Why not grow orchids?

[piping plovers]

3 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

 

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

 

Sounds like an event not to be missed, Nathan. Will you be attending? 

I like the symposium topic and hopefully it will eventually be posted to YouTube. 

[Silas_Sancona]

4 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

Sounds like an event not to be missed, Nathan. Will you be attending? 

I like the symposium topic and hopefully it will eventually be posted to YouTube. 

Unfortunately, no, not able to this year.  Agree, would be neat to see the symposium posted where everyone can see it.

[piping plovers]

Paphs at Lowe’s. Can you believe it? Never thought these would go big box store mainstream. Lol. This was nearby Cocoa Beach, FL. Really good prices too.

Unfortunately, already filled my carry on bag capacity for plants so had to pass.

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

29 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

Paphs at Lowe’s. Can you believe it? Never thought these would go big box store mainstream. Lol. This was nearby Cocoa Beach, FL. Really good prices too.

Unfortunately, already filled my carry on bag capacity for plants so had to pass.

 

 

I see them -occasionally- in a couple local Lowes, and they're always the first to get snatched up, lol..  Same w/ the extra - rare Cattleya or D. nobile cultivar that shows up on the same benches.



Btw, one of the neighborhood  stores had a couple Anthuriums again ..Same " hookeri or plowmanii " i'd picked up before, ..and a decent -sized superbum..  Would have grabbed the hookeri but had to cross off some other " to do ' list stuff this month..

A. superbum  looked good but was very wobbly in it's container, so not sure i'd have added it if i'd been able to.  Next time, darn it, 😁

 

[piping plovers]

15 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Btw, one of the neighborhood  stores had a couple Anthuriums again ..Same " hookeri or plowmanii " i'd picked up before, ..and a decent -sized superbum..  Would have grabbed the hookeri but had to cross off some other " to do ' list stuff this month..

Nice to hear you get that opportunity from time to time. Makes it a little more interesting to visit these box stores. I did find a vanda type at Lowe’s. 

And speaking of aroids, I did find a philodendron paloraense. I saw a mature one in their vertical display wall, and I asked for a small one to fit in carry on.

 

a photo of the philodendron from their website 

 

[piping plovers]

1 hour ago, piping plovers said:

And speaking of aroids, I did find a philodendron paloraense. I saw a mature one in their vertical display wall, and I asked for a small one to fit in carry on.

I meant to say this philodendron was from ecuagenera’s Fl location.

[John hovancsek]

[aztropic]

On 12/7/2024 at 12:40 PM, aztropic said:

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 

Different color - Same great scent! Flowering now.

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[piping plovers]

4 hours ago, aztropic said:

Different color - Same great scent! Flowering now.

Beautiful colors on this one!

[piping plovers]

Anyone want to see FL orchid nursery pics? A winter horticultural getaway: some orchid photos from my visit this week to Ecuagenera and Krull/Smith orchids in FL. They are just down the road from each other. If you are in the area, you must treat yourself and visit both. First time visiting Krull-Smith. Well worth the visit to both.
 

Unfortunately for me, all of these were too large for carry-on baggage and way too cold to ship home to RI anytime soon.  I noted the names and will have some shipped when we get a mild spell, if not —-then springtime.

Ecuagenera below:

This one stopped me in my tracks:

 

Again, that same one:

A dream table of blooming cattleya - types:

 

another show stopper:

 

And krull-smith below:

 

Yes, a non-orchid interloper on this thread, but this Anthurium regale was so large! And regal!

 

ive only bought cheap super market phals, but I would gladly buy this one and it’s very reasonably priced:

 

Several impressve vandas, this looked like gold dust sprinkled:

And for the FL fauna lovers, the piping plover greeting team were out doing their thing every day on cocoa beach.

 

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

6 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

Anyone want to see FL orchid nursery pics? A winter horticultural getaway: some orchid photos from my visit this week to Ecuagenera and Krull/Smith orchids in FL. They are just down the road from each other. If you are in the area, you must treat yourself and visit both. First time visiting Krull-Smith. Well worth the visit to both.
 

