Orchids Update

 

The keiki project on my Phalaenopsis Happy Girl is growing like crazy!

 

 

The tips are looking like bloom buds though, so I'm anxious to see how this plays out.

 

 

No sign of roots or anything at the source point, either.

The smallest orchids are doing well, aside from the Tolumnia Tequila Sunrise. I think I'll try mounting it, the clay pot is awfully small and dries out too fast, IMO.

 

Brassavola nodosa, fragrant Lady of the Night orchid is doing okay too, though not growing super fast. I haven't been good about feeding the orchids this season, only once so far and I'm sure that doesn't help matters.

 

 Only cymbidium Suzy Q is growing with gusto, but no signs of blooming just yet. I'm not entirely sure when Suzy is supposed to bloom, but she sure seems to be mature enough so we'll see.

 

Maxillaria Tenuifolia is doing alright, but I think this driftwood dries out too fast. I try to spritz it once a week and soak it once a week too, I can tell when I've forgotten to spritz. I may need to add something to retain moisture better, but I hate to get it too wet and cause rot (that's my nature with all plants, so it's a slippery slope.)

Oncidium Aliceara Alice is growing well too, cork really seems to be the best mount for orchids in general and the small ones specifically. I soak this once a week, also.

The large vanilla orchid got to the top of the fern pole and needed to go somewhere, so I turned it horizontal. Eventually I want to make a large frame to attach and grow many of my orchids as well as the staghorn fern and suspend them over the bathtub. This one has a bit of a head start, so I may need to make the frame sooner than later.

 

Here the staghorn and varigated vanilla orchid are alive and well, but growing much more slowly. That's fine with me, this is my second varigated orchid so I'm just happy it's alive.

I'm really enjoying all these orchids, but right about now I'm realizing that it's time to refresh my knowledge of their care (especially if I want to avoid a repeat of the previous orchid murders.) Stay tuned...