Today I bought myself a few plants..
I decided to take some plants along to show at the plant table at the January COS meeting. The plants I took with were:
The Odontocidium managed a 3rd place – I’m not exactly sure why, myself. I don’t particularly like the plant very much and it, in fact, lived outside for a while without very much attention from myself. However, comments were made regarding the length of the inflorescence which apparently is abnormal (it’s quite tall – perhaps a metre) and the blooms themselves are quite nicely developed. The photo below is of the first flower that opened a month or so back already. Photos of the other plants in the list above follow
Odontocidium Susan Kauffman "Butterfly"
Paphiopedilum Armeni White
Encyclia aspera
It’s been a month and a half since I last posted here. In that time a number of plants have flowered, but some I never managed to take photos of. One that stands out in my mind is Sobralia macrantha. Those plants I did manage to take photos of, I took on the 22nd of January.. Here they are:
Brassovola nodosa
As you can probably see in this photo of my Brassovola nodosa above, the flower on the left had been eaten by something. All flowers were destroyed in absolutely no time at all. A few days later I noticed a slug eating directly on what was left of 1 of the flowers. I grow this one quite warm/hot, with very high light.
Encyclia aspera
The Encyclia aspera is grown warm/hot (hotter in the afternoon), with higher light levels in the afternoon. I’ve never had an inflorescence on this plant that was this long or with as many flowers, so these conditions appear to be near optimal thus far.
Paphiopedilum Armeni White
Paphiopedilum Armeni White is grown in quite low light, and cool to warm temperatures.
Odontocidium Susan Kauffman "Butterfly"
This Odontocidium only had a few flowers on when I took this photo (22nd of January), it now has many, many more open flowers. It receives full sun in the morning, otherwise intermediate to warm temperatures.
Iononcidium Popcorn "Pink Sugar"
Iononcidium Popcorn “Pink Sugar” is an incredibly easy-flowering plant. There must be about 6 inflorescences on this one (fairly small) plant. Quite high light in the afternoon, and grows fairly warm.
Dendrobium Florida Twist
I’m surprised this one’s still alive. I truly thought it was dead a few months ago and was surprised to see the inflorescence forming. Morning sun, and intermediate temperatures seem to keep this one happy.
Pleurothallis glumacea
The Pleurothallis glumacea is a nicy, tidy (and tiny) plant. Not difficult to grow at all. Deep shade, cool to intermediate temperatures.
NOID Phalaenopsis hybrid
NOID Phalaenopsis hybrid
The 2 Phalaenopsis above are grown with medium light levels (ordinarily I’d say the light levels are too high for Phalaenopis, but seems to be OK for these 2)
NOID Phalaenopsis hybrid
The above Phalaenopsis is grown in very low light conditions until later in the afternoon when it receives much more sun.
Polystachya (P. Cape Valentine ‘Sweet Lips’ X P. perierii???)
This Polystachya is grown in fairly low light conditions, and intermediate temperatures.
This morning after watering I decided to take some photos – some plants have been in flower for a while, but there are a number of plants in flower I hadn’t taken photos of yet.. Here they are:
This first plant was labelled Aerangis mystacidii, but since flowering, I’ve identified it (correctly, I hope) as Mystacidium capense. This plant had 4 inflorescences with ~70 flowers (which seems to be a substantial number more than it should be for this species – which is why I wonder if the ID is correct)
Mystacidium capense (plant)
Mystacidium capense (inflorescence)
Mystacidium capense (flower)
Next up is a Dendrobium “Florida Twist”. This plant was in flower when I purchased it back in early 2008 and I haven’t had it flower since. Well, it tried, but there were massive deformities and I actually thought I’d lost this plant to a virus. I’m growing this one in semi-hydroponics, high light in the morning and fairly warm. 1 inflorescence with 12 flowers.
Dendrobium "Florida Twist"
The next plant is Papilionanthe teres of which I’ve already uploaded some photos. 6 of the 7 blooms are now open – the 7th should be open tomorrow. We’ve just had some bad wind over the past weekend which has blown dust everywhere – you’ll notice in the 2nd photo the flower is covered in dust (grrrr). Easy plant to grow and flower – it seems to like a LOT of water, heat and high light.
Papilionanthe teres (inflorescence)
Papilionanthe teres (flower)
The Paphiopedilum Armeni White (P. armeniacum X P. delenatii) I posted about last week has now “whitened up” (which I’m very glad for as I’m not a big fan of yellow Paphs), and the 2nd bloom has also opened. Actually, there is another inflorescence on this plant with a single flower, but it’s only just opened up and is yellow’ish.
Paphiopedilum "Armeni White"
The next 2 photos are of a Pleurothallis glumacea. I grow this in low light and fairly warm, but it’s flowered outside in the shadehouse in Autumn when it was much cooler (but higher light levels). Appears to flower twice a year (Autumn and Spring).
