Get Ready for the 2025 Virginia Orchid Society Show and Sale
The Virginia Orchid Society (VOS) is returning to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for their 2025 Show and Sale, A Taste for Orchids. A year in the making, this multi-day event features hundreds of orchids on display and for sale, free lectures for both beginner and advanced growers, orchid vendors, activities, and more.
“The VOS orchid show is an American Orchid Society (AOS) sanctioned show,” says Virginia Orchid Society President, Irina Neverova. “That means the team of AOS judges will be choosing the best orchids in each class for ribbon awards and the exceptionally flowered plants will be judged for coveted AOS awards, which are recognized worldwide. What does it mean for the visitors to the show? That the level of quality plants and the variety are a few notches up compared to the selection at the Garden centers.”
photo by Tom Hennessy
The Garden has been a proud partner of the Virginia Orchid Society for more than 35 years (read about our long-running partnership here). To celebrate this year’s show, we asked four VOS members to share how they first developed their passion for orchids, their favorite varieties, and the best tips and tricks for orchid care:
Robert Rand
Hometown: Ashland
First fell for orchids when: “I was invited to the Massachusetts Orchid Society show by a friend in 1985. I always loved gardening and growing indoor plants but the beauty, fragrance and diversity blew me away. I bought one at the show and have had [orchids] ever since. I now keep about 100.”
Favorite orchid variety: “Cattleya hybrids, but only barely, because Brassavola (which emit a fragrance at night) and Phalaenopsis (also known as a moth orchid, which lasts for months) are also favorites. I am drawn to showy orchids with strong fragrances.”
Best advice for beginners: “Start with a Phalaenopsis or two and then add a compact Cattleya hybrid, or something from the Oncidium Alliance family (many orchid growers are in love with Baggy Baby Better-Gro orchids from Lowes). My only caution is that if you buy something in the Cattleya hybrid family, don’t expect it to bloom any sooner than 3 years! From seedling to flowering can take 7 years. Too many beginners loose motivation because their orchid hasn’t bloomed. They don’t realize that it isn’t old enough yet. Your best bet is to buy one already in flower, usually at a show.”
photo by Tom Hennessy
Deborah Fox
Hometown: Spotsylvania
First fell for orchids when: “I had gotten a couple Phalaenopsis orchids as birthday presents. They grew and flowered on my east-facing windowsills through two moves over 5 years, so I decided I must have the formula down. But, I learned that east windows [don’t offer] enough light to bloom Cattleyas and all the other windows in my home were shaded. So, I created a grow room under LED lights in my basement with the grower’s guidance. Within three weeks of the plants going into the grow room, they were in spike and within 6 weeks they were blooming! Now I have about 70 Cattleyas, 31 Lady Slippers, 3 Miltoniopsis, 5 Mini-Phals and 1 Variegated Dendrobium.”
Favorite orchid variety: “Cattleyas are by far the show stoppers. [One of mine] won Best Cattleya in Show at last year’s event!”
Best advice for beginners: “The first for growing just about any orchid is don’t overwater. Second is repot it every 2-3 years as the mix breaks down or the roots will rot because it holds water longer. Other than that, make sure they get enough light, and give them a half dose of a balanced fertilizer every watering and enjoy your gorgeous blooms.”
photo by Tom Hennessy
June Pierson
Hometown: Mechanicsville
First fell for orchids when: “I began by getting one orchid years ago and admired its beauty. I had no knowledge of their care and killed it, but bought another. Soon I had several and had better success, all Phalaenopsis. Then I heard there were two orchid societies in Richmond and joined both. I learned a lot about orchid care, listened to speakers, admired the members’ beautiful orchids, and learned some of their tips.”
Favorite orchid variety: “The Phalaenopsis because of the long-lasting flowers and beautiful colors and patterns.”
Best advice for beginners: “Begin with the common orchids seen in retail stores as they are usually the easiest to grow for the average person. And, join your local orchid society! You’ll learn a lot and have better success.”
photo by Tom Hennessy
Karen Collier
Hometown: South Prince George
First fell for orchids when: “Many years ago I attended a VOS orchid show at a mall north of Richmond. I met some super-nice orchid people and fell in love with a Vanda Princess Mikassa! I was hooked!”
Favorite orchid variety: “I like the Vandas because you don’t have to repot them [and I] love the colors. I also love Bulbophyllums because they are easy to grow and some of the blooms are really unusual.”
Best advice to beginners: “Like any other plant, if you give [orchids] what they need, they are not that hard. Some need more or less light etc. so most people can find orchids that they can grow in the conditions they have….or can create.”
What to Expect at the 2025 Show and Sale
Hours for the event are Friday, February 28, from 1 – 5 p.m.; Saturday, March 1, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Sunday, March 2, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. There is no cost to attend the sale and lectures!
The orchid displays will be hosted in a new location: the Garden Café. “This year we decided to play off the fact that the displays will be in the Café area, hence [the theme] ‘A Taste for Orchids’,” says Irina. “Everyone knows vanilla, and I hope everyone also knows that it is an orchid. And while this is the most-known orchid used for culinary purposes, there are plenty of others used in cooking and as medicinal remedies. For us, as orchid growers, the taste for orchids is individual, be it particular color, or fragrance or type of orchids, or just simply the endless variety to choose from.”
There will also be a juried art exhibit in the Azalea Room. The sale will be located in the Auditorium of the Kelly Education Center, where guests can purchase both orchids and supplies to care for them.
2025 Vendors include:
Beyond the beautiful orchids on display, the VOS will host free lectures in Classroom 1 throughout the three-day event that will allow attendees to learn about all facets of orchids, no matter their level of expertise. “All of us started with one orchid or two, and learned along the way through trial and error,” says Irina. “That is why we are thrilled to share our knowledge and expertise through a series of hands-on demonstrations by VOS members and the lectures by the vendors, who have years of knowing the orchids they grow and sell.” Here is the schedule of planned talks:
Friday, February 28
2 pm – 3 pm: “Cattleyas and the Golden Age of Orchid Fashion: The Glamorous Corsage Days?” – Art Chadwick, Chadwick and Son. Art will be available to sign his new book about First Ladies Orchids.
3 pm – 4 pm: Orchid Care Session “Repotting Orchids – Hands on Demonstration” – Joe Matthias, VOS
4 pm: Questions and Answers Session with VOS Experts
Saturday, March 1
10 am – 11 am: “Orchids for Windowsill” – Peter Breed, Orchid Classics
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: “How to Choose Right Potting Mix and Pots for Orchids”
– Stefanie Jarrell, Quarter Acre Orchids
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: “How to Grow the Most Common Orchids Available Today”
– Ken Meier, Orchid Enterprise
3 pm – 4 pm: “Orchid Insect Pests: What to Do” – Helen Hull-Sanders, VOS / Ten Shin Gardens
Sunday, March 2
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: “Growing Slipper Orchids for Fun and Show” – Bill Goldner, Woodstream Orchids
1 pm – 2 pm: Orchid Care Session “Building a Terrarium for Orchid Growing” -Robert Nordin, VOS
“We do hope that you will enjoy the show and will get a taste for orchids too!” Irina says.
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