Another month has passed and we are looking already at August!
We have gorgeous Summer weather here in the NE and so far the Orchids are reasonably happy.
I am starting with a bloom on my Cattleya Brabantiae 'El Toro' x sib
Dendrobium smilliae put out a couple of Summer spikes
Pleurothallis mathildae blooms all Summer long
Bulbo roxburghii was ready to bust out with several really good looking umbels the day before we went on vacation and I was sorry to miss it. So I was happy to see a late bloom on this one.
Name: Elaine Sarasota, Fl The one constant in life is change
Lovely start for the month, Ursula. Where did July go?
I have a new one that opened yesterday and every time I went out to take a pic, the skies would open.Vanda Jairak Heartthrob:
I got both Martin Motes' books and have been falling asleep over the Vanda book the last couple of nights. Oh, my! Have I ever been under-watering my poor Vandas! So interesting to note that the color of the roots tells you if they need water or not. The only time mine have been getting enough water is when it's rained and rained. They still needed more water to turn the roots green even though we got a heavy rain shower last night after dark . . . and the humidity is palpable today.
Others to note, Yellow Birds turning yellow, one spike has no dots on the lip which is amazing considering they are all divisions of the same original plant.
Lady of the Night B. nodosa is perfuming the cage wonderfully at night. Another poor orchid that hasn't been getting enough water . . . ya live and learn, right?
Elaine
"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
As to where July went, it was a rain out. I was out this morning at 7:30, thinking I would beat the rain and heat and get some yard work done. I put a ladder up a palm and took a saw up to trim some fronds. I cut one and the sky opened with pouring rain. I had to wait an hour just to rescue the ladder. There are now storm clouds in all directions so we have opted for plan B which is go to lunch and then to the movies.
Nice start to the month, Ursula, including the first photo of Cattleya Brabantiae 'El Toro' x sib. A very handsome orchid indeed. Your smilliae always puts on a good show for you and I like the Bulbo. Smell?
Elaine, I have discovered the same thing about most of my orchids, especially the Vandas. You just cannot give them enough water. The same seems to be true of the Stanhopeas, Psychopsis, Bulbos and others. I am about to look into a misting system for the OC.
Jim
"Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it." -- Steven Leacock
Name: Elaine Sarasota, Fl The one constant in life is change
Hopefully the Vanda watering issue is less in the cooler weather. Phew, that's going to take a lot of spraying, and I only have 5 Vandas, too.
My mist system is part of the micro-sprinkling system I put in for the "nursery" beds in the back yard, Jim. If you haven't done any micro-irrigation you really need to go to HD or Lowe's and get somebody to show you how to do it. It's easy and fun, like playing with Lego. Also inexpensive and very efficient. You could put in one black poly supply line to your Vanda area with a timer and they'd get a nice shower a couple of times a day, or as needed.
Then when you go on a trip, you'd only need to cajole your neighbor to come and water the other orchids occasionally.
Elaine
"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Lovely blooms! My smiliae is in the trash along with the rest of the mites!
The good news is I fed all of the orchids today with seaweed/mag mix and upon inspection I saw ZERO mites.
I will inspect again tomorrow.
Elaine, the Vanda books are very well written and easy to understand (much more so than many of the reference books out there). They made me feel confident to try Vandas again. So far, the results look promising. I really like that I can use a sprinkler setup just under them and turn it on for a rain shower as needed. I am following the dark root method and I am modifying my care based on the Memphis weather. But in general his book works for Memphis too. The main difference is heat. I have a bit more shade cloth and if it gets too hot, I water them to cool down and put a fan to simulate the sea breezes.
I'm home already as it poured all the way to the restaurant and when we came out, it was still pouring. So, we agreed to forgo the movie and come home to hunker down. I'm listening to thunder and rain as I type this. Looks like a nap.
Elaine, I know all about those irrigation systems and that may be what I use. They are part of the "Water Wise" program that the MGers teach. You can adjust those heads to give more to some plants and less to others.
