Maxillaria picta

This is the plant I traded for a few weeks ago.  I really like this species.  Hopefully I'll do better with this one - I lost my first one, but I think I'm much better at growing these plants than I was when that occurred.  My only other Maxillaria is M. tenuifolia, another nice species.  This genus could be addictive.

Cattleya mossiae season is coming

Here are three mossiae in bud.  The first is the plant in the very first post of this blog - five buds on this one.  The second is another semi-alba, which isn't as robust as the first.  The third is a typical form (only one bud - too bad).  I also have an alba in bud, but no pic.

Giant meat-eating plants prefer to eat tree shrew poo

Not orchid related, but this finding is sure to interest all plant-heads.

Sedirea japonica update

In a previous post about two months ago, I posted a picture of my S. japonica spike as it was just getting going.  Here we are today.  I'd say we have about two weeks to go.

Cattleya Quinquecolor

This is a primary hybrid between aclandiae and forbesii.  Its main blooming season is late spring and fall, but it can sporadically bloom at other times, such as now.  Nicely fragrant.

Cymbidium Enzan Sarah

This is my only Cymbidium, blooming on four spikes this year.  Growing semi-hydro, Hydroton in a five gallon bucket.  I could take it or leave it.  Which means I should probably leave it, given my space constraints.  Thing is, though, it lives outside all the time, unless it goes down into the 20s, when I'll pop it into the "greenhouse" for a night or two.  And all I do to care for it is spray it with a hose every couple of days in summer.  Maybe I'll keep it for another year.

Troy Meyers Conservatory/delayed gratification

My growing skills have improved a lot over the last two or three years.  Nevertheless, I have not been doing well growing plants from a flask.  Actually, it is worse than that.  I have tried three or four flasks and have only three or four plants to show for it - pretty pathetic, though without a greenhouse it can be hard to maintain conditions benign enough for small seedlings.  Well, hope springs eternal.  I bought another flask (C. labiata) from Troy Meyers Conservatory this morning.  Maybe in six or seven years I'll have some flowers to show for it.  I must be crazy...