Orchids,traditionally, the exclusive province of the wealthy specialists are now grown and enjoyed in the homes and greenhouses around the world. The myth that orchids are impossibly difficult and expensive to grow is gradually being dispelled by home orchids growers just like me
Couple of my onc. Twinkle orchids in bloom at the moment - they produce masses of tiny fragrant flowers on long flower spikes. The Twinkle varieties are some of the great oncidiums of all times - they are easy to grow, , compact with many color variations. There are pure pristine whites, yellows, pinks and deep reds to suit any grower and collector.
Twinkle is a hybrid between Oncidium cheirophorum and Oncidium ornithorhynchum and was created by W Moir of Hawaii back in 1958. They are easy to grow, can be flowered next to a window and very popular for their generous flowering habit and heavenly scented blooms.
They don't like direct sunlight so partial shade is perfect for them and should be watered just before they dry out, other than that they are easy to grow rewarding with beautiful scent of vanilla, cherry, fruit and herbs and many many miniature size blooms.
This beautiful orchid finally decided to bloom this season, it's complicated cross between closely related genera and been with me for a number of years, yet this is the first time I've seen it's flowers. It went backwoods on me a few times, but each time somehow revived itself.
It's not an easy orchid to grow - because it seems to require constant moisture, but not being soggy, bright but indirect light, dislike extreme temperatures, loves high humidity yet needs gentle breeze. If any of these conditions not met it's just not flowering and I am forever learning with this one.
I love colors combinations, the big showy blooms, the heavenly scent that reminds of many exotic spices and delighted finally to see it in flower.
Tiny green-winged orchid was discovered recently by Islington Council workers on the green roof of the Household Reuse and Recycling Centre in Holloway, UK. Very unusual situation because for this orchid to germinate and produce flowers all the right conditions have to be met - and here this rare orchid decided that rooftop of the Council is the best place for it to grow.
This discovery got all orchid specialists and enthusiasts very exited, since this particular orchid specie haven't been seen or spotted in the area for the past 100 years, it take number of years to germinate and was first recorded by Charles Darwin in London area.
This specie went to decline because it require hay meadow habitat that has been lost due to agricultural intensification, yet somehow Nature decided to give it another chance, on Islington's Council rooftop.
Long Live and multiply Anacamptis morio ( it's Latin Name) !!! (Photo - Islington Council)
Some of my phal's flowering at the moment, showing off many colors and textures combinations. They are easy to grow, to bring to flower and they stay in bloom for a very long time.
We are in between orchid flowering season here and pha's always fit nicely during the time when some of my orchids finished their flowering and others not blooming yet, delighting with their kaleidoscope of colors.
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!
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.
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.
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.
My Oncidium Jiuhbao Gold blooming right now. It's a beautiful orchid with huge flowers and very nice clear colors. It always produce these large, flamboyant blooms at the end of our winter.
Oncidiums one of the largest genera in the orchid family, currently contain more than 600 species and as far as I remember there have always been name changes in the oncidium alliance, but this of course does not deter orchid growers and collectors - with such multitude of species there are many grown and enjoyed around the world.
There are also many handsome hybrids and varieties made with the species of this and closely related genera and my Jiuhbao Gold "KBR" one of these varieties that have bold, huge blooms that enjoyed by everyone.
I've been waiting for this orchid to bloom for quite a while, purchased it a couple of years ago and been trying to get it to flower and finally it decided to reward me with these special blooms. The flowers of this specie quite large, over 12 cm with relaxed petals and color predominantly yellow with shade of purple and orange in the middle.
These orchids are native to cool mountain forests of Peru and Colombia, growing at higher elevation at about 3,000m and like cooler temperature with bright light, plenty of moisture and quick drying situation. For a while I've been trying replicate as much as I can it's growing requirements, experimented with light, watering, moved it a few times around greenhouse, tried to keep it cool during summer heatwave and finally in the middle of our winter it decided to bloom, revealing to me it's special beauty that I can share with you all.
Majority of my cattleya's started it's flowering season, they always bloom during our colder time of the year when it's raining and dark and windy and cold and they always delight with their flamboyant colors and textures.
Most of my catleya's don't have any name tags - they were collected by me over the years from friends who gave them to me when they finished flowering, some were purchased from the back benches of nurseries and garden centers in rather poor states at discounted prices not suitable for quick sales, other found me through neglected gardens. It's interesting that personally I find that cattleya's one of the easiest orchids to bring back to flowering - they just need a bit of shade in our hottest time, plenty of watering and a sunny bench in winter and they recover from any neglect very quickly.
Here are some that are currently in bloom, delighting me with infusion of colors during our colder months -
In this post I thought I'll go back to basics and will share with you my techniques for growing these beautiful plants. One of my personal rules for growing any orchid is to find out as much as I can about it's native habitat and to try to match it as much as possible. This genera contains more than 60 species which been crossed between themselves to obtain the beautiful colors and shapes and sizes. but the basics remain same for successful cultivation. Of course, every growers conditions are different, yet once the basics are understood, these orchids will reward you with many many years of blooms.
Here is the video showing phalaenopsis growing in natural habitat -
Note the light intensity, the amount of moisture, the way the plant positioned - all of these things are the clues for understanding what these orchid need and how they like to be kept.
I don't know how many times I've heard advice not to over water them, yet in they natural environment moisture is everywhere and from my personal experience mastering the watering techniques is a major part of growing them successfully.
What they don't like is overhead watering, with moisture collecting between the leaves because in nature they hang on the trees at an angle so all excess moisture just slips away. They are sold potted upright in containers, so the easier way to water them is by dunking them just below the crown so that the roots can absorb the moisture from the bottom. Also, I fertilize them same way - dissolving fertilizer in the water at a very weak rate may be once a month - they really appreciate it.
Phalaenopsis are epiphytes ( air - plants) , they roots need plenty of air and light to flower successfully and what usually happens is that they sold in plastic pots where only air roots at the top see the light and the bottom, the feeder roots promptly start rotting away because it’s unnatural for them to be enclosed in thick plastic pot. What I always do is re-pot them in clear plastic pot with many large holes made around and the bottom of the pot. The choice of container is up to you - anything with clear plastic will do, as long as the light can penetrate the area around the roots, the more holes made, the better it is for the plant. It means that they will get watered and dry out quick, imitating their natural requirements. They love this kind of environment and send many flower spikes during growing season.
Here are some of my plants that flowering at the moment -
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.
Some of my phalaenopsis orchids are flowering at the moment. They always bring a lot of color at the time when most of my orchids are resting - right in the middle of our summer. The flowering period is long and there is plenty of time to enjoy their fabulous blooms.
I found that there is a bit of confusion especially for beginners on how to grow and to maintain these orchids, volumes of information abound everywhere and most of it complicated. The result is for many they became throw-away plants, quickly replaced by the new one's with same outcome. Right now I have a few plants in my "intensive care orchid unit" given to me for revival
that are doing nicely, recovering with great speed.
In the near future I'll do a post and will share my own techniques for growing these fabulous plants and in the mean time here are the pictures of my flowering phalaenopsis
This beautiful native been with me for quite a few moons, originally purchased as a discounted plant in rather sorry condition yet recovered fully in it's first growing season. Every year it rewards with long spikes and massive displays of scented creamy flowers and usually blooms when all other orchids resting filling the gap nicely.
In it's native habitat it grows in moist areas of eastern Australia and loves plenty of watering especially at the beginning of it's flowering season. Other than that, it's very easy to look after and tolerates most conditions, in winter I grow it in a greenhouse in a sunny spot with some other natives and then take it out under the shade of the trees for the rest of the year.
"Star Shower" is a beautiful orchid, appreciated by everyone for it's masses of scented blooms that reward year after year.
I've taken a break from my blog for a while and recently decided to get back and start sharing again information about the beautiful orchids that I love. I needed a break to deal with drama's of life , to travel and to attend to some pressing health issues, to learn and to experience many new concepts and understandings.
I am forever grateful for all messages that I received via this blog and happy that I was able to share with you all my love and fascination of orchids and hope that I will be able to continue to do same in the future.
Here are some pictures of my travels where I tried to capture the mystery and the energy of the places, to learn and to apply the magic of the places and the plants that native to them and to glimpse at the world that is so close to us yet so mysterious.
Here our cymbidium flowering season nearly finished, I still have a few late blooming varieties that are yet to put up a show, but I thought I'll feature a few beautiful cymbidiums that been with me for quite a few years, yet I have no idea of their names or origins.
Some were given to me by friends when they stopped flowering for them, some were rescued by me from old gardens being "redeveloped", others were picked up by me from the back benches of garden nurseries discarded, dried up and shriveled, not suitable for quick sale.
All of these plants gone through my "intensive orchid care unit" and with a bit of attention and patience started flowering again and been rewarding me with their flamboyant blooms year after year. From my experience it does not take a lot to revive neglected plant - just quick checking of the root system, new fresh compost, shady situation in the garden and plenty of watering with occasional feed. And a bit of time to let the orchid to recover properly - after that just enjoyment and appreciation of these special plants.
Couple of my Odontioda (Oda) orchids in flower at the moment, they are complex hybrids from the Oncidium alliance and they bloom with most spectacular free-flowing colorful flowers. They are native to Brazil and the Andes where they grow at high elevation. The flowers of these orchids are large and showy and they are very popular with many orchids growers.
They are not the easiest orchids to bring to flower and require a bit of understanding and dedication and the answer, as usual, is to try to replicate their native growing requirements - they love constant watering and high humidity with plenty of air movement and prefer plenty of shade, especially in our hot summers. At the same time it's a delicate balance not to overwater them, since they dislike water droplets in the leaf axis and can go backwards quite quickly.
They are always a challenge for someone like me and I love their exotic, delicate , rare, romantic blooms and looking forward this time of the year to see how they reveal their special beauty, their colors and flamboyant blooms.
