Sarcochilus orchids

These little beauties native to Australia and New Caledonia and really like hot, humid weather. They have short steams, only a few leaves and plenty of flowers on short inflorescences. There are currently about 15 species and all of them doing really well on our hot summer with colours of white, pinks, yellow and red. There are also many hybrids currently been developed by Australian breeders. 

They don’t like full sun or direct sunlight and prefer hot, humid position with good air movement. In nature most of them grow in the rocks and form clumps, showing masses of tiny, beautifully formed blooms. All of my sarcochilus orchids grow outside in the shade, exposed to all elements and being Australian native’s they don’t need any special care,  just occasional shower or watering. 

In cooler climate they can grow in the windowsill and would appreciate frequent misting to increase humidity. They are beautiful, easy orchids to grow that reward with masses of special blooms.

Dendrobium Sweetie (nobile)

This orchid flowering at the moment - masses of flowers and very nice sweet scent. Blooms last a long time, showcasing this beauty in full.

Pink Rock Orchid - Thelychiton kingianus (formerly Dendrobium kingianum)

Dendrobium kingianum 

Some of my dendrobium orchids started it’s seasonal flowering and the first one is always  Pink Rock Orchid. It’s one of the easiest orchids to grow and always rewards with small, fragrant colourful blooms. 

It’s Australian native and very hardy, can withstand extreme temperatures and adapted to various weather conditions. Pink Rock Orchid occurs from the coast to nearby ranges between the Hunter River in NSW  and Rockhampton in QLD  where it usually grows on rock in forest and woodland.

It likes bright light, plenty of water during growing time, good ventilation and very occasional feeding  - other than that it’s not fussy and producing brilliantly coloured flowers year after year.

 In nature it grows on branches of trees or on rocks but can easily grow on windowsill with plenty of light.

Some of my flowering phal’s

Most of my Phalaenopsis orchids in bloom at the moment, showing their many colors and textures and some with scents. They will flower for a few months and it’s nice to welcome their new flowering season.  I took these pictures with my phone instead of trusted camera and not exactly sure of the results, although the pictures are ok I prefer to show more details of any flower.

Most of my orchids in a kind of in between flowering stage at the moment, so a lot of repotting, sorting out and general maintenance happening in the greenhouse. And waiting for new and exiting blooms to emerge for another season. 

Wilsonara “Stirling Tiger”

One of my wilsonara’s flowering at the moment. it’s a cross between Odontioda 'Florence Stirling' and Ondontocidium 'Tiger Hamburhen” and it flowers with these large beautifully colored blooms.

It have long arching spikes that produce many flowers and very light herbal scent that reminds me of thyme and a bit of an attitude that demands attention. With me, “Stirling Tiger” seems to be flowering every other season and it gets moved around green house a few times in search of correct light requirement - too much light and it goes all yellow and with less light it’s just not flowering. It prefers warmer situation with a lot of air movement, and definitely wet and dry periods of growing.

Despite all this fussing, I still enjoy seeing it in flower and forgive it all of it’s shortcomings as long as I can see, smell and touch this special and magical orchid.

Cymbidium orchid - Brown Beauty

Cymbidium Brown Beauty

This cymbidium orchid flowering at the moment, It’s Brown Beauty that turning out quite an interesting cymbidium.
 It came to me couple of years ago as small seedling and been growing and maturing since then. It’s been sitting on the bank bench for a while and last year developed a couple of small flowers that was difficult to judge, however this season it actually started showing it’s full potential and decided to bloom with these rich, dark brown colors. It probably needs a couple of more growing seasons to mature fully, but it shows great promise.

It’s a medium size plant, very compact in it’s structure and as all cymbidiums in our climate it flowers in our winter when not many plants are in flower, giving long bursts of color in winter time.

Dendrobium orchids - Latouria type

Latouria dendrobium Little Atro

Latouria dendrobium Roy Tokunaga

Latouria dendrobium shiraishii

Some of my Latouria dendrobiums currently in flower - they are fascinating genera that include about 50 different species with majority native to Papua New Guinea and some to Samoa. They grow in hot, humid steamy rain forests attached to the trees in the area’s of year-round rainfall.

The plant size ranges from small to very large and they have very long lasting flowers. Some of Latouria dendrobiums are among the most spectacular in the sub tribe and these days becoming very popular in cultivation.  Because of their remote habitats, very little was known about many Latourias until quite recently, when several species that had been ‘discovered’ early in the century.

