Cyrtochilum macranthum nanum x self

Cyrtochilum macranthum nanum x self

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.

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.

Phalaenopsis - back to basics

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 -

Back to Orchids... Back to blogging...

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.

Potinara "Dream Cloud"

Here is an introduction to another beautiful orchid that just finished flowering - it's Potinara "Dream Cloud". It's complicated hybrid between Cattleya x Brassavola x Laelia x Sopronites and was created by breeding between closely related genera. There are many such interesting hybrids around these days and this one is just one of them.

The flowers of Dream Cloud" are quite large and it's very generous, producing many beautiful blooms during flowering season and I hope I was able to capture the beauty of them. Relaxed petals, vibrant color combinations, flamboyant look is what usually attracting people to these orchids. My "Dream Cloud" been with me for quite a few years now and always rewards me with these special, majestic blooms. In our climate it flowers right in the middle of winter, nicely filling the gap between autumn and early spring flowering orchids.
These orchids very easy to grow and always popular with beginners, they very tolerant of poor conditions and neglect, yet reward everyone with these attractive, special blooms.

Cattleya labiata

Some of my cattleya orchids started to show their flamboyant blooms and one of the first one's to flower is cattleya labiata - pretty orchid originated in mountains of Brazil. They have kind of compressed middle and it usually blooms with these beautiful 2 flowers on each pseudobulbs.

These orchids are among the easiest orchids to grow, very tolerant of different conditions and suitable for beginner as well as for experienced grower. They will grow in almost any compost provided it drains well. They like light shade and plenty of water during growing season and in our climate do well in the green house as well as under the shade of the trees in summer. They usually flower in late autumn/ early winter with large, beautifully sculptured fragrant blooms and they very popular with orchid hobbyist as well as general gardeners. I am looking forward seeing some more of these fragrant, colorful beauties this season.

Oncidium varicosum orchid

Oncidium orchids considered one of the largest genera in the orchids family and many orchid collectors dedicate large portion of their collections to these beautiful and diverse plants.

There have been many name changes in the Oncidium alliance and being such a large genus ( currently approx 750 varieties) one feels that it will be some time before a stable nomenclature is achieved. There are also many hundreds of handsome hybrids made within the species of this genus and with other closely related genera.

This of course, does not deter orchid growers from enjoying such a beautiful blooms and it gives one possibility of growing them in many colors, textures and scents.

My oncidium orchid is var varicosum and it's one of the first orchids in my collection that starts it's flowering in early autumn and will continue producing it's beautiful, bright yellow blooms for a number of weeks. This species native to Brazil and Bolivia and it flowers in nice clusters. The flower spikes come up from the base of the pseudobulbs and are approx 80 cm long. It likes growing in a free-drain orchid compost in the shade of the trees with a lot of air movement around them. They are easy to grow and because of their cascading flower spikes can be grown in hanging pots or mounted on the tree trunks or slabs.

Masdevallia Tungurahua orchid

From quite a range to choose from, these orchids have earned their place as a firm favorite with growers in many countries.  The genus numbers more than 350 species and is distributed in Mexico, Central and South America. The majority of species found in high, mountainous regions where conditions are cool, moist and humid all year around. Under such conditions the plants have no requirement for moisture storage and storage organs such as pseudobulbs are unknown in the genus. All species have a compact growth habit and free-flowering producing beautiful floral displays.

Masdevallia's have a reputation of being tricky to grow, however as with all orchids, knowing their origins helps with cultivation. They have very fine roots which rot quickly if the potting mix becomes clogged. My Masdevallia Tungurahua just started flowering and I expect many more blooms during this season.

First orchids plants - starting collection

Where does one get first plants? Perhaps a friend given you a plant. May be you have seen them in a local nursery. However you get them, you need to know their names and their needs. One should never buy an unnamed plant unless it is a species and you think you can figure at least what genera it is. Then you can bloom it and refer to botanical descriptions or expert to find its full name. 

Unnamed hybrids are virtually valueless, unnamed plants can not be shown and half the fun of growing orchids is learning about their origins and genealogy.

Keep in mind your conditions when buying your first plants. Until you have really accumulated lots of experience in growing orchids, you should not try plants whose needs you can't meet.

Many modern hybrids are so complex that these plants less fussy about temperatures. Modern hybridizers have "warmed up" many cool growing orchids by breeding them with species from warmer areas. For example miniature Cymbidiums are intermediate while standard one's cool growing.

If you have joined your local Orchid Society, you will have immediate access to good plants. Most growers have divisions to give or sell. Try not to invest in an awarded plant until you know you can handle it, however do try to get plants in good growing condition. Seedlings and back bulbs are not for a beginner - they may be years from blooming.

