Starting off the new thread with my Cymbidium Chen's Ruby. ( Golden Elf x iridioides)
It is warm temperature tolerant, this season's bloom is a few months later than normal.
Happy New Year /January Orchids
You don't see many C. iridioides hybrids...that is one beauty!
Just found some baby spikes this AM on my Chen's Ruby, too!! Thanks for the new thread on the new year, Ursula. Happy New Year!
Dreary when I got up but It's sunny now!!
Oh my goodness ... that is one Beautiful bloom! I'm not too sure about the scent of dill pickles but that flower is amazing! Great photo!
You all are such enablers .... I've got to go read about Cymbidiums now! ^_^
Kathy, how big ( or potentially big) does the Chantilly Lace get?
The Cym Maureen Carter spikes look great!
Love that Paph Kathy!...and that Cymbidium is no slouch either!
Well I think it is time for me to give up on Phrags...I just discovered three more with rotted-out centers. I do not spray them so I have no idea what the problem is. I have never been so disappointed with a single group of orchids. I really love their blooms but they don't love me! Mind you, their removal will create much needed space as several are quite large.
My Cymbidium Dark Spirit has two spikes this year (4 last year)...it should bloom by Feb.
I am crossing my fingers....there are growths on my Zygopetalum and Cym. ensifolium which might be spikes...about time if they are, since both are 3 years old.
Excellent cyms and I love Chantilly Lace. It looks like we are in for an extended cold snap. When I first looked this morning at 7:00 AM the temp was 64. At noon it was 62 and now at 7 PM it is 56. That is not a good sign. It rained most of the day, the wind is up and they're calling for near 40 tonight. As I look at the extended forcast, I see lows in the upper 30s for the next week or so. That is not normal. I hope the orchids can do with minimal light for a while as they are all in the garage except for a few bloomers that are in the house. I have a night presentation on fruit this Wednesday too. Brrrr.
Jim
Jim,
I was out there in the rain today moving orchids inside. I was afraid it wouldn't stop until dark as it just kept coming down and the skys looked dark. Then I didn't know how cold it would get as no news came from the local TV channels, only football. Now I know that tonight won't be so bad and I can leave the biggest plants outside until tomorrow. Here's a partial view of the sunroom/current orchid room. I guess I'll keep them inside for the next week. They sure got enough water today.
Fred
My orchids were already inside as I didn't put them back out after the 42 degree night we had last week. I spent the day with them in the garage as I installed pull-down stairs out there. I use the space above the garage as storage. I miss the basement I had in Virginia.
Jim
Ursula, the Chantilly Lace is not very large, descriptions call them the size of a compact catt.
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchidtalk/cattleyas-vandas-dendrobiums-bloom/12253-diacattleya-chantilly-lace-twinkle-hcc-aos.html
Boy is everything relative. The 30s are considered quite balmy here! But our plants are inside or cut down to the ground.
Thanks Kathy.
Heh, I wouldn't mind pushing a climate zone...it is relatively chilly here too.
Fred, those beautiful Orchids look cozy and pretty there. Is the Angraecum sesquipedale spiking?
Ursula,
you're amazing with all your bloomers. Must be the daily care and attention they get. You have sharp eyes too in seeing my Angraecum sesquipedale. No it is not spiking yet. It usually blooms around April so we have some time. Speaking of this plant, the current AOS magazine has it on the cover and my copy was not delivered. The society sent me a second copy. They tell me that many of their magazines are stolen before delivery because of the beautiful cover shots. They tried plain paper wrappers but then they disappeared as potential porno mags. They can't win for trying.
Anyway, the plant in the mag is an awesome example of what can be done with an Angraecum sesquipedale if cared for properly. I will try to follow the example but don't expect to achieve show status. I suppose you are a member of the AOS? You should be writing articles for the mag.
Fred
Bree that mini purple hybrid is delightful! and I think the paph probably is Delophyllum.
Love the Loveknot! I might try some mini catts once the phrags are out of the picture. I moved the phrags to the south window hoping that might entice them to bloom but it didn't work. Perhaps mini catts would be happier there.
Pretty Mini Purple x!
Fred, yes - I got the December issue. The Angraecum sesquipedale with its blooming keikis is amazing, flowering in April!!!
I only recognized your plant because of the very typical leaves. And I am very partial to this one. Mine is almost open to take pictures, but it sure has another 50 years to go to look like that.
So we get to see your blooming plant in April!
And - I think I leave the writing to those which can.....
Speaking of - Todd, at least those small Catts bloom several times a year.
This message was edited Jan 2, 2010 7:32 PM
Bree, love the Stanhopea. I can't wait for mine to bloom next summer.
Ursula, another beautiful show. I agree with Fred, you should be published somewhere. I'm fortunate to just be able to sit here and take it all in.
It was 44 degrees on the lanai this morning, a full 20 degrees off from yesterday. Tonight is predicted to be worse. The orchids are still tucked inside but none of the other garden tropicals are covered. They are not calling for a freeze in Tampa and I am usually 2 to 4 degrees warmer in my little lake micro-climate. Wish me luck.
Jim
Just returned from a fun movie (It's Complicated) and it was 52 when we left the place near downtown Naples. Driving home to my own "Botanical Garden" brought the temps down to 42. Big difference being near the gulf and a few miles inland.
I spent much of the day moving and covering my most precious (ie expensive) plants. Just in case the weatherman is wrong with his prediction of a low of 38. A little further north they are calling for a freeze warning so who knows where the dividing line is.
When I was up on a ladder wrapping the vandas which are attached to my trees, I noticed quite a few spikes. I hope they don't get bitten.
Fred
It's almost 10:00 PM and it's 48 degrees on the lanai. If I lose my mango tree again, I'll be pis.....
Jim
I'm about 50 kms inland from the coast and the difference in temperature can get as much as 5C. Wind plays a major role though. Still air produces variations all over the place. Wind tends to even out the temperature.
How'd it go FL?
It is 40 degrees on the lanai this morning, possibly colder out in the garden. I can see no frost and there is no ice in the fountain. I'll monitor the weather today and possibly cover the tropicals this afternnoon. Depending on which report I'm looking at, they can vary as much as 8 degrees.
Jim
Nail bitter fer sure. I go through this for most of the fall here so I commiserate, Jim.
I wonder how Fred did.
Jim