Jim
"Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it." -- Steven Leacock
Name: Elaine Sarasota, Fl The one constant in life is change
Oh, of course you would have done micro-irrigation for your MG course, same as me. Silly me.
Yes, I love the micro systems - they are so flexible and infinitely adjustable. Btw, Lowe's has much better quality tubing made by Maxi-Jet (home brand might be Mister Landscaper) if you go to buy supplies. Home Depot used to carry Dig brand which I liked and is still available online, but they switched to a Rain Bird supplier and their stuff they carry in the store is trash. I still buy the Dig brand emitters online from HD.
Elaine
"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Yes, I have always flooded my Vandas, that is the reason I grow so many other plants mounted, bare root/ not well planted in pots since my watering habits are geared to Vandas and this way I don't overwater the others.
Name: Elaine Sarasota, Fl The one constant in life is change
Ah, yes and yet another reason to keep re-potting mine to more mounts. I have a few baskets with little or no medium in them, and a huge piece of cork yet to be inhabited by the 'chids. I'll ask Marsh to install more hanging wires in the cage for me while I'm away.
Elaine
"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Another day in soggy Florida. I woke up to the rain, drove to church in the rain, drove home in the rain and I'm typing this in the rain. There are pictures on the local news of people on paddle boards floating around downtown Tampa streets. This is a rainy season to remember and the lakes and streams were pretty full when it started. There is also a lot of wind with this latest batch of storms.
There is some activity out in the OC. I have to show you this wonderful plant. It only there were a show coming up. I think this is a winner. It's called Brat. Golden Spider 'Copius' (Milt. clowesii x Brs. Starry Knight)
This is primary hybrid Bc. Jacqui (C. granulosa x B. nodosa).
Back to the Oncidiums, here is Alcra. Pacific Pastel 'Mauna Loa' (Alcra. Tropic Splendor x Onc. Connero). I think I showed this one last month...sorry.
What used to be a Bc. is now Brassanthe [Bsn.] Maikai 'Louise' (B. nodosa x Gur. bowringiana)
Here is a great orchid if you want something small that is always in bloom: Prosthechea [Psh.] Green Hornet (Psh. cochleata x Psh. trulla)
Check the lip out on this Bc. Memoria Vida Lee (Bc. Binosa x C. Brazilian Treasure).
Nice flower with a big name: (C. Aclandor X C. Pink Elephants) X C. Brabantiae
Finally, I wanted to show you the new shirt that the gang at the gym gave me for my 70th birthday. I shall wear it proudly.
Jim
"Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it." -- Steven Leacock
Name: Elaine Sarasota, Fl The one constant in life is change
Was just wondering if you still had your head above water, Jim. Great shirt, it shows off your hard-earned digging muscles!
about Green Hornet, I have a huge one and it was one of the first orchids I bought on your recommendation. It always has a bloom spike or two, and nothing seems to bother it, including insects and fungus.
Lc. Renate is another of my best bloomers. Den. bigibbum has a few coming along, and one more of my Vanda Jairak Heartthrob with more flowers open, since I won't see it after tomorrow morning.
Elaine
"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Name: Elaine Sarasota, Fl The one constant in life is change
Thanks Jim, and btw you picked out that Vanda for me on the first visit I made to First Orchids with you. This is its third time blooming, and it aborted a spike earlier this spring because its mother didn't water it enough in the early heat wave of April.
The other one I bought on that trip has yet to bloom, but now that I am learning by leaps and bounds from Dr. Motes' book I hope I can take better care of it and make it get to work.
Elaine
"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Woohoo, Jim!! Wonderful blooms and that shirt looks great! Nice present and you sure look as fit as a fiddle, as they say! I love the big Spotty Brabantiae x!
btw I would be careful if I were to see people walking in twos into buildings....
Elaine, pretty stuff!! Your Den bigibbum looks happy, mine started to bloom now too, I noticed this morning.
Have fun and try to stay in touch!
I'm patiently waiting for my next Motes order to arrive.
My first AOS paper is assigned and I will be presenting on Vandas! I'm working on my outline. I know nothing about them really as I never could grow them well. Here's to learning new things!