Some of the members of your local society will be commercial growers. Make an appointment to see them, be ready to listen and learn, and ask for their recommendations. You can ask to visit some member's greenhouses - every greenhouse is different, but there is something to learn everywhere. When you get there, try not to look at plants only. Look at benches, the heating, shading, watering, hoses, etc... See how plants are arranged. Not everything you see will apply to your own conditions, but keep an open mind. Make notes or sketches and ask questions.

Another good advise for a beginner - don't load up only one genus. Try different orchids if your growing conditions are intermediate. Sticking to just cattleyas or just cymbidiums makes a dull collection and a look of sameness. Most people don't realize how different orchid blooms can be.

However you get your first plants, through friends, commercial growers, ads, catalogues or auctions, try to buy plants that give you flowers at all seasons of the year.

Some Cattleyas bloom more than once a year. Some bloom in season. Most Phalaenopsis bloom in spring. Cymbidiums start in autumn and go on through spring. Catalogues will tell you if an orchid is early, middle or late flowering. Find out about expected bloom period of plants, trying not to buy three of four purple Cattleyas all blooming in autumn.

Often you will find "combination offering" at reduced prices and these are good deals for a beginner to try to grow different species and to see the magic of orchids.

(Photo from  Australian Orchids Council screensaver)

Cymbidium orchid Memoria Marvin Gaye "Royale"

This cymbidium orchid variety was recently commercially released here in Australia, but I was able to get a few small seedlings some time ago and this spring couple of plants started flowering. As you can see - its an absolute stunner!

The plants are of intermediate size with really beautiful flowers - deep bronze color with bright red color labellum - the most unusual and pleasing combination. The parentage is Brook Street x Tom Thumb and this spring two of my plants developed couple of flower spikes. The plants kept their flowers for more than a month and I was able to enjoy its flowers for an extended period of time.

As my plants maturing, I am looking forward seeing more and more flowers of this variety. Cymbidium orchids are not hard to grow, they have their own basic growing requirements - plenty of moisture and fertilizer during growing time ( spring, summer and autumn), filtered light not to burn their leaves and good air movement - that's about it, but they reward you with beautiful blooms for a long period of time.

Paphiopedilum Orchid

These lovely lady's slipper orchids flower in striking, often bizarre, color combinations: background colors may be white, yellow, green, or a combination, with markings in tan, mahogany, brown, maroon, green or white. With their lacquered or waxy textures, these flowers sometimes appear more artificial than real.

Paphiopedilum orchids are native to India, Southern China, South-east Asia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The majority of species grow as terrestrial in pockets of debris in rocks, in sandy soils, among tree roots. While most species favor shady forests where they may receive dappled sunlight, a couple of species grow in sunny locations.

Despite an absence of pseudo bulbs, these orchids are quite able to withstand fairly long dry period and very suitable to our Australian climate - most of the species grow naturally in areas where climates are strongly seasonal.

My Paphiopedilum orchids ( var insigne) grow under the shade of a large tree all year around, where they appreciate good air movement. I water them every couple of days in spring and summer and less in autumn and winter, if needed. I've been growing them for the past 6 years or so, and while the plants are not big, without fail, they are flowering every year.

Angulocaste var Tudor

These orchids are from remarkable group of terrestrial orchids with pronounced pseudobulbs and large spoon-shaped leaves. In summer they produce dramatic tuliplike flowers. These plants prefer cooler temperatures.

They need to be protected from the summer sun or their leaves will scorch, but in winter they prefer a lot of light. They also prefer winter dry rest with may be occasional misting, but watering should be resumed when spikes start to appear at the bases of the bulbs.

My orchid is variety Tudor and displays these beautiful large yellow tulip type scented flowers. Its not hard to grow and welcome addition to any orchid collection.

Zygopetalum orchid - var Blue Lake “Atlantis”

One of the great attractions of Zygopetalums is the contrast between the color of the sepals and petals and that of the lip. These orchids require good light with plenty of moisture at the root when in full growth. Air movement around this orchid in conditions of high humidity is very important, otherwise the leaves can become badly spotted. In our Australian climate, this specie flowering during early spring, producing heavy scented flowers that last for 4 or 5 weeks.

My Zygopetalum orchid var Blue Lake "Atlantis" been repotted last summer and this spring it rewarded me with these heavenly perfumed beautiful flowers. Few orchids are easier to grow than Zygopetalums and these orchids are excellent subjects for the beginners.

Cymbidium orchid - var “King Agate”

The Cymbidium species are quite diverse and are found growing wild over a wide range from foothills of the Himalayas to the coast of China, and as far as south as Australia. They live in a range of habitat from tropical rain forests to relatively dry conditions. Most of the cool growing cymbidiums hybrids so wildly grown today have been bred from species originating in the foothills of the Himalayas.

My cymbidium orchid King Agate just finished flowering. Its one of the beautiful intermediate cymbidiums in my collection. The flowers are nicely positioned of burnt-fark orange with dark brown color and this year it flowered with five flower spikes.

As all cymbidiums, it keeps its flowers for about a month and its a beautiful addition to any orchid collection.