Unfortunately for me, all of these were too large for carry-on baggage and way too cold to ship home to RI anytime soon.  I noted the names and will have some shipped when we get a mild spell, if not —-then springtime.

Ecuagenera below:

This one stopped me in my tracks:

 

Again, that same one:

A dream table of blooming cattleya - types:

 

another show stopper:

 

And krull-smith below:

 

Yes, a non-orchid interloper on this thread, but this Anthurium regale was so large! And regal!

 

ive only bought cheap super market phals, but I would gladly buy this one and it’s very reasonably priced:

 

Several impressve vandas, this looked like gold dust sprinkled:

And for the FL fauna lovers, the piping plover greeting team were out doing their thing every day on cocoa beach.

 

 

 

Was about to say ...Do you even need to ask, I mean, it's an automatic yes.. ( ....Or should be, 
😁 ) lol...

Agree, that Phal would've been in my cart.. Along with the rest of that eye candy.. 

[Cindy Adair]

Loved the nursery photos! Living now just a short flight away from FL I still haven’t made it to either of those nurseries. I have gotten plants from both, generally while attending plant shows in South Florida but I do enjoy wandering through nurseries!

Anybody heading to the first day of the Tamiami orchid show next month?

Or the Chocolate festival the next day at Fairchild Gardens who houses the American Orchid Society collection? I will be there briefly so would enjoy putting a face to the PT name if you are heading there too. 
 

I am slowly working on adding better labels to my neglected orchid collection mostly tied to trees.

Here’s one more finally named:

 

This one came from an orchid show/sale when I grew orchids in a greenhouse in VA.

Thanks for all the photos and posts here!

[piping plovers]

8 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

Anybody heading to the first day of the Tamiami orchid show next month?

Or the Chocolate festival the next day at Fairchild Gardens who houses the American Orchid Society collection? I will be there briefly so would enjoy putting a face to the PT name if you are heading there too. 

Thank you Cindy. I would enjoy going to those shows and I appreciate hearing about the Chocolate festival and the AOS collection. And such a good idea to meet fellow PT members there. 
 

I don’t know if I will be able to make the January shows but hope to visit the Redlands show again this year. For all my visits to FL I never yet visited the many Homestead orchid nurseries; but am making a list.

..and beautiful specimen there of that Coelogyne; looks very happy in its spot!

[Cindy Adair]

You may have heard that Redlands Orchid show which I love is moving to the Fall. 
 

Apparently there will be another big rare plants sales event in the Spring like one last Fall, but I have not attended that apparently now twice a year option yet. 
 

And my quick January visit to Miami just doesn’t leave time for my usual well worth the drive visits to Richard Lyons nursery and https://rforchids.com and many others.
Homestead is great with minimal traffic and much better budget hotel choices and a day trip to the northern Keys in a day trip. 

 Nothing like any of this in PR, but still happy with living easy here and dollars saved for travel/plants. 

[realarch]

Den. Mirabeliana x Minnie. Minnie it is. 

Tim

[metalfan]

After opening one flower about a month ago (I thought that was al I was getting LOL) Bulbophyllum roxburgii decided to come out with....SIXTEEN blooms

[piping plovers]

17 hours ago, realarch said:

Den. Mirabeliana x Minnie. Minnie it is. 

Beautiful…and with the backdrop of a splendid Joey palm.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

My local Lowe’s carries vandas, dendrobiums, and the common phal. They also have some other orchids that are like bagged I never really check them out though.

[miamicuse]

after the cold front, the orchids are waking up...

[piping plovers]

12 minutes ago, miamicuse said:

after the cold front, the orchids are waking up..

Vibrant! What a nice collection. And very well grown.

[realarch]

A morning sunbeam lit this Oncidium up.

