Orchid Blogging

This was albeled "Brown Oncidium". I had it in my window at work for the past 2 years. It was fed with "Shulz's Houseplant Food" weekly weekly. Strange how the color came out. It was originally a tiny plant from a big box store, and I kept it due to the unique color. Now it's quite lovely, but a completely different color.  Strange I can't get the yellow oncidium to bloom, but these bloom very nicely.

This is the Miltoniopsis that I rescued from myself last summer.  It's been getting a Miracle-Gro Tomato food at 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of rainwater.  Strange, even with the initial abuse, it's come back with beautiful flowers.

The orchids are given mineral foods due to being in entirely artifical environment, inside, getting rainwater.  It's not the same as plants in the soil outside.

Orchid Blogging for January

I can't take much credit for this Phalaenopsis - it was in bud when I bought it. This keeps blooming and blooming and blooming. The last Harlequin that i had bloomed for a year, but then when I was nurturing it back to the next bloom, I think I overwatered it, and it died. That doesn't happen much to my orchids, but it proves I am not the "orchid whisperer" yet.

This Cymbidium hybrid is the only one from last year that is blooming this year. I don't know why - if it is that it is more suited for my circumstances, or just a random difference. They are nice and fragrant, and I like these flowers more than the ones it had last year.

Oncidium "twinkle".  This must be the easiest Oncidium hybrid to rebloom.  This is the second rebloom this year.  I have been growing this with dilute Miracle Grow Tomato food - 1/4 teaspoon per gallon.  Not organic for the orchids, their situation is too artificial as it is, and miracle grow is mineral based, not a petrochemical.

I've had this Oncidium hybrid for 2 years. It was a tiny plant, beige / brown flower. I bought it as a "disposable" but then kept it anyway. Glad I did - now it's starting a spike. I'm starting to think I can grow Oncidiums - although I still can't get the yellow ones to bloom. I have another one in spike too, but one pic of a small early spike is enough.

Miltoniopsis hybrid.  Or possibly, Miltonia.  This is another plant I thought I would just keep while in bloom, left it on the deck for a month or two without any care at all, then another Miltoniopsis bloomed so I reconsidered and repotted it.  That was last summer.  And now...  the beginning of a flower spike.  Actually, 2 flower spikes.  Amazing!

A little orchid report

I thought this was a miltonia but on reading closer the tag stated Beallara Purple Haze "Jimi Hendrix". Beallara is an intergeneric of Miltonia with Brassia, Cochlioda, and Odontoglossum, heavy on the Miltonia, so I wasn't too far off. I don't know if I'll keep it when it's done blooming - just something to look at until other flowers start to bloom. Quite nice I think. According to the book "Bloom Again Orchids" by Judy White, Beallara needs day temps in med 60s to mid 70s, and nights in mif 50s to 60, so I think it could do well for me. Plus, light requirement is "Medium" indicating bringht indirect eastern or southern window. I think I can do those.

This Paphiopedilum "Maudeae" is gradually getting closer to blooming. It will be the first Paphiopedilum to bloom for me, all on growth that occurred under my care, so I'm pleased.

This Phalaenopsis is inching closer and closer to rebloom. This is a new spike, from a previously blooming spike that finished. It's almost as good as blooming from growth that occurred under my care. This little Phalaenopsis is a real trooper.