Flower Power on Wheels

Orchids used to grow throughout the Florida Everglades. The swampy wetland contained oak and mahogany forests. They provided the perfect habitat for orchids, many of which grow only on trees. But in the late 1800s and early 1900s, people began taking orchids from the wetland to sell as houseplants. Some orchid collectors would even set fire to entire forests of trees to keep orchids rare and their prices high. “Orchids are one of the most exploited groups of organisms on the planet,” says Jason Downing, a botanist at Fairchild.

The construction of the Florida East Coast Railway in the late 1800s made it even easier to transfer millions of the plants to northern states, where owning one was a popular status symbol. The railway also brought more people to the area. It became urbanized, and the forests that orchids relied on were cleared to make way for farms and houses. Before this era, the Everglades covered the bottom two-thirds of Florida.Today, what remains of the now-protected wetland spans only the state’s southernmost tip. Habitat loss combined with the flower trade essentially wiped out South Florida’s orchid population.

Orchids used to grow all over the Florida Everglades. The swampy wetland had oak and mahogany forests. Many orchids grow only on trees, and the forests were the perfect habitat. But in the late 1800s and early 1900s, people began taking orchids from the wetland. They sold the flowers as houseplants. Some orchid collectors even set fire to entire forests of trees. They wanted to keep orchids rare and their prices high. “Orchids are one of the most exploited groups of organisms on the planet,” says Jason Downing, a botanist at Fairchild. 

The Florida East Coast Railway was built in the late 1800s. That made it even easier to move millions of the plants to northern states. There, owning an orchid was a popular status symbol. The railway also brought more people, and the area got built up. Orchids needed the forests, but the forests were cleared. Farms and houses took their place. Before this happened, the Everglades covered the bottom two-thirds of Florida. Today, the wetland covers only the state’s southern tip. Now the Everglades are protected. But habitat loss and the flower trade just about wiped out South Florida’s orchids.

Without human help, South Florida’s orchids had no chance of bouncing back. Orchids grow extremely slowly. It can take up to four years for a seed to become an adult plant. On top of that, orchid seeds don’t contain stored nutrients to help them grow, like the seeds of other plants do. And as seedlings, orchids can’t perform photosynthesis to get nutrients, either. Most plants rely on this process, harnessing sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and sugar that they use for energy.

Young orchids require help from a specific type of fungus that lives on their roots to obtain the food they need. A growing orchid absorbs carbon compounds produced by the fungus as its main food source. In return, the fungus may get some moisture from the orchid’s root system and organic matter that it can feed on. But for the most part, orchids seem to be parasites that take resources from the fungus, says Downing.

Without human help, South Florida’s orchids couldn’t bounce back. Orchids grow extremely slowly. A seed takes up to four years to become an adult plant. Besides that, orchid seeds aren’t like the seeds of other plants. They don’t contain stored nutrients to help them grow. And orchid seedlings can’t perform photosynthesis to get nutrients, either. Most plants rely on this process. They use sunlight to change carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and sugar. Then they use the sugar for energy.

To get food, young orchids need help from a certain type of fungus. It lives on their roots. The fungus produces carbon compounds, and a young orchid absorbs these as its main food source. What does the fungus get in return? Maybe some moisture from the orchid’s root system and organic matter to feed on. But mostly, orchids seem to be parasites, says Downing. They take resources from the fungus.

In nature, an orchid blossom produces millions of seeds as small as a speck of dust. They can grow only if they land on a patch of tree bark with the fungus on it. Unfortunately, the fungus is getting rarer in the wild. Downing estimates that only 10 percent of wild orchid seeds germinate, or sprout. But inside the STEMLab, says Downing, “We can directly provide the seeds with the nutrients they need.” That allows 100 percent of the team’s orchid seeds to germinate.

In nature, an orchid blossom produces millions of seeds. They’re as small as a speck of dust. To grow, they must land on tree bark with the fungus on it. Sadly, the fungus is getting rarer in the wild. Downing figures that only 10 percent of wild orchid seeds germinate, or sprout. But it’s different inside the STEMLab. Downing says, “We can directly provide the seeds with the nutrients they need.” So 100 percent of the team’s orchid seeds can germinate.

Today, the Million Orchid Project has thousands of orchid seedlings. When the sprouts become big enough, they’re transferred to the wild. The trickiest part is finding a tree that harbors the fungus the plants rely on. The team looks for a healthy tree with a full canopy of leaves. Then they collect a sample of the tree’s bark and use a DNA test, which identifies an organism’s hereditary material, to confirm the presence of the fungus. “When we find it, it’s like a gold mine,” says Alexa.

Today, the Million Orchid Project has thousands of orchid seedlings. They’re moved to the wild when they become big enough. The trickiest part is finding the right tree. It must have the fungus that the plants need. The team looks for a healthy tree with a full canopy of leaves. Then they collect a sample of the tree’s bark. They use a DNA test, which reveals an organism’s hereditary material. It tells if the fungus is present. “When we find it, it’s like a gold mine,” says Alexa.

After locating a suitable tree, an orchid is affixed to its bark using a glue that won’t hurt either plant. “The roots will begin to attach over a period of months or years,” says Downing. Most species can also be planted in the ground after they fully mature and can start photosynthesis. These are often planted in school or butterfly gardens.

So far, the Million Orchid Project, which started in 2013, has planted about 165,000 flowers in and around Miami. But for Downing, this is only the beginning. The project’s goal isn’t just to plant a million orchids, but also to create a new population of wild plants that will grow on its own over time. “The hope is that these plants will mature, produce flowers, spread seeds, and start to pop up on their own,” says Downing. 

After finding the right tree, they stick an orchid to its bark. They use a glue that won’t hurt either plant. “The roots will begin to attach over a period of months or years,” says Downing. Most species can also be planted in the ground after they’re mature and can start photosynthesis. These are often planted in school or butterfly gardens.

The Million Orchid Project started in 2013. So far, it has planted about 165,000 flowers in and around Miami. But for Downing, this is only the beginning. The project’s goal isn’t just to plant a million orchids. The team also wants to create a new population of wild plants to grow on its own over time. “The hope is that these plants will mature, produce flowers, spread seeds, and start to pop up on their own,” says Downing.