Why not grow orchids?

[realarch]

Just a great little orchid, with a wonderful scent. Blooms like crazy. Prosthechea radiata.

Tim

[piping plovers]

Petteiraara Tony Tan Keng Yam.  This is a seedling, vanda-like orchid, I bought from Home Depot.  One of the Better Gro baggy babies. First time blooming.

[metalfan]

I'm going to an orchid show today! May post some photos when I get back

[piping plovers]

1 hour ago, metalfan said:

I'm going to an orchid show today! May post some photos when I get back

Hope you find some nice ones!

I keep getting emails for the Redlands Rare Plant Festival today in Homestead. Wish I was in FL this weekend; would enjoy going.

 

[Hillizard]

Now THIS is an Papua New Guinea orchid species I wish I could see in person somewhere!

https://x.com/i/status/1614308724776083456

 

[metalfan]

2 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Now THIS is an Papua New Guinea orchid species I wish I could see in person somewhere!

https://x.com/i/status/1614308724776083456

 

I have a friend here who has this orchid. He blooms it too.

[Hillizard]

1 minute ago, metalfan said:

I have a friend here who has this orchid. He blooms it too.

Nice. Maybe one of the orchid hobbyists or conservatories here in California grows it too! 😃

[piping plovers]

40 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Now THIS is a Papua New Guinea orchid species I wish I could see in person somewhere!

Intriguing. I assume it’s closely related to B. Phaleonopsis? 

[metalfan]

Yes. He got it from someone locally who imported them a few years ago.

I have a hybrid made with this, but it has not bloomed yet.

[metalfan]

Bulbophyllum gracillimum

Vandochostylis Pon Washington #117

[metalfan]

Bulbophyllum crassipes

[metalfan]

Bulbophyllum rothschildianum. I have 10 spikes opening 

[metalfan]

Bulbophyllum Elizabeth Ann Buckleberry 'Jean'

[metalfan]

Bulbophyllum putidum

[metalfan]

A bunch more flowers opened up on Rothschildianum

[piping plovers]

1 hour ago, metalfan said:

bunch more flowers opened up on Rothschildianum

Impressive specimen.  With 10 spikes coming, you really should consider bringing that to an AOS judging. We have judging events every month in MA. With all the orchid activity in FL, it’s likely you can find one of their planned events nearby.

[metalfan]

We have a local Os but I’m not a member. They hold meetings 20+ miles from my house at 730pm. I cannot drive after dark, do I can’t go

[metalfan]

Bulbophyllum longissimum

[metalfan]

At least 7 double flower spikes opening on this Bulbophyllum lasiochilum

[metalfan]

Bulbophyllum roxburgii first umbel to open,

[piping plovers]

A clone of Rlc Rhyncholaeliocattleya Blanche Aisaka 'Yuki' FCC/AOS.

 

[metalfan]

All the little Bulbophyllum lasiochilum flowers finally opened

[miamicuse]

I have three orchids blooming at the same time, all three attached to the same palm near the same height.

[metalfan]

Sweet!

[Hillizard]

With fall underway here in NorCal, the only thing being produced in my orchid pots are mushrooms! Not sure if these are beneficial fungi , but they don't seem to be affecting the health of the orchids.🤔

[Tracy]

22 hours ago, Hillizard said:

With fall underway here in NorCal, the only thing being produced in my orchid pots are mushrooms!

That means you need to get some late Autumn and winter blooming orchids like Laelias species.  None of mine are in bloom yet, but there are numerous spikes on all of them.

[Hillizard]

23 hours ago, Tracy said:

That means you need to get some late Autumn and winter blooming orchids like Laelias species.  None of mine are in bloom yet, but there are numerous spikes on all of them.

Tracy: Thanks for your suggestion. I'll test a couple in that genus with the conditions in my unheated sunroom. 🤔

[Silas_Sancona]

47 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Tracy: Thanks for your suggestion. I'll test a couple in that genus with the conditions in my unheated sunroom. 🤔

Any of the " Mexican " Laelia  IE: L. anceps, gouldiana, autumnalis, ..a couple others i can't remember atm  shouldn't be much trouble to grow up there, in the sunroom, or outside under bright indirect light.

L. anceps  itself can tolerate temps down to the mid ..possibly low 20s / highs to about ..or just above 100F.

Quick cultivation cheat sheet link from SBOE: https://www.sborchid.com/GrowingGuides/culture-Lanc.htm


  Laelia / Cattleya purpurata  is another tough as nails Catt. group sp. that should be pretty easy to grow, though i might house it in the sun room thru the winter months since it is a little less cold hardy than L. anceps / other Mex. group Laelia sps..

