Why not grow orchids?

[piping plovers]

A phal that actually has a name.  Arctic Fox.  Or Pronounced locally up here as the Aaahhdik Fox.  lol 😂

I’m so accustomed to the beautiful but no-name supermarket phals.  I can’t take credit for blooming it; was my door prize at the Cape Cod & Islands Orchid Society.

[Tracy]

On 2/25/2024 at 11:48 AM, Tracy said:

Several of the Australian Dendrobiums are loaded with buds but no buds on any of my Dendrobium speciosum.   I noticed the absence of buds on them a couple of weeks ago so added a bloom fertilizer to their water, but I may have started too late. 

The first of my Australian Dendrobium species buds to open is on a Dendrobium falcorostrum .  Still no signs of buds on any of my Dendrobium speciosums which normally are loaded with flowers at the same time.  I planted one of my small Dendrobium speciosum ssp grandiflora in the ground with a small coverage of bark on top of a rock, but it is still not mature enough to flower unlike all the others.  I'm a bit puzzled because I don't think I've changed the light exposure on these much nor my watering regime.

[flplantguy]

Dendrobium aggregatum (if I remember right) first flowering this year

 

[aztropic]

On 2/25/2024 at 12:16 PM, aztropic said:

These were bought mail order,although there are 2 good local shows coming up if you would like to buy in person. I expect to attend both.

The Tucson Orchid Society Show

"Fiesta de las Flores" is scheduled for:March 2 & 3, 2024

Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery

8005 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85710

 

DVOS AOS judged ORCHID SHOW is scheduled for:March  23 & 24, 2024

Berridge Nurseries

4647 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85018

Saturday 9AM-5PM

AOS Judging on Saturday at 10am

Sunday 10AM-4PM

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

Attended the Tucson orchid society show yesterday, and although it can't compare to a Florida orchid show, was typical of the shows in AZ and CA.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

[aztropic]

Picked up a few 'mini cats' to add to the collection. Got this red one in flower (highly scented) and a few others in bud,but most of the couple hundred plants they were selling were only in bud,so unless you wanted to look up each individual name from a tag,you really had no idea of what you were buying, color wise...🤷‍♂️ 

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

[96720]

Those of you that grow orchids outside how much water do you give them?

[Silas_Sancona]

52 minutes ago, 96720 said:

Those of you that grow orchids outside how much water do you give them?

Watering will vary -greatly- between different groups of Orchids, ..and sometimes between species within an individual Genera,  ...and the time of year. 

Some need water all year.  Others?  only when it is warm / hot.   Very few tolerate " drought " conditions ( minimal water, all year ).

Best bet is to study detailed information regarding whatever Orchid you're considering cultivating outdoors / outdoors part of the year.

[Tracy]

3 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Watering will vary -greatly- between different groups of Orchids, ..and sometimes between species within an individual Genera,  ...and the time of year. 

Some need water all year.  Others?  only when it is warm / hot.   Very few tolerate " drought " conditions ( minimal water, all year ).

Best bet is to study detailed information regarding whatever Orchid you're considering cultivating outdoors / outdoors part of the year.

Nathan hit this on the head.  I have made the mistake of watering some species the same year round outside, only to discover that they don't like much water during certain times of the year.  Typically this means they died from too much water in the wrong season.  Better to read than learn the hard way.

[96720]

These are just grocery store orchids someone was going to throw them away and I said I would take them don’t think I would spend money for and orchid to try outside here!!

[piping plovers]

Some of my orchids ready for transport to a CT area orchid show.  My phaleonopsis ‘White Dream’ V. 3 didn’t bloom last year, but after repotting and better lighting it put out a branching spike and a 2nd spike.