Tim

[Tracy]

Some of my Laelia orchids still giving pleasure in mid January. 

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, Tracy said:

Some of my Laelia orchids still giving pleasure in mid January. 

 

🤔 " giving "  pleasure? 

[piping plovers]

Been meaning to post photos from our annual orchid show, hosted by Massachusetts’ orchid society of Cape Cod and Islands of Nantucket & Martha’s Vineyard.

Bitter cold January weather presented many logistical challenges transporting the orchids. However, It was a great showcase for all the New England States’ orchid clubs and a great weekend seeing all the regional and local members.

I loaned my 2 potted Howea belmoreanas to fulfill their role as the “Sentry Palms,’ guarding some of the displays from foot traffic.

My humble little supermarket phal (below) actually was awarded 2 show ribbons!

 

Following are the Many beautiful orchids and displays from regional talented hobbyists:

 

Below, I’ve never seen one of these this large 

 

Below, this looks like the ecuagenera mascot flower on their logos:

 

I took this one home as a gift from the Society, love these spidery types 

 

 

Show theme was a New England shoreline 

 

the shape of these below I found to be particularly  striking 

I find this one below to be extraordinarily beautiful and otherworldly 

 

 

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

43 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

Been meaning to post photos from our annual orchid show, hosted by Massachusetts’ orchid society of Cape Cod and Islands of Nantucket & Martha’s Vineyard.

Bitter cold January weather presented many logistical challenges transporting the orchids. However, It was a great showcase for all the New England States’ orchid clubs and a great weekend seeing all the regional and local members.

I loaned my 2 potted Howea belmoreanas to fulfill their role as the “Sentry Palms,’ guarding some of the displays from foot traffic.

My humble little supermarket phal (below) actually was awarded 2 show ribbons!

 

Following are the Many beautiful orchids and displays from regional talented hobbyists:

 

Below, I’ve never seen one of these this large 

 

Below, this looks like the ecuagenera mascot flower on their logos:

 

I took this one home as a gift from the Society, love these spidery types 

 

 

Show theme was a New England shoreline 

 

the shape of these below I found to be particularly  striking 

I find this one below to be extraordinarily beautiful and otherworldly 

 

 

 

 

   Congrats on the ribbons..

Quite impressed by the variety of Orchids being grown by folks up there..  A few you got pictures of aren't the easiest to grow either, let alone where the sun angle / day length is limited.

 

[piping plovers]

19 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Congrats on the ribbons..

Quite impressed by the variety of Orchids being grown by folks up there..  A few you got pictures of aren't the easiest to grow either, let alone where the sun angle / day length is limited.

Thank you Nathan!

Yes, I think the general attitude is that with so many adverse cultural conditions working against hobbyists in these latitudes —— if you’re going to do it right, you REALLY got to do it right.  Overcompensating for lighting, temps (and if have the $$means— a quality greenhouse). For instance, the northern and coldest New England clubs like NH , VT and western MA have great reputations for what they grow.  Again—I believe, overcompensating, which brings them remarkable results.  Otherwise, you’’d just be throwing money away as a hobbyist.

[Silas_Sancona]

46 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

Thank you Nathan!

Yes, I think the general attitude is that with so many adverse cultural conditions working against hobbyists in these latitudes —— if you’re going to do it right, you REALLY got to do it right.  Overcompensating for lighting, temps (and if have the $$means— a quality greenhouse). For instance, the northern and coldest New England clubs like NH , VT and western MA have great reputations for what they grow.  Again—I believe, overcompensating, which brings them remarkable results.  Otherwise, you’’d just be throwing money away as a hobbyist.

Interesting but makes perfect sense...  While a different challenge, imagine overcoming the winter conditions there would be in the same basic category as trying to cultivate the really sensitive cloud forest species here  ..Absolutely must have the ideal greenhouse / climate control set up to succeed.  When you do, the results of that dedication can be quite impressive.

[iko.]

