Lustomic Orchid Garden | Terminal Island

By: Urban Explorer & Horticulture Desk

At the time, Terminal Island was (and still is) home to a massive wastewater treatment plant and several power generation facilities. Lustomic noticed that these plants were venting massive amounts of heated steam and warm water into the harbor. In a moment of genius, he realized that a controlled greenhouse environment could capture that waste heat to create a tropical microclimate—perfect for growing orchids. lustomic orchid garden terminal island

Because the garden was constantly bathed in warm, slightly mineralized air from the harbor, Lustomic selectively bred orchids that could thrive in coastal conditions that would kill standard varieties. By: Urban Explorer & Horticulture Desk At the

For decades, this location has been a whispered secret among serious orchid collectors, hybridizers, and rare plant enthusiasts. But what exactly is Lustomic Orchid Garden, how did it end up on Terminal Island, and why should you add it to your horticultural bucket list? The story of the Lustomic Orchid Garden begins not with a botanist, but with an engineer. In the late 1960s, Dr. Harold Lustomic (namesake of the garden) was working for the Port of Los Angeles as a water treatment specialist. Dr. Lustomic was fascinated by thermodynamics—specifically, how industrial waste heat could be repurposed. Because the garden was constantly bathed in warm,