Orchids Winter 2009

[Michael]

Cattleya and Coelogyne

[Michael]

Dendrobium

[Michael]

Dracula, Prostechea and Epidendrum

[Michael]

Lycaste and Maxillaria

[Michael]

Miltoniopsis, Ascofinetia, Oncidium and Lady slippers

[Michael]

Pescatorea, Rhynchostylis and Schomburgkia

[Michael]

And this is one of my favourite ones, the ghost orchid. I have it since 2007 and it almost died for me in the begining, but now it's growing hapily and has a bud to open soon!

[WimB]

WOW, very beautiful orchids 

[Casalima]

What an absolutely wonderful collection, Michael!!! Os meus mais sinceros parabéns!!!

[Maxime_P]

omg, is your Ghost orchid Dendrophylax lindenii ?
This is one on the most wonderful orchid in the world, and not the easiest to grow ...

[Michael]

omg, is your Ghost orchid Dendrophylax lindenii ?
This is one on the most wonderful orchid in the world, and not the easiest to grow ...

Hi Maxime.

I guess so. On my tag it is labeled as Polyradiction lindenii, but i think they had changed it to the Dendrophylax genera recently.

[Miriam]

Great collection Michael!
I think you can open a botanic garden...

[Michael]

Great collection Michael!
I think you can open a botanic garden...

Well... one day Miriam, probably one day... If all these things survive during my absence for a few years, under the care of my mother... !

[Craig]

Just a few things blooming then Michael
Very nice varied collection & very well cared for. I don't think you'd have much bother with Ophrys - they're not so tricky really & you have a great climate for growing them. Your first Dendrobium looks a lