Docktrillia orchids - known as “pencil orchids”

My doctrillia’s orchids flowering now, they are fascinating species native to eastern Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. They grow in in rain forests in the situations where they can get bright light and high humidity.

They have long, pendulous leaves and thin stems and very popular in cultivation because they very easy to grow, displaying masses of beautifully sculptured perfumed flowers. There are about 30 species in this genus with 18 of them found in Australia, with plenty of colour variations to suit any taste.

They are very easy to grow and once established not fussy, flowering almost continually from our early spring until late summer. Mine are growing outside exposed to all elements.

Notes - Orchid Mantis - Master of Disguise

In the fascinated world of orchids many interesting things and one of them is Orchid Mantis. This insect is native to tropical rain forests of Malaysia and it’s one of the world’s unusual and selective hunters.

“Bug Lab: Little Bugs, Super Powers” was an recent exhibition in Melbourne  and Orchid Mantis was one of the insects it’s featured. What Australian scientists learned about these surprisingly uncommon creatures is that instead of hiding within petals, ambushing bees and flies, they have become finely adapted for camouflage, mimicking parts of the orchid flower in an extraordinary display of predatory behaviour.

In fact it’s killer moves are now described as “pure ninja stealth” and scientists believe the insect is even better at catching pollinators than orchids themselves.

The Orchid Mantis is highlighted in the exhibition because of its deceptive imitation of the texture and colour of the orchid’s petals.

It remains completely still as it camouflages itself, only rotating its head to suss its surroundings.

Scientists call it an “aggressive mimicry”. 
What an interesting creation of Nature to ensure pollination of orchids in the tropical rain forests of  Southeast Asia.

Here is the video showing this Master of Disguise in action

Degarmoara orchids "Flying High" and "Skywalker Red Star" HCC-AOS

dgmra. Flying High

dgmra. Skywalker Red Star HCC-AOS

My Dgmra. orchids in bloom at the moment, they are inter-generic hybrids between miltonia x brassica x odondontoglossum and these days many beautiful crosses been developed. They considered being part of oncidium alliance and some of the easiest orchids to grow.

My dgmra. Flying High flowers twice a year, have long lasting blooms and dgmra. Skywalker Red Star HCC-AOS have large red shaped flowers. They are beautiful orchids, very distinct in their appearance.

I find them easy to grow providing they can have bright light, plenty of moisture during growing time with just occasional misting in winter and plenty of air movement and they always delight me with their beautiful flowers in our winter time.

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!

Orchids Oncidium Twinkle varieties - “CT Flamingo” and “Pink Profusion”

Onc. Twinkle CT Flamingo

Onc. Twinkle Pink Profusion

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.