Pleurothallis glumacea (inflorescence)
Pleurothallis glumacea (closer)
I’ve already posted about the next one, but I thought this was a nice photo.. It’s an Encyclia alata. Not exactly well-flowered with only 3 blooms on a short (22cm) inflorescence. I suspect this is due to it being grown in the shadehouse for a few months until I built the greenhouse (where it seems to have had an acceleration in growth)
Encyclia alata
This last one I left a bit long before taking photos and some of the flowers have already dropped. Anyway, it’s a Neofinetia falcata. I grow it quite warm with medium light until late afternoon when it receives a fair bit more..
Neofinetia falcata (plant)
Neofinetia falcata (flower)
Neofinetia falcata (flower - closer)
Well, first off, the lighting was really bad and I probably should’ve waited until there was more light (another day) before taking photos, but I was excited about the Papilionanthe teres being in flower, so here are the pics:
Papilionanthe teres
Papilionanthe teres
Papilionanthe teres
I had to take a few photos as it’s a difficult flower to show off the shape in a photograph. This is definitely one of my favourite Orchids (if I had to pick)
Then, I also took a photo of my Dockrillia rigida. The flowers only just opened and are slightly green (actually, not 100% open – but I had the camera in the greenhouse so took the pics anyway)
Dockrillia rigida
Another one of my favourites is the Neofinetia falcata. Again, the lighting wasn’t good at all so detail is a little difficult to make out. If only you could capture the scent in a photograph!
Neofinetia falcata
Here’s a Paphiopedilum “Armeni White” (P. armeniacum X P. delenatii). I’m not 100% sure what’s happened here, but this flower is a pale yellow/green and should be white. Perhaps it’s just my memory failing me and it “whitens” (it’s newly opened), and I’ve forgotten or perhaps it has a “tan” from slightly too high light levels? Hmmm, it looks whiter in this photo than it does in reality.
Paphiopedilum "Armeni White"
Yes, this one’s still in flower (and I think it’ll be for a very long time still) – this is the Phalaenopsis “Coral Isles” X Phalaenopsis “Star of Florida”
Phalaenopsis "Coral Isles" X Phalaenopsis "Star of Florida"
Here are some carnivorous plants.. Starting with the Sarracenia leucophylla hybrid – the colours are really coming out now that it’s been exposed to full sun for a while. Unfortunately, the lighting wasn’t good for taking photos and the colour is a little washed out. The 2nd photograph of the same pitcher shows just how red the red actually is.
Sarracenia leucophylla hybrid
Sarracenia leucophylla hybrid
Here’s the Sarracenia “Godzuki” (Sarracenia minor X Sarracenia oreophila) – yes, I was in too much of a rush to get rid of the cat hair and spiderwebs. This one’s colour is also showing nicely with full sun.
Sarracenia "Godzuki"
The following 2 are recently repotted. I’m waiting for some new pitchers to form as I’d had these in the greenhouse where they weren’t exposed any wind, which I’ve since learnt is needed to strengthen the ala (the rib running down the full length of the front of the pitcher) So a few of the current pitchers are leaning over, etc.. not looking very handsome right now. The plant on the right is the Sarracenia “Godzuki” – the one with the weak ala’s. The plant on the left is Sarracenia “Chelsonii” (Sarracenia purpurea X Sarracenia rubra)
Recently repotted S. "Chelsonii" and S. "Godzuki"
I entered 6 plants at the COS Autumn show this year:
I left the show with a 1st place ribbon for the Masdevallia condorensis, and a 2nd place ribbon for the Phal. Star of Florida X Phal. Coral Isles.
Ludisia discolor
Odontocidium Susan Kauffman 'Butterfly'
Paphiopedilum malipoense
Phalaenopsis Star of Florida X Phalaenopsis Coral Isles
Today I bought a Paphiopedilum malipoense from the Exotic Plant Company:
Paphiopedilum malipoense
The Cape Orchid Society’s Autumn show for 2008 was held at the Catholic Church in Pinelands. I entered 2 plants for this show and took away two 1st place ribbons and two Trophy’s. I entered the following plants:
I received a 1st place ribbon and “Best Paphiopedilum” trophy for the Paphiopedilum Armeni White (P. delenatii X P. armeniacum) and a 1st place ribbon and “Best Novice” trophy for the Ornithophora radicans.
Paphiopedilum Armeni White
Ornithophora radicans
Today I bought 3 plants from the Exotic Plant Company. My first Orchids that aren’t Phalaenopsis! 
Encyclia aspera
Encyclia aspera close-up
Paphiopedilum Armeni White
Phragmipedium Tall Tails (not yet open)
