Why not grow orchids?

[SubTropicRay]

12 hours ago, John hovancsek said:

These are some of my favorites 

Photo #2 looks like C. guttata coerulea?

[SubTropicRay]

The popular Encyclia alata never gets old

[metalfan]

Got me a bloomer today! I've been waiting on this to open up. Dendrochilum filiform

[piping plovers]

13 minutes ago, metalfan said:

Got me a bloomer today! I've been waiting on this to open up. Dendrochilum filiform

Beautiful. And so delicate. Love how it spirals like a DNA strand

[SubTropicRay]

2 hours ago, metalfan said:

Got me a bloomer today! I've been waiting on this to open up. Dendrochilum filiform

Bucket lister but hard to find

[realarch]

This has been in bloom for the last few days, small and dainty. I don’t remember when or where it was acquired, but kinda cute.

Tim

[-2 brian]

I have been trying to add different orchids and platyceriums lately as well. Here are couple of pics of some that are blooming and just recently bloomed

Maxillaria  - You can smell the coconut scent probably 10' away

 

Don't remember the name of this one, but pretty cool flowers as well

 

Suprising the amount of different orchids that can grow outside in coastal Southern California!

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

13 minutes ago, -2 brian said:

I have been trying to add different orchids and platyceriums lately as well. Here are couple of pics of some that are blooming and just recently bloomed

Maxillaria  - You can smell the coconut scent probably 10' away

 

Don't remember the name of this one, but pretty cool flowers as well

 

Suprising the amount of different orchids that can grow outside in coastal Southern California!

 

 

Nice Maxillaria tenuifolia.. Rarely see the gold flowered form in your shot..  You keep that one outdoors all year there?

Not sure on the exact sp. but the second is an Epidendrum  for sure..

 

[Tracy]

3 hours ago, -2 brian said:

Don't remember the name of this one, but pretty cool flowers as well

 

Suprising the amount of different orchids that can grow outside in coastal Southern California!

Epidendrum lacustra, Panama form.  The normal form has the green leaves, but the Panamanian have the colorful maroon leaf undersides.  Nice specimen.  I have grown them for several years.  I hate to admit using the plural, but while they grow great for me for a time, about ever 3-4 years they die, and I have to replace with a new plant.  I'm working with a little upstart now that flowered a few weeks ago for its first go round.

A different species of Epidendrum here, Epidendrum falcata.  I posted the mother plant to this one a little while ago in bloom.  The pseudobulbs of this species are easy to knock off when you brush up against it, so I have collected a few to try in other places in the garden over the years.  This one was co-planted or hung next to another potted orchid with the pot hung in a stand.  Perfect place for the pseudobulbs and leaves to hang down.  This is the first time this start has bloomed for me. 

[-2 brian]

3 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Nice Maxillaria tenuifolia.. Rarely see the gold flowered form in your shot..  You keep that one outdoors all year there?

Yes, it sits in the same spot year round. Isn't really affected by the weather here. 

[-2 brian]

6 minutes ago, Tracy said:

Epidendrum lacustra, Panama form.  The normal form has the green leaves, but the Panamanian have the colorful maroon leaf undersides.  Nice specimen.  I have grown them for several years.  I hate to admit using the plural, but while they grow great for me for a time, about ever 3-4 years they die, and I have to replace with a new plant.  I'm working with a little upstart now that flowered a few weeks ago for its first go round.

I have only had this one for maybe a little over a year, so I guess I'll see find out in the next couple of years if it does the same and dies for me? I get a lot of my stuff from Andy's down your way. Im sure you are well aware of his place. 

[Tracy]

Another orchid blooming for the first time, Encyclia cochleata.

[Tracy]

9 minutes ago, -2 brian said:

I get a lot of my stuff from Andy's down your way. Im sure you are well aware of his place.

Yes, I know Andy and some of the fellow orchid enthusiasts that help with his open houses well.  Andy's brother Harry has become a friend as well and a source of most of my Anthuriums.

