Originally Posted by Dollythehun (Post 866951)

No pop cans here. Hope this helps. Sorry about the patio furniture. We're redoing the living room piece by piece.

Originally Posted by Mountaineer370 (Post 866923)

That's a very nice haul. I can certainly understand how "just looking" can turn into bringing several orchids home. They're all very nice. I especially like the Psychopsis Mariposa. I've had my eye on one of those for a while, but it's probably too big for my space.

Originally Posted by samgeo (Post 867006)

Had a family emergency this past summer and was away for 3 months dealing with it. Lost all of my fav plants... I've been trying to replace my Psych. Papilio Alba and a Zygopetalum. The one's I saw at the show didn't compare to what I previously had. I settled on the Mariposa because I thought it was funky looking. :)

Originally Posted by Mountaineer370 (Post 867089)

I'm sorry to hear about what you've been through with your family troubles and the loss of your plants. I'm glad you are finding some new ones that you like, and I hope things are getting back to normal for you. I've always found that caring for living plants is soothing to the soul and can help us through the rough patches of life.

Originally Posted by Laticauda (Post 867115)

samgeo,
Have you watched "what plants talk about"? (Or is it "the secret lives of plants", I always get the two mixed up.) You can find them on YouTube for free.

Your inclination to give them such respect is well-grounded. Plants "react" to someone with good or I'll intentions differently and also "reacts" to "pain" (cutting of the leaf).

Just because they can't talk doesn't mean they aren't more than meets the eye.

Originally Posted by Fairorchids (Post 866888)

I don't blame you for getting carried away I will comment only on the first two.

Asctm christensonianum has been reclassified as Vanda christensoniana. I grow these (in a greenhouse) in net pots fill with a spaghnum/bark mix (3:1 ratio) to maintain humidity around the roots. This way I only have to water once a week in winter, and twice a week in summer.

You can also grow it in the 'empty vase' method. Here you set it in a vase so that leaves stick out. Fill with water and let it soak for 15-30 mins; then pour the water out. Residue will keep high humidity around the roots. Do this twice weekly in summer, and weekly in winter. Add a few drops of fertilizer every 3rd time.

The Rhy Bangkok Sunset is actually Perreiraara Bangkok Sunset (Vanda x Rhynchostylis x Aerides). With the Rhy portion that diluted, you can grow it exactly as the first one.