone know anyone who raises orchids in Alaska?

Tracey

Orchids in Alaska??
 

Aaron Hicks wrote:
........................ I corresponded with a
woman that wanted to bring her orchids with her, and I asked about the
logistical issues of taking orchids through Canada to Alaska. Her reply
was archived in the orchid FAQs back in 1997. It may be found he

http://members.cox.net/lmlauman/osp/...ds_alaska.html


Wow, an interesting story there! I can't imagine making TWO trips to
Alaska from Pennsylvania. I think I would have found another way.
I might have mailed the orchids and had them be waiting when I got
there. Well, at least some of them. I don't think I would take my entire
collection and risk loosing them all with trouble at the border.

Steve

Orchids in Alaska??
 

Thanks for the comments on my OP. When my husband
traveled to Okinawa, he saw orchids everywhere, when
he was in Alaska he saw *none*. (He isn't even par-
ticularly interested in orchids, I've just trained
him well. :) ) We were discussing the difference in
how Fairbanks looked and orchids was one of the things
he mentioned.

As for Pam and her comment:

Are you spending a few days in Alaska or are you living
there?

Are you *crazy*???? Hehe. I can't think of *anything* that
would get me to willingly move from Hawaii to Alaska. No,
my husband spent four or five days in Alaska and the sub-
ject was something that I started wondering about.

Tracey

Orchids in Alaska??
 

Mahalo Tracey, we need you over in the post 9/12/03 "Cut back the Phal to
where?"
See Attn: Tracey- We are trying to figure out the correct way to pronouce
"keiki"
Cheers Wendy
"Tracey" wrote in message
...
Here's a question for any of you who might know. My
husband recently spent a few days in Alaska and men-
tioned that he didn't see any orchids anywhere. We've
been discussing the reasons for different things he
noticed (a more 'weathered' appearance of buildings
and roads, lots more rusted out vehicles, not many
buildings over 3 or 4 floors, etc.,) and I got to
thinking about the special problems someone would have
with trying to grow orchids in Alaska. A few would
be:

1. How to get them up there? At least, any quantity
of them. One or two you could carry on the plane with
you, but as far as shipping a large batch of them,
it would be logistically a nightmare, wouldn't it?

2. How to maintain them once they're there. Keeping
a outdoor greenhouse going (at least of the wood
frame/plastic type) that would do the job would also
be a nightmare, right? And the long winters would
require lots of augmentation of light and heat.

I said a few, but I can only think of a couple right
now. Anyone know anyone who raises orchids in Alaska?

Tracey