Every so often the discussions touch on either perhaps boring aspects of Orchids when not in bloom or on the other hand the interesting growth habits of many other Orchids, looking fascinating even when not showing a single bloom ( but - since we like the complete picture we certainly don't object to those flowering either.)
I took the camera into the greenhouse and just shot away happily -
Some Angraecums are of miniature size and show interesting growth:
Angraecum distichum
Angraecum sedifolium bloomed once for me, I remember a greenish bloom with interesting structure, if you blinked you missed it.
Some Orchids produce large mats of tiny plants:
Bulbophyllum alagense small form ( I am now growing the "large" form and it is pretty neat too. )
Mediocalcar decoratum certainly looks adorable in bloom, but is also a cutie when not.
and a variegated form
And there are other Orchids with distichous growth -
Dendrobium leonis ( no picture now)
Dendrobium distichum
and the huge Dendrobium anceps
this small Oberonia species is another one with those pretty "braids"
while Oberonia toppingii has nice fans and the spikes are dangling and will show the strangest close ups when fully open. ( magnifying lens needed…)
Then there are the cute miniatures - clumps of:
Epidendrum schlechterianum ( the blooms look like bugs) I also grow Epi longirepens which looks like a close relative.
Dendrobium nugentii
Dendrobium prenticei
and the even tinier Dendrobium toressae
And there are the pretty little clumps of grass/ Phymatidium tillandsioides
and Pleurothallis grobyi
Leptotes bicolor
and a nice plant of Ceratostylis philippinense
in contrast to the somewhat wild looking Ceratostylis rubra
And the Restrepia antennifera attractive even without "bugs"
Would you expect a Pleuthallis just about looking like a rupicolous Laelia?
This is Pleurothallis teres
and there is the adorable teensy Laelia lilliputana
Pretty pseudobulbs, looking fine when dormant is Calanthe Rozel
neat looking canes on Dendrobium findleyanum
Epiphronitis Veitchii variegata looks pretty
Another whole category of Orchids, the Neofinetia falcata are adorable when adorned with lots of fragrant blooms, but they are little gems in their own right during the Winter months, here are some Fukiran:
Neofineta falcata Tamakongo ( bean leaf)
and the needle leaf Yoroidoushi
Some have beautiful variegation:
Nishidemiyako
Gojo Fukurin
Gekkeikan
My Dendrobium moniliforme are pretty much dormant right now, but a couple of small examples here
This one is Hakutsuru
and Ginsetu
And there are many many more……
I hope you enjoy this aspect of Orchid growing as much as I do!
Surely you have many example to display here and bring to our attention. There are so many many other Orchids, some with pretty leaves and perhaps those with gorgeous roots no less.
Please feel free to add your pics!