[John hovancsek]

12 hours ago, SubTropicRay said:

Photo #2 looks like C. guttata coerulea?

I think u are correct but the tag said something like leopard something coerulea but I could be 100% wrong 

[-2 brian]

28 minutes ago, Tracy said:

es, I know Andy and some of the fellow orchid enthusiasts that help with his open houses well.  Andy's brother Harry has become a friend as well and a source of most of my Anthuriums.

I have some anthuriums from him as well. He always has some really cool stuff. 

[Tomas]

By chance I found this Dendrobium Oriental Smile. It is one of the Yamamoto hybrids, but unfortunately these are very difficult to source here in Europe, maybe beacause they are big nad vigorous plants.

[-2 brian]

My Bulbophyllum Grandiflorum is getting a couple of new flowers as well. This one is not the most colorful orchid blooms, but the it has a pretty interesting shape and I love the white spots on the flowers. 

[Silas_Sancona]

24 minutes ago, -2 brian said:

My Bulbophyllum Grandiflorum is getting a couple of new flowers as well. This one is not the most colorful orchid blooms, but the it has a pretty interesting shape and I love the white spots on the flowers. 

 

Speaking of more unique - looking Orchids, you ever try any of the Stanhopea?  

There's an old blog someone in San Diego had put together of which sps did fine outdoors most  ..or all.. year out there.  

Absolutely wild looking flowers. Most have very unique fragrances as well.  Flowers on some smell like spiced Chocolate, or resembling Jasmine,  while a couple smell like Sage or Oregano. 

[Tomas]

Dendrobium moschatum

[-2 brian]

14 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

 

Speaking of more unique - looking Orchids, you ever try any of the Stanhopea?  

There's an old blog someone in San Diego had put together of which sps did fine outdoors most  ..or all.. year out there.  

Absolutely wild looking flowers. Most have very unique fragrances as well.  Flowers on some smell like spiced Chocolate, or resembling Jasmine,  while a couple smell like Sage or Oregano. 

No, not familiar with that species

[Silas_Sancona]

38 minutes ago, -2 brian said:

No, not familiar with that species

Here's a teaser screen grab / link to info regarding one of the most popular / easiest to grow sps.  from Orchid Web.  One of those plants you'll never forget seeing  once you've seen one in person.

*** Picture credit / Information courtesy of / all rights reserved by  Orchid Web ***



Link to the specific page..
https://www.orchidweb.com/orchids/other-orchids/species/stanhopea-nigroviolacea-syn-stanhopea-tigrina

Andy's, Eucagenera CA, Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, ..and / or some of the other bigger, local specialty Orchid growers out there would  offer it / other sps.


Direct link to the blog i'd mentioned.  A shame there aren't any more recent entries.. Would've been interesting to see how this person's outdoor specimens weathered the drought / recent wetter / cooler / wetter winters..

https://stanhopeaculture.blogspot.com/2013/01/stanhopea-temperature-requirements_26.html

[piping plovers]

My favorite cattleya in my collection.  It’s the one I’ve owned for 35 years and was a noid for many years (after losing the tag) until the successor company of the Rod McLellan Company, Acres of orchids (then located in San Francisco) kindly helped me out confirming its identification.  Also some wonderful members of the San Francisco orchid society on Orchid Board were super helpful in researching this and providing leads for me.

LC. MOONWIND ‘MT. MADONNA’ (Lc. Eva Shill x Lc. Elizabeth Off). 

I’ve never seen a lavender one that I prefer over this one; and as we all know, there are so many lavender species/varieties of Catts.  Also, very fragrant.  Winning at least one award in Japan for fragrance in the late 80’s.

Anyhow, after growing it in a 10” wood basket for many years it became unmanageable for windowsill culture and started declining since the media was so old. The center of the media was impenetrable, like a block of dried hay. The  leads, rhizomes and leaves all twisted into each other.

I spent the last several years isolating and transitioning divisions into clay with only one growth lead per pot.

