Maxillaria tenuifolia

This is a nice species, well known for the coconut fragrance it emits.  Last year this plant had two measly blooms; this year there are about 20.  No idea why.

Two Encyclia cordigera

The alba and semi-alba forms.  The alba form is distinct in a few ways - I wonder if it is a different species.

Yipee!

My Stanhopea jenischiana is spiking.  I got this in spike two years ago from Oak Hill Gardens but the spike broke off during shipping.  This will be my first Stanhopea flowering.  The spikes grow downward through the media, which is why most people grow them in baskets, often wire rather than wood.

Cattleya compots (community pots)

Well, a while back I mentioned my low success rate with flasks and the fact that despite that, I bought another flask - C. labiata.  The flask came about two months ago, and things are going much better this time.

In previous attempts I potted seedlings into compots and put them in my regular grow area.  They received a bit of extra attention, but no special conditions.  This time I did a few things differently.

First, I bought a small T5 grow light and retrieved an old fish tank from the garage - this was the grow chamber.  Second, I potted the seedlings in seedling bark or seedling bark + sphagnum instead of straight sphagnum (my earlier attempts).  Finally, and now I believe, very importantly, I dramatically boosted humidity by placing the compots in large bags.  These were not sealed, but even so, the humidity in each bag was pretty high.  The seedlings have been doing very well with hardly any mortality.

By the way, it makes no economic sense for me to do this, and if the seedlings continue to thrive, I'll have real space problems...but it is fun.

Cattleya mossiae alba

A reliable bloomer, acquired from Santa Barbara Orchid Estates.

Encyclia patens

A very fragrant Encyclia from Brazil.  I have had this for two years, I think, and it is just starting to grow well.

Cattleya mendelii

The color is very nice.  This plant produced four new growths but only one bloomed, and only two flowers.  It isn't so surprising - all that vegetative growth came at a cost for reproduction.  Next year will likely be much better.  That is C. Stonehouse in the background.

Sedirea japonica

Nice citrusy fragrance.