Brsdm Bill Switzer, Maxillaria tenufolia and possible cat bud?

[texasbartrambaby]

Went out this morning to check on my 'chids, and lo and behold - it bloomed!!! The first one is my NEW baby from Andys - Maxillaria tenufolia. I really like it except it seems to stack on itself. Smells good too! The next one is the Bill Switzer. It doesn't smell yet even though it is supposed to. But then again, it just opened today! The next one is a question - this is my blc kings monkey that I've had for a while - is that a bud shadow or a leaf? Its been growing like mad and when I got it they said it was 2 years to blooming, but then again it had maybe 5 leaves on it! I've never bloomed a catt since I always buy seedlings and they are still babies! The rest of the pics are of the Bill Switzer. Horray~!

[Ross]

Nice find! I have a couple Brassidiums and my experience is they take a few days to develope the famous scent. It's worth the wait. I have Doris Bergstrom out in bloom right now with a second spike coming and it fills the whole end of the house with a lovely orchid scent (I have trouble describing flower scents.) Hang in there!

[texasbartrambaby]

Thank you so much Ross - I am VERY new at orchids and I just keep buying more and more ...

I can't wait for it to smell. My front porch is somewhat secluded and I hope that it fills it up. I really like going out there every day, and my kids help me too. My twins are at that flowers are pretty age!

[caseydoll]

Beautiful blooms! It looks like you have a really nice set up for orchids. They look happy! I've never bloomed a catt before so I'm not sure what you have there. It looks like a sheath to me but I'm not sure how to tell if it has buds or not. I'm sure someone will be able to help. Thanks for sharing!

[texasbartrambaby]

Do you really think so!!!!

I've never bloomed a catt before either! I am hoping so - if it does then it will be 4 on this plant because it has 4 of those with the shadow on it.

Thank you so much. I hope that they are happy! I am a novice with 'chids and I feel that they are probably not getting enough light but the heat and sun here is just tremendous. I water my catts 2 - 3 a week believe it or not, but in 100 degrees I guess that's normal. They seem to be happy! I just love to play with them, and reading everyone's advice here really has helped. I am branching to bulbs and a few others now and we'll see! The bulbs are growing like mad so maybe I will be lucky!

Oh, as for my setup - its just my front porching facing of all things, NORTH! Again, that Panhandle wind and sun makes growing here a real challenge, not to mention the negative humidity!

[kavanaru]

that's obviously a happy sheath and it really look like there is something growing inside if everythinggoes right, you'll have that Cat blooming soon

good job!

[kiki-do]

Great growing, Tex. Looks like a happy Catt. with a sheathe. Some take time to fully develop and some are fairly fast. You just never know!

[quiltergal]

I agree with Ramon, it definitely looks like your sheath has buds. With weather that warm they should develope pretty quickly. I'll bet a misting system would take care of that negative humidity! Is the porch enclosed or open? Anyway, congrats! It took me years to rebloom my first catt!

[texasbartrambaby]

I would LOVE a misting system but I am really praying for a greenhouse in the new house. Hubby was asking about misting systems yesterday - isn't that a hoot? He said we needed to rig something up for when we go out of town and I informed him of all of the wonderful options we have!!! (Picture a 6 ft 6 farmer talking about 'chids, )

Honestly my highly technical setup includes a front porch "screened" by holly bushes that need whacked. But they do keep the porch screened from the wind and the humidity up some. Wind here screeches at about 40 most days this time of year but tonight it RAINED!!!! I'd rather have them in the back yard since I am terrified someone is going to cart all of my 'chids off but I don't think there are too many orchid connisours around here!!!! I keep some dens and a Oerstedella schvienfurthiana back there since it gets "shaded full sun". Never thought catts would bloom in the shade!!! But back there it burned them and that was before the scorcher started for the year. ANYWAY, ~ I really couldn't have done it without you guys here!!!!