  There are also many hybrids been produced with crosses of the original jungle plants that are very desirable to orchid growers and collectors and they command high prices. Australian grower Hermon Slade in the 1950’s and 1960’ and Roy Tokunaga of Hawaii in the 1980’s and  1990’s produced many interesting crosses that are very popular today. One can always recognize Latouria dendrobiums - they are in the class of their own.

They are not easy orchids to grow and because of their nature require specific conditions to thrive and to flower -  they need filtered shade and not too much light, they like to be growing in moist conditions but not wet, they like resting in winter but not completely dry and can go backwoods very fast if they don’t get enough ventilation or humidity. I am forever learning with these orchids and adjusting my growing routine with different seasons and weather changes.

But when they start flowering I always enjoy their special blooms and appreciate Nature creating these beautiful, unusual orchids.

Phalaenopsis spp orchids

phalaenopsis violacea var Gene Tobia

phalaenopsis bellina

Couple of my phalaenopsis spp orchids flowering at the moment, it’s always nice to see these beauties in bloom.
There are about 60 species of this genus, including some of the most popular orchids in cultivation. Most of the species grow in hot, steamy lowlands, but a few are adapted to the cooler climates and higher altitudes.
Generally they grow in the habitats that are moist and humid year-around and they have large leaves and very short steams.


My phalaenopsis violacea var Gene Tobia flowers with large, yellow blooms that are fragrant, this specie native to  northwestern Sumatra

And phalaenopsis bellina grows in Malay Peninsula and Borneo in low altitudes in shady, humid forests often near a streams, it’s very fragrant and have strong, fruity perfume.

With these species the flowers always open progressively so I never see more than one flower on the flower spike. Each spike itself can re bloom a few times. Both of these orchids been with me for many many moons and I always look forward seeing them in bloom at this time of the year.

Dendrobium bracteosum

Some of my dendrobium orchids started new flowering season and this little beauty currently in bloom. It’s dendrobium bracteosum native to north coast of New Guinea. In it’s natural habitat it grows in hot, steamy coastal forests in clumps mostly attached to mangroves, exposed to bright light and all elements.

I have seen many color variations of this dendrobium - yellow, pink, red, orange and of course white and the flowers are very long lasting constantly produced by the plant.
In the home situation it’s an easy orchid to grow in our warm climate  - bright light and plenty of watering is all it needs to showcase it’s beautiful blooms.

Cymbidiums - NOID

We are in the middle of real heatwave here in Sydney with really very hot weather and very high humidity and the major task at the moment looking after all of my orchids ( as well as all other plants) is watering and misting. For my orchids it's kind of in-between season when I do re-potting and usual general maintenance of my plants and wait until hot weather is over, anticipating more beautiful blooms later on.

Here are some pictures of my late flowering cymbidiums. I have no idea of their names, some were swapped by me for other varieties, some were given to me for revival after they finished flowering but after being with me for a while all of the recovered nicely and flowered, showing off their special blooms. And after all, the world can always do with more beautiful flowers!

Dendrobium thrysiflorum in bloom

This dendrobium orchid just finished flowering - usually it flowers with a couple of flower spikes, but this year it gave 12 flower spikes, all perfectly formed - masses of flowers hanging everywhere!

Cyrtopodium Rustic Surprise

Cyrt.Rustic Surprise 1

Cyrt.Rustic Surprise 2

This beautiful orchid just finished it's flowering season, showing off it's special, luminous blooms.

The specie native to Florida, West Indies and Central America to Argentina and most of them have yellow and cream coloring sometimes described as "drab colors" in orchids publications, but I always wanted to try to grow more intense colors of cyrt. and this one did not disappoint.

The blooms are quite large and luminous and perfectly formed and the plant is of medium size. It's relatively easy to grow in our climate, however need a dry, cool resting period in our winter - "back of the bench" material for about 3 or more months and then as the weather warms up increased watering routine.

Cyrt. Rustic Surprise beautiful orchid that delights with it's colors, textures and slightly herbal scents.

Some of my flowering dendrobium orchids

These beauties just finished it's flowering season, all of them of the nobile variety and they all bloom with masses of colorful scented flowers.
They are one of the popular cultivated orchids and in nature can be found in the area of the Himalayas from India to southern China in deciduous forests, mostly in moderate altitudes. It's a widespread specie with many forms and varieties.