Encyclia / Prosthechea radiata,  ..and a couple others closely related to that sp.   are also considered pretty easy, though they're better grown in pots that can sip moisture from the bottom, rather than being more tolerant of drying out like Laelias can.  Small specimen bought in a 2 or 3" pot can quickly fill a 8 -10" wide container in ~approx. 2-3 years if happy.

[Hillizard]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Any of the " Mexican " Laelia  IE: L. anceps, gouldiana, autumnalis, ..a couple others i can't remember atm  shouldn't be much trouble to grow up there, in the sunroom, or outside under bright indirect light.

L. anceps  itself can tolerate temps down to the mid ..possibly low 20s / highs to about ..or just above 100F.

Quick cultivation cheat sheet link from SBOE: https://www.sborchid.com/GrowingGuides/culture-Lanc.htm


  Laelia / Cattleya purpurata  is another tough as nails Catt. group sp. that should be pretty easy to grow, though i might house it in the sun room thru the winter months since it is a little less cold hardy than L. anceps / other Mex. group Laelia sps..

Encyclia / Prosthechea radiata,  ..and a couple others closely related to that sp.   are also considered pretty easy, though they're better grown in pots that can sip moisture from the bottom, rather than being more tolerant of drying out like Laelias can.  Small specimen bought in a 2 or 3" pot can quickly fill a 8 -10" wide container in ~approx. 2-3 years if happy.

Thanks Nathan!!! I'll look into all of those, esp. if they have a scent.

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, Hillizard said:

Thanks Nathan!!! I'll look into all of those, esp. if they have a scent.

Can't remember whether or not flowers of my  L anceps  and the other Mex. Laelia i had had any real scent ..Light, if any, if i recall correctly. 
 

That said, L. anceps has been used in several crosses involving other Laelia, Cattleya and some other " Cattleya Alliance genera / sps., so,  you could definitely find a cross that would be fragrant. 

** A warning:  That rabbit hole is a BIG rabbit hole once you start " window shopping " Cattleya / Cattleya Alliance crosses Lol.

Flowers of L. purpurata ...and any of it's numerous varieties, and various crosses it has been used in often have a fragrance.

Flowers of Prosthechea radiata ..and it's close relatives... are often quite fragrant.  One good - sized specimen with numerous flower spikes can scent an entire room, ..if not be a bit over powering if the room is small.

  Some say the scent is like warm Chocolate, w/ a touch of Cinnamon, or like real Vanilla with Gardenia or Kahili Ginger -esque  hints, ...or resembling Rootbeer..  ..Somewhat similar to Maxillaria tenuifolia  -the Coconut Scented Orchid ( Another reasonably easy orchid to have around ) ..

  I'll give my take on what i think it smells like once i add a couple.

[piping plovers]

Like a chandelier.  Stanhopea oculata. Anticipation building for this to open soon. I kept it outdoors with night temperatures in the low 40s F. It’s indoors in the sunroom now. Three spikes this year. 

 

[piping plovers]

All 3 spikes blooming today.  Fragrance otherworldly !

The view from below the basket…

 

 

[John hovancsek]

Photo dump of orchids in bloom at my house 

[piping plovers]

Coelogyne rochussenii. First time experiencing these blooms. A very small one. They get huge and put on spectacular displays.
 

 

And with my little Hawaiian tree fern Hapu’u pulu putting out its first frond. Bottom right.

 

[aztropic]

Rhyncostylis gigantea. One of my favorite species due to their highly scented, long lasting, citrusly smelling flowers. I have 5 individual plants,and at least 1 of them flowers every winter. Despite its tropical origins, it does seem to perform well under desert conditions with a little TLC.👍 

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[piping plovers]

C. Bob Betts 'White Lightning' AM/AOS,(Bow Bells x mossiae). A classic, old-fashioned, corsage-type white.

[realarch]

Haven’t seen this one in awhile….have no idea of a name.

Tim

[Silas_Sancona]

13 minutes ago, realarch said:

Haven’t seen this one in awhile….have no idea of a name.

Tim

🤔  Hrmm.... Taking a shot,   Has a similar look to some of the x Cattlianthae cultivars,  like " Blue Angel "  or " Final Blue " ..but tough call beyond that casual thought since some L.C. cultivars look similar too...

Attention - getter regardless

[realarch]

Oooooooo…and another one. I’ve posted this one before.

Thanks Silas.

Tim

[Silas_Sancona]

A gift for all us orchid freaks...  2 Links to the announced dates for this years POE ( Pacific Orchid Expo )

https://www.orchidsanfrancisco.org/poe-2025.html

...Containing vendor info:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/orchids-in-the-clouds-2025-pacific-orchid-exposition-feb-27-mar-2-2025-tickets-1060400058119?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing&utm-campaign=social&utm-medium=discovery&utm-content=attendeeshare

If you can attend   ..HIGHLY  recommend doing so..  ...Just  DON'T  break the bank,  lol 😁