Growing Orchids, Bromeliads, & Other Epiphytes

Never grown an orchid? Stuck with what to do with plants that grow in trees and not in the ground? If you've always wanted to grow them, start here. Epiphytic expert Gina Woods is your guide through the fabulously diverse world of these beautiful plants that have unique traits, habits, and blooms. Along with NHG's Garden Advisor Ann Grimes, you'll learn about the varieties and how to shop for them, how to get an orchid to rebloom, and the best care practices to make them last. Plus, you'll get familiar with the processes of deadheading and propagation, along with what you need to know about specialty soils for ephiphytes, and that tricky business of repotting them through live demonstrations.

Join us for this fun and informative look at some really cool plants!

This class is indoors in our Classroom.

Gina Woods loves to share about the fascinating and wonderful world of plants. A Dallas native, "Hockadaisy" and graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, her career began as a commercial real estate agent and broker. But like her mother, she became more and more interested in and involved with her passion of orchids and other plants. In 1987, Gina moved to a ranch in rural Tamaulipas, Mexico, where she put passion for orchids to work for her, and she became the first commercial, cut-flower Dendrobium orchid producer in Mexico. Over the next 19 years, Gina expanded into several new realms: the production of Aechmea Bromeliads and of various field-grown cut flowers; commercial and residential plant rentals; event planning, and also a retail store in Tampico – La Orquedia Blanca. Not only was Gina a member and president of The Tampico Garden Club, Mexico’s second-oldest, she was also co-founder and first President of the Tampico Orchid Society.

Gina returned to Dallas in 2010, leaving her orchids behind, but not her passion. She founded Tropical Essence LLC, which specializes in exotic tropical plants, and co-founded Yardspell LLC, to provide waterwise personal and commercial landscaping and gardening services.

Gina is a Certified Master Gardener and is a founding member and current president of Garden Masters, Inc.

Ann Grimes began coming to NHG in 1953 with her parents who had just moved into their new house and were purchasing trees, shrubs and plants for the yards. They bought Ann a Catherine Zemet rose so she had her own plant to care for and enjoy.

Ann joined NHG in 1968 while working on her Bachelor of Science degree at SMU. She worked with Gladys in the tropical greenhouse caring for the owner’s Bromeliad and Peperomia collections. Ann worked at NHG through 1969. She graduated from SMU with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. During her time at SMU, she studied in the Herbarium, where the curator, Lloyd Shinners, gave her space on a table to use and she took various botany classes taught by William Mahler.

After graduating from SMU in 1970, Ann began working on a Masters of Agriculture in Horticulture at Texas A&M. In addition to Horticulture classes, she took several classes in plant taxonomy and entomology and uses the information gained to this day. After working in three states, in various positions for 41 years, Ann returned to NHG in 2014 part time to continue tropical greenhouse plant care.

Her additional interests include, entomology, family history, photography and collecting art.

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