More "While I was away" - Orchid Board

Roberta · #1 07-23-2021, 05:52 PM

Had to break up the list...

Cattleya leopoldii (tigrina), labeled "coerulea" which it certainly isn't. Instead, a very interesting peloric (lip pattern in petals)
Google Photos

Laelia purpurata 'Tipo' AM/AOS x self. Genetics in action... the awarded plant had light pink petals and a dark lip. When selfed, quite a few plants of the cross turned out to be albas like this one.
Google Photos

Myrmecophila tibicinis - used to be Schomburgkia. These have hollow pseudobulbs that in nature are home to ants - hence the name.
Google Photos

Lc. Interceps coerulea (Cattleya intermedia coerulea x Laelia anceps var. veitchiana)
Google Photos

Some Sobralias (just a sampling) - on the left, Sob. sanderae, on the right Sob. yauaperyensis x xanthaoleuca, a combination of a pink/lavender (yauaperyensis) and butter-yellow (xantholeuca). The pot produces both the expected light pink/white flowers, and also yellow ones - for sure, more than one plant in there.
Google Photos

Gomesa croesus
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...9aN2FYS2tKRWFR

Dichaea glauca. This is the only Dichaea that has thrived for me over a period of years. The growths bloom for several years and then die back. Now I'm getting some nice new growths, a second life. The little white flowers are quite fragrant.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...9aN2FYS2tKRWFR

First Neofinetia falcata of the season, 'Beni-suzume', a nice pink. Too often, this is another genus that tends to bloom in my absence, this time running a little late so I have escaped that fate.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...9aN2FYS2tKRWFR

Ada (Brassia) glumacea. The flowers aren't particularly showy, but they are super-fragrant, smelling to me like very ripe fruit. I tend to smell it before I see it.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...9aN2FYS2tKRWFR

Aerides rosea, a relatively cool-growing Vandaceous orchid from China. First time blooming for me.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...9aN2FYS2tKRWFR
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...9aN2FYS2tKRWFR

Promenaea xanthina
http://orchidcentral.org/Images/Zygo...20xanthina.jpg

Whew... these are the highlights... there are more but I think that this is enough for now. So much action!

Diane56Victor · #2 07-23-2021, 08:20 PM

Stunning blooms.

My interest was drawn to your Aerides rosea. Gorgeous blooms, hopefully with the perfume mentioned in most descriptions of Aerides.

I have an Aerides leeana that has grown from a tiny seedling despite my environment not always having the humidity it is said to need and my attempts to try and make it so.

I have been encouraged by this small plant to expand my Aerides collection a little, so I have bought Aerides houlletiana and Aerides oderata and expect delivery next week, these were the only Aerides I could find.

How big do they need to be before they flower? My leeana has quadrupled in size but its still very small but with robust roots.
I've read they can flower when quite small, but I have doubts about my mine being able to bloom this coming Spring.

Is your plant mounted? I have mine in a pot with bark as I thought that might help with the humidity my environment lacked.

Roberta · #3 07-23-2021, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

Stunning blooms.

My interest was drawn to your Aerides rosea. Gorgeous blooms, hopefully with the perfume mentioned in most descriptions of Aerides.

I have an Aerides leeana that has grown from a tiny seedling despite my environment not always having the humidity it is said to need and my attempts to try and make it so.

I have been encouraged by this small plant to expand my Aerides collection a little, so I have bought Aerides houlletiana and Aerides oderata and expect delivery next week, these were the only Aerides I could find.

How big do they need to be before they flower? My leeana has quadrupled in size but its still very small but with robust roots.
I've read they can flower when quite small, but I have doubts about my mine being able to bloom this coming Spring.

Is your plant mounted? I have mine in a pot with bark as I thought that might help with the humidity my environment lacked.

Thanks! Aerides rosea has a faint "floral" scent... nothing special. The plant of this particular species is rather large for the genus - about 8 inches (20 cm) with hard, strap-shaped leaves that are about 1.5 inches/4 cm wide. I grow it pretty bright, in a plastic basket with fairly large bark, so it dries fast. It gets whatever humidity Mother Nature provides (typical mid-day RH is 40-50% most of the time, but may get down to single digits, nights are higher of course ). So that doesn't seem to particularly be an issue for this species. Other members of the genus will have different needs, depending on the elevation and environment where they originate.

Diane56Victor · #4 07-23-2021, 10:17 PM

Thanks.
If these new Aerides do as well as my first my little collection of them might expand again.

Roberta · #5 07-23-2021, 10:24 PM

For what it's worth, I got my plant from Hengduan Mountains Biotechnology in Chendu, Sichuan, China. They ship to the US about twice a year. I wonder if they ship to Australia. (I suspect that they do) Certainly worth inquiring. They do have some very interesting things. Website is 'way out of date, but an email will put you on the mailing list.