There are white phals and there are WHITE phals.  Real pristine white on this one.  Of course it fell over in the car after snapping these pics, blemishing one of the blooms, so the judges may not think so pristine ☹️

[John hovancsek]

On 2/29/2024 at 2:15 PM, Tracy said:

The first of my Australian Dendrobium species buds to open is on a Dendrobium falcorostrum .  Still no signs of buds on any of my Dendrobium speciosums which normally are loaded with flowers at the same time.  I planted one of my small Dendrobium speciosum ssp grandiflora in the ground with a small coverage of bark on top of a rock, but it is still not mature enough to flower unlike all the others.  I'm a bit puzzled because I don't think I've changed the light exposure on these much nor my watering regime.

Your dendrobium look amazing 

[Hillizard]

This Cymbidium was left by the previous owners when I bought my house. I repotted it, took it out of the direct sun and put it under my pergola and it's rewarded me with its best display in years. Definitely not a fussy plant to grow as long as you have protection from hard freezes and intense sunshine.

[Silas_Sancona]

53 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

This Cymbidium was left by the previous owners when I bought my house. I repotted it, took it out of the direct sun and put it under my pergola and it's rewarded me with its best display in years. Definitely not a fussy plant to grow as long as you have protection from hard freezes and intense sunshine.

Though i've heard -repeatedly ( ..and would whole -heartedly believe ) 99% of Cymbidiums, esp. the cooler growing types that grow like weeds back in CA won't grow here, someone i know said they were able to grow one in a narrow, N.E. facing courtyard that was surrounded by a 2 story building ( their townhouse ) on 3 sides, and several large trees. 

There's a neighborhood nearby where the back yards are oriented in a similar manner, that are also surrounded by numerous  tall, dense Pines / other trees where i kind of think someone could pull off growing one.. Esp. if they could find a cultivar that is more heat tolerant ( ..Apparently the only ones that can be grown -anywhere- in FL. )

On a side note: ..I spy something budding peeking out from behind the Cym. in shot #1😁

[Hillizard]

4 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Though i've heard -repeatedly ( ..and would whole -heartedly believe ) 99% of Cymbidiums, esp. the cooler growing types that grow like weeds back in CA won't grow here, someone i know said they were able to grow one in a narrow, N.E. facing courtyard that was surrounded by a 2 story building ( their townhouse ) on 3 sides, and several large trees. 

There's a neighborhood nearby where the back yards are oriented in a similar manner, that are also surrounded by numerous  tall, dense Pines / other trees where i kind of think someone could pull off growing one.. Esp. if they could find a cultivar that is more heat tolerant ( ..Apparently the only ones that can be grown -anywhere- in FL. )

On a side note: ..I spy something budding peeking out from behind the Cym. in shot #1😁

Good eyes! That's a yellowish-white flowered variety of Dendrobium kingianum. 😀

[Tracy]

Bletilla striata "Shi-Ran"

[Hillizard]

This was labeled as "Dendrobium specio-kingianum" when I bought it a few years ago at a local nursery. Has abundant flowers each year, handles neglect and temperature shifts well (at least indoors in my unheated sunroom) and has a great fragrance.

[aztropic]

Attended the spring orchid show in Phoenix, Arizona, yesterday. They had some really nice displays,and lots of orchids available for purchase, but prices were generally 25% higher than the same plants,from some of the same growers, selling at the Tucson show a few weeks back. 🤷‍♂️ 

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

[piping plovers]

2 hours ago, aztropic said:

Attended the spring orchid show in Phoenix, Arizona, yesterday. They had some really nice displays

Beautiful displays!

[piping plovers]

Road-trip time continues down the east coast.  Visited family in NC and I finally made the journey to Chadwick’s Orchids in Richmond, VA area. The greenhouses are located in a rural area.  The growers are well known for their large, classic, corsage-type cattleyas.  Purchased their book as it’s such an excellent reference to anything cattleya.  Some photos below.  I Only had room to purchase one.

C. maxima variety below 

 

Phaleonopsis gigantea below,  not to be confused with Bulbophyllum phaleonopsis.

wonderful redwood framed greenhouse 

wish I had purchased this one but maybe next time:

 

I did purchase this variety, photo and name at the end:

never seen phals like this before:

the cattleya I purchased, tiny division with a big bloom.  Name tag follows.