 I really like the one linear growth culture as it reminds me of the nineteenth century botanical drawings.  Further, I can really appreciate and focus on the condition and beauty of the current lead and blooms.

anticipation building:

 

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Andy's, Eucagenera CA, Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, ..and / or some of the other bigger, local specialty Orchid growers out there would  offer it / other sps.


Direct link to the blog i'd mentioned.  A shame there aren't any more recent entries.. Would've been interesting to see how this person's outdoor specimens weathered the drought / recent wetter / cooler / wetter winters..

https://stanhopeaculture.blogspot.com/2013/01/stanhopea-temperature-requirements_26.html

I haven't really looked at this genus either but will ask some friends about growing them outdoors in this area.

On a different note, this Encyclia hanburyi  started opening the flowers from the bottom of the inflorescence but the lower flowers never completely opened.  It is even more apparent as the upper new flowers are opening as they should.  It is one of the largest spikes I've ever had on this in several years of growing this specimen.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

8 minutes ago, Tracy said:

I haven't really looked at this genus either but will ask some friends about growing them outdoors in this area.

Imagine Andy will have some sound advice on which ones he'd recommend / has had success with outside their covered greenhouses..

 

[Tracy]

On 6/27/2024 at 4:22 PM, Tracy said:

Another orchid blooming for the first time, Encyclia cochleata.

More of those Encyclia cochleata flowers have bloomed giving it a very ethereal feel.  Also a Brassocattleya "Sunny Delight" x "Richard Mueller" outside my office window has been in bloom for a while.  The pink color has faded to the deep yellow on the flower petals.

[piping plovers]

Blc. Terri Henderson 'Barbara'

 

[Tracy]

A Phalaenopsis that moved outside last winter is reblooming in the garden right now.  Behind it I have a  Meiracyllium trinasutum var album on a stick in bloom.  It is hanging from the boot of a Pritchardia facing east to provide sun protection.

[piping plovers]

33 minutes ago, Tracy said:

Behind it I have a  Meiracyllium trinasutum var album on a stick in bloom. 

So nice on that mount.  I almost didn’t see the bloom as the foliage itself is so attractive.

[Tracy]

26 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

I almost didn’t see the bloom as the foliage itself is so attractive.

I have definitely purchased some orchids for their foliage and just consider the flowers as an added bonus.  Funny that you mentioned it about this one, since this is a prime example.  Another one is the Encyclia hanburyi I posted the blooms of earlier this month, which I bought for its round red pseudo-bulbs several years ago.

[metalfan]

Couple Vandaceous in bloom

.

[piping plovers]

42 minutes ago, Tracy said:

Another one is the Encyclia hanburyi

Ah, yes I had to scroll up and find that and look online for the foliage; very attractive plants.  That dendrobium we both grow—Den. Chrysotoxum var Susvissimum, I find to be attractive even out of bloom.  Unlike the rest of my collection; mostly unifoliate cattleyas, that look clumsy and homely out of bloom.

[Barry]

Den. Usitae ‘Red Coral’ blooming beautifully this year.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

32 minutes ago, Barry said:

Den. Usitae ‘Red Coral’ blooming beautifully this year.

 

That's a nice Dendrobium Barry..

[Silas_Sancona]

Some interesting, Orchid - related stories for your Wednesday...  

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/scientists-employ-fungi-in-attempt-to-save-critically-threatened-plants-everywhere-they-occur-they-re-rare/ar-BB1ppltV


https://www.denverpost.com/2024/07/23/coralroot-orchid-discovered-denver-botanic-gardens-chatfield-farms/


Think Orchids evolved in the Tropics / Southern Hemisphere?,   Think again..   New study from Kew.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/study-shows-orchid-family-emerged-in-northern-hemisphere-and-thrived-alongside-dinosaurs-for-20-million-years/ar-BB1iJ9Es

[piping plovers]

5 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Some interesting, Orchid - related stories for your Wednesday...  