My plants don't get any special attention, all of them grow under the shade of the trees, with occasional watering during hot summer months, they like free draining situation and in our climate they bloom in late spring well into the summer. The flowers are long lasting, up to six weeks with beautiful scent and I love seeing them at the time when majority of my orchids are resting.

Phaelenopsis orchid - finally bloomed

While majority of my orchids are resting during our hot and humid summer this phaelenopsis orchid blooming with all of it's profusion.

Some years ago I got this small "experimental" seedling just to see if I can bring it to flower. It have spent number of years on the back bench and I've been patiently waiting for it finally mature.  I have no idea what was crossed with what, but I think it's actually turned out quite a nice orchid.

Maxillaria tenuifolia

Maxillaria tenuifolia

Being one of the popular orchids for cultivation this maxillaria orchid also been one of my favorite for many years - it's very easy to look after and have the most amazing coconut scent.

In nature it grows in rain forests at low altitudes from Mexico to Nicaragua and hangs from tree trunks forming large clumps. It loves humid weather and in our climate it always blooms at the beginning of summer showing off it's beautiful red coconut scented blooms.

Dendrobium Orchid "Starfish"

All of my dendrobium orchids finished their blooming season and the last one was beautiful "Starfish". I've had this orchid for quite a few years and always love when it flowers with masses of special, fragrant blooms.

Being Australian Native, it's very easy to look after, I grow it under the shade of the trees exposed to all elements during it's growing cycle, it does not need any special treatment, just less watering during our winter months - other than that it tolerates all seasonal changes quite well. It's a beautiful orchid that delights novice as well as experienced orchid grower year after year with it's scented, unusual flowers.

Zygopetalum Ocsa Platinum Surprise

Zygopetalum Platinum Surprise

One of my zygopetalum orchid flowering at the moment, it's Platinum Surprise that been with me for quite a few years. It have huge pale color blooms and heavenly scent and flowers lasts a long time.

Zygopetalum orchids are ones of the easiest orchids to grow, they have very minimal requirements in our climate - they like plenty of moisture during the year and then a dry period after they finished flowering. During hot summer they appreciate a bit of shade and I grow mine under the trees.
They are native to Brazil, Peru and other South American countries and grow in moderate altitudes in wet forests. They are very fragrant, delighting with their large, showy blooms.

Dendrobium bigibbum in flower

One of my dendrobiums currently flowering, another name for this orchid is Cooktown orchid and its Queensland's state floral emblem. It's native to northeastern Australia and PNG and many variations of color and form exists for this specie - from pure pristine white to dark purple this orchid delights with abundance of blooms during it's flowering season.

My Cooktown orchid white with many purple stripes at the end of the petals and always flowers at about this time of the year. These orchids are easy to grow for the beginner, not fussy, they like plenty of light and reduced watering in winter. The blooms are long - lasting and new flower spikes are forming during it's growing season giving recurring wonderful display of perfect, beautifully formed blooms.

Cycnoches loddigesii orchid “Wine Delight”

Cycnoches loddigesii orchid “Wine Delight”

This orchid was one of "impulse" purchases a few years back that happens to me from time to time and for a long time I had a bit of problem flowering it. The other name for this orchid is "swan orchid" because the blooms suppose to resemble swans.

The specie native to Brazil and the North of South America and lives in hot, steamy lowland habitats and for a long time I could not replicate it's growing requirements or the light factors. It died back quite substantially and spent a lot of time on the back bench however this summer decided to flower by sending a couple of flower spikes.
It just finished flowering and the blooms are quite interesting, deep wine color. I am still not sure if it need a lot of care or total neglect to induce blooming, so I am learning with this one bit by bit.

My late flowering cymbidiums

Our cymbidium season well and truly over now and these beauties were flowering right at the end of our spring. I thought I'll show some of them here for everyone to enjoy their special blooms.
Now all of my cymbidium orchids on well deserved rest and I am looking forward to next flowering season.

Cymbidium Mem Marvin Gale "What's Going On"

Cymbidium "Orange Tango"

Cymbidium "Tropical Inferno"

Cymbidium "Passion"

Cymbidium "Pink Solitude"

Cymbidium "Luna Wall" x "Viva Las Vegas"

Cymbidium "Sussex Moon" x "Peteete Doll"

Cymbidium "Orange Dreamtime"