 

…And if you made it this far you get to see BLUE, my brother’s puppy in NC , who was cuter than any orchids I saw and charmed the heck outta everyone in the neighborhood 😁

 

Edited March 27, 2024 by piping plovers
Photos

[Tracy]

Cattleya intermedia tipo form is in bloom on the side of the house under the guava tree.

[piping plovers]

2 hours ago, Tracy said:

Cattleya intermedia tipo form is in bloom on the side of the house under the guava tree.

So nicely displayed on that mount!

[piping plovers]

I know those of you in the desert southwest US probably know all about these cholla cactus branches. They are new to me and found them in the orchid and carnivorous plant section of a garden shop while traveling.

So, Finally I have the perfect mount for my Bulbophyllum medusae.  Keeping it in my Queen Anthurium (A. warocqueanum) glass cabinet so it can remain moist and I’m not needing to water it every other day.  
 

It’s down to one leaf after a month in my care, so I already can see it’s going to be challenging the queen anthurium for the fussiness throne😂

 

 

[Tracy]

Dendrobium nobile var cooksonianum in bloom.  I wish it had a few more flowers but it is a bit sparse this year.

[Silas_Sancona]

15 hours ago, piping plovers said:

I know those of you in the desert southwest US probably know all about these cholla cactus branches. They are new to me and found them in the orchid and carnivorous plant section of a garden shop while traveling.

So, Finally I have the perfect mount for my Bulbophyllum medusae.  Keeping it in my Queen Anthurium (A. warocqueanum) glass cabinet so it can remain moist and I’m not needing to water it every other day.  
 

It’s down to one leaf after a month in my care, so I already can see it’s going to be challenging the queen anthurium for the fussiness throne😂

 

 

  Yep, very familiar w/ these.. 

If you can avoid getting " hugged " by surrounding spine covered debris / live plants surrounding the dead ones, " Cholla skellys " as some people call 'em,  are fairly easy to find out in the desert, if you know where to look.

Need to get a few more eventually.. Thinking ..with a slight modification ( ..sticking some sort of wicking material in the center, packed w/ some leaf duff / chopped Coco husk chunk ) these could be great mounts for various Cattleya / Brassavola, and " Hard Cane " Dendrobium sps that can climb and fill in around the woody material / roots fill in the center.

Saguaro skeletons are another great Orchid mount possibility, but, Desert- collected specimens of those is tightly regulated, and for good reason. 

That said, if what i'd been told by some people is correct, i don't think you'd get into trouble if you found / collected a couple " ribs ",  that are less than a foot or two in length which had shattered off of a more complete skeleton when it fell over / decomposed. 

Various indigenous tribes here, and down in Sonora will use ribs from dead Saguaro to harvest fruit off live ones, or to collect Mesquite Beans when they are in season.


On the other hand?  Have a Saguaro in your yard and it falls over after one of our extreme summers?  ..It's remains can end up being a good investment.

https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/selling-saguaros-dead-saguaro-hundreds-litchfield-park/75-5057323f-781a-432a-b848-9e6e24597fa5

https://www.azplantlady.com/2009/11/skeletons-in-desert.html

[Silas_Sancona]

35 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

  Yep, very familiar w/ these.. 

If you can avoid getting " hugged " by surrounding spine covered debris / live plants surrounding the dead ones, " Cholla skellys " as some people call 'em,  are fairly easy to find out in the desert, if you know where to look.

Need to get a few more eventually.. Thinking ..with a slight modification ( ..sticking some sort of wicking material in the center, packed w/ some leaf duff / chopped Coco husk chunk ) these could be great mounts for various Cattleya / Brassavola, and " Hard Cane " Dendrobium sps that can climb and fill in around the woody material / roots fill in the center.

Saguaro skeletons are another great Orchid mount possibility, but, Desert- collected specimens of those is tightly regulated, and for good reason. 