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/scientists-employ-fungi-in-attempt-to-save-critically-threatened-plants-everywhere-they-occur-they-re-rare/ar-BB1ppltV


https://www.denverpost.com/2024/07/23/coralroot-orchid-discovered-denver-botanic-gardens-chatfield-farms/


Think Orchids evolved in the Tropics / Southern Hemisphere?,   Think again..   New study from Kew.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/study-shows-orchid-family-emerged-in-northern-hemisphere-and-thrived-alongside-dinosaurs-for-20-million-years/ar-BB1iJ9Es

Interesting article, Nathan.  Enjoyed the read.  Thank you for Posting.

“…the new study indicates their common ancestor may have originated in the northern hemisphere, on the supercontinent Laurasia, before spreading out further into the world.”

although, it makes we wonder—-in the age of dinosaurs it seems like, other than the difference in daylight, wouldn’t the whole world have growing conditions similar to the warm humid tropics?  Maybe it’s all the illustrations that always seemed to associate tropical tree ferns with dinosaurs the world over.

[Silas_Sancona]

16 hours ago, piping plovers said:

Interesting article, Nathan.  Enjoyed the read.  Thank you for Posting.

“…the new study indicates their common ancestor may have originated in the northern hemisphere, on the supercontinent Laurasia, before spreading out further into the world.”

although, it makes we wonder—-in the age of dinosaurs it seems like, other than the difference in daylight, wouldn’t the whole world have growing conditions similar to the warm humid tropics?  Maybe it’s all the illustrations that always seemed to associate tropical tree ferns with dinosaurs the world over.

A reasonable assumption ..though i've always wondered if the climate at that time ( ..times  really since i'm sure the climate over the span of time Dinos lived probably wavered a bit too )  was more like the current climate of some mountainous areas in the tropics..  Warm and humid ..but not quite as hot as say the Amazon basin / Equatorial regions of Africa..  Again though, just another assumption.

Under that kind of climate, can see how a good majority of Orchids ..among other things.. evolved, then would end up greatly diversifying in  areas of the world where the current climate stayed relatively similar to the climate they evolved in  ..that " stays fairly humid / rains consistently / temps. don't vary too much " kind of climate that likely covered much of  -if not all of-  the globe at X time in Paleo. history..

Other species / genera of Orchids were able to adapt to areas of the world where the overall climate may have changed -sometimes dramatically,  yet provided micro - level niche " islands " where X genera could survive ..and potentially continue diversifying as it's future offspring continued to adapt to the prevailing climate..

You see this occurring ..almost anywhere... presently..  if you look around enough..  S. AZ provides a good glimpse of both.. Certain types of tropical -origin plants ...that reached the area -and were likely much more widespread- when our region of the world was wetter / winters were warmer, overall,   yet have managed to survive cooler climate times in warmer, micro - level spots..

Opposite for plants ..and /or other critters that were once much more widespread during the cooler climate periods here, yet survive in cooler canyons / mountain tops, and / or on cooler slopes today..


Have mentioned before how there are some other plant genera whose  -the current thought is at least-  adaptations to desert / dry tropical climate areas didn't evolve under the current climatological constraints in such areas,  but as a response to 6 months of darkness where the first ancestor of X plant group arose, much closer to the poles when the climate was warmer..

As they shifted south as it got too cold for them to survive further north, they continued adding evolutionary " wins " that allowed them to tough out 4-8+ months w/ out rainfall, and / or extreme heat..

Toughest Orchids out there might not be that adaptable, but some are pretty close..

[metalfan]

Bulbophyllum thiurum is blooming. Miniature with a 4" bloom

[metalfan]

Perreiraara Rapeephat Pink

[piping plovers]

28 minutes ago, metalfan said:

Perreiraara Rapeephat Pink

Wow the color and lighting on that 2nd photo!  Nice work!

[metalfan]

Thanks! I think it's actually supposed to have more yellow. Photos of others online show a lot more yellow than mine does. But like everything I suppose there are natural variations!