On 1/6/2025 at 7:52 PM, miamicuse said:

after the cold front, the orchids are waking up...

Impressive collection!

Do you know by any chance what orchid is this dark red? I guess it's a Rhyncholaeliocattleya but I would like to know what variety. Thank you!

[miamicuse]

4 hours ago, iko. said:

Impressive collection!

Do you know by any chance what orchid is this dark red? I guess it's a Rhyncholaeliocattleya but I would like to know what variety. Thank you!

Thanks, it's a Rlc. Heaven's Gate 'Crystelle'.

[realarch]

Hadn’t seen this one in ages, stuck in a lonely spot for a long time. A more open spot and a bit of rain and whaaa laaaa.

Just a ‘nuns cap’ orchid, Calanthe tankervillae, obviously taking a good amount of neglect. Beautiful.l

Tim

[piping plovers]

Phal. 'White Dream' ' V.3' AM/AOS and a pink supermarket phal. Been growing these for years.  I know some consider white phals to be ho-hum; but I really like them.  Years ago, I asked members of the Orchid Board what could be recommended as the best, classic white phal; this variety was mentioned more than any other.

The white phal is re-blooming on last year’s spike, so didn’t attain the height it normally would.

 

[PalmsInBaltimore]

The Maryland Orchid Society annual show/sale was this weekend. I wish I could share better photos than these iPhone shots I took but here is a little sample of what was there:

one of the vendors there, J&L Orchids of Connecticut, had an incredible inventory of miniature and terrarium-suitable orchids:

 

 

 

 

they say it never hurts to look. But sometimes it really does. I ended up getting two tiny mounteds, Haraella retrocalla on the left and Bulbophyllum skeatianum on the right:

[piping plovers]

14 minutes ago, PalmsInBaltimore said:

J&L Orchids of Connecticut, had an incredible inventory

Beautiful show. Was that held in Annapolis? Yes, I agree with you on J&L. She set up the most exquisite display at the show on Cape Cod. She is very talented and knowledgeable. I like that pink cattleya orchid with the yellow ribbons .

[PalmsInBaltimore]

6 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

Was that held in Annapolis? Yes, I agree with you on J&L. She set up the most exquisite display at the show on Cape Cod. She is very talented and knowledgeable.

It was in Timonium at the state fairgrounds. Happily enough on the same weekend as the Crab & Mallet Cat Show, which was also a lot of fun. Yes, I believe I spoke to the person you’re talking about. Very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Has an orchid case the size of a closet, plus the greenhouse and everything else. Pretty special, glad I caught her at the show. They have more for sale at these shows than is available online 

[piping plovers]

7 minutes ago, PalmsInBaltimore said:

It was in Timonium at the state fairgrounds. Happily enough on the same weekend as the Crab & Mallet Cat Show, which was also a lot of fun.

Ah, sounds like a great weekend. I lived in Annapolis and southern MD for many years. I really enjoyed being close to the Chesapeake; beautiful rural areas by the water there.

[Tracy]

Dendrobium season is here.  Dendrobium speciosum variations and Dendrobium gracilicaule (macrocarpus).

[Tracy]

Epidendrum porpax blooming again.  It isn't quite a mini but it is small.  According to my tag it is a native of Columbia. 

[piping plovers]

8 hours ago, Tracy said:

Dendrobium season is here

Striking in those cobalt blue pots!

What is the last one in the black pot? It’s very impressive and showy.

[Tracy]

6 hours ago, piping plovers said:

Striking in those cobalt blue pots!

What is the last one in the black pot? It’s very impressive and showy.

The one on the table is Dendrobium speciosum hillii .  We have experienced a series of storms which beat up the flowers so I moved that one under the patio cover as a test.   It does seem to protect the flowers when compared to the other Dendrobium speciosum which I left exposed to the rain.

[piping plovers]

4 hours ago, Tracy said:

The one on the table is Dendrobium speciosum hillii .

Thank you 🙏.