That said, if what i'd been told by some people is correct, i don't think you'd get into trouble if you found / collected a couple " ribs ",  that are less than a foot or two in length which had shattered off of a more complete skeleton when it fell over / decomposed. 

Various indigenous tribes here, and down in Sonora will use ribs from dead Saguaro to harvest fruit off live ones, or to collect Mesquite Beans when they are in season.


On the other hand?  Have a Saguaro in your yard and it falls over after one of our extreme summers?  ..It's remains can end up being a good investment.

https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/selling-saguaros-dead-saguaro-hundreds-litchfield-park/75-5057323f-781a-432a-b848-9e6e24597fa5

https://www.azplantlady.com/2009/11/skeletons-in-desert.html

Helps if i'd included a picture,  LOL..  🙃 🤦‍♂️

 Want to find a piece that is a couple feet longer than the center " 'Skelly "

Can see certain Philodendrons / Epiphytic cacti growing on these too.


 

[piping plovers]

3 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

If you can avoid getting " hugged " by surrounding spine covered debris / live plants surrounding the dead ones, "

lol.

I knew you’d have something to share about these. When I first saw them had no idea if they were rainforest lianas, or what.  Finding the word “cholla” on the label, I immediately thought of southwest and Mexico and thought Nathan on PT would surely know 👍

interesting articles.  So, did you pick up that FREE fallen saguaro arm on that guy’s property? 😁
 

Also, Really nice art and furniture pieces they make.  A desert southwest version of the coastal driftwood art. Hard to believe a saguaro was killed by heat and drought, but everything has its limits it seems.

3 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Want to find a piece that is a couple feet longer than the center " 'Skelly "

Can see certain Philodendrons / Epiphytic cacti growing on these too.

That middle piece would have fetched over $40 at the garden shop I visited in MD/DC area . And, I would like to try Cattleya dowiana on these.  I stuffed the interior of branch with sphagnum moss.  I think coco husk is a good idea for holding moisture.

 I have a small Philodendron spiritus-sancti that would likely do well on these branches.  Just the right size.  I fear committing to that constant watering schedule, though. Best if I already had overhead drip irrigation emitters in place.

Anyhow, sorry to divert the orchid thread to cacti 😁

[Silas_Sancona]

4 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

lol.

I knew you’d have something to share about these. When I first saw them had no idea if they were rainforest lianas, or what.  Finding the word “cholla” on the label, I immediately thought of southwest and Mexico and thought Nathan on PT would surely know 👍

interesting articles.  So, did you pick up that FREE fallen saguaro arm on that guy’s property? 😁
 

Also, Really nice art and furniture pieces they make.  A desert southwest version of the coastal driftwood art. Hard to believe a saguaro was killed by heat and drought, but everything has its limits it seems.

That middle piece would have fetched over $40 at the garden shop I visited in MD/DC area . And, I would like to try Cattleya dowiana on these.  I stuffed the interior of branch with sphagnum moss.  I think coco husk is a good idea for holding moisture.

 I have a small Philodendron spiritus-sancti that would likely do well on these branches.  Just the right size.  I fear committing to that constant watering schedule, though. Best if I already had overhead drip irrigation emitters in place.

Anyhow, sorry to divert the orchid thread to cacti 😁

Haha, I didn't, but there is a massive old Saguaro about a block away i'm watching. Like many others that were cooked last summer, it too may be on it's last legs..  Had i thought about it, there was a neighbor nearby whose 30ft specimen collapsed back in 2020 i could have harvested a chunk  or two from. 

That said, when a saguaro rots, .the smell is about as bad as a dead body cookin in the heat.

Our recent extreme heat ...and how it can seriously harm even native stuff that evolved within the area's climate, is no joke and something no one can properly understand until they have lived here and seen the effects of a summer like last year ..and / or 2019 / 20..

Not just Saguaro specimens planted in the " hotter " developed urban / suburban areas of town that got cooked either.  Even cacti have a heat tolerance limit where  ..when a certain temperature threshold is crossed, they can't breathe properly and essentially suffocate.

Stream - tumbled pieces of Ironwood and Mesquite branches / trunk pieces i come across fairly often in local washes can make good Orchid mounts as well.

As far as " Liana " -type mounts?  Grape Wood is awesome..  Not  exactly the cheapest option, but have a couple pieces of it.  Have seen something else Vine-y looking  i can't think of the name of atm in the Reptile Care section at Petco or Petsmart that looks like it could make good mounts too.

As far as the Cholla wood itself, have thought of a set up where there's some sort of wicking material in the center ( as mentioned ) but the base sits in a wide, shallow bowl of larger rocks ( to keep the Cholla branch vertical ) w/ some water kept in it  ..so that moisture gets drawn up to the roots of whatever is growing on the wood,  between directly sprinkling the roots  ..If that makes sense.

W/ all the natural holes in it,  air should circulate quite well thru the root zone, thus lessening the chances of any fungus -related issues caused by whatever " soil -less medium is tucked inside the branch staying too wet and rotting, thus causing roots to rot... 

[metalfan]

A few of mine in bloom right now

[metalfan]

This was my first Spring bloomer in my hanging cane dendrobiums the Spring. The flowers are already done sadly. dendrobium aphylum.

This big purple Vanda was another early bloomer. 

Ascocentrum ampulaceum bloomed a while ago but is still hold ing flowers

 

[Tracy]

I have been growing Cymbidium wadae for 4 years now and just got my first bloom on one of my 3 specimens.  They were in small 2"x2" pots when I got them and are still only in 4" pots at this time.  It isn't fully opened yet, but is very fragrant at certain times.  My largest plant is also pictured and it too has a flower bud emerging.  It will be a big year for this species in my garden with two blooming specimens!

[John hovancsek]

Some in bloom in the past week

[piping plovers]

Bringing these to my orchid society meetings in RI and MA this weekend.  Grow & Show is always enjoyable; members talking about their orchids in bloom. 

 

C. Mossiae? NOID. Been growing this since 1987 ish.

 

C. mossiae coerulea 'Blue Bird' x C. mossiae coerulea 'Herrerae'

 

phal NOID

Phal. 'White Dream' ' V.3' AM/AOS.  The only named phal I have.

 

[metalfan]

I have a few new bloomers. 

Dendrobium Nestor 'Red Dragon' popped out 3 full canes

Dendrobium anceps is starting its bloom cycle

I'm waiting one a few other things that are in spike now.

 

[metalfan]

Blooming today: Jackfowlieara Appleblossom 'NN' yellow

[piping plovers]

You all have such great blooms on display; good month for orchids.

Here is my C. mossiae yellow lip x coerulea 'Pablo'.  First time blooming for me.  Looks bluer in real life but not as blue as I thought it would be.  A few days into blooming, so not sure how flat it opens out.  

 

[piping plovers]

Don’t you love it when a 1st year division blooms? I Never expect it, but always appreciate it 🙏

Divided this from my 37 year old NOID last September to have a spare.

 

 

[Tracy]

2 hours ago, piping plovers said:

Don’t you love it when a 1st year division blooms? I Never expect it, but always appreciate it

The mama plant must be thriving after 37 years and getting a division established after just 1 year.  Congratulations.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, this Sarchochilus hartmannii is a relatively new orchid to me and is giving me its first flowers.  The flowers are relatively small when opened and I didn't notice a scent from them yet.  I'll have to look them up to see if they are supposed to be fragrant if I don't sense something first.

[piping plovers]

31 minutes ago, Tracy said:

The mama plant must be thriving after 37 years and getting a division established after just 1 year.  Congratulations.

Thank you 🙏 

My project this summer is to get big mama out of the wooden basket.  The media is so old; she is growing vertical just to escape it. 

Delightful blooms on your sarchochilus. I’m not familiar with that species.  Looks like you have a 2nd spike just below the blooms. 👍

 

[metalfan]

Rhyncattleanthe Shinfong Dawn. Nice orange flower, love the red pop 

[canefan]

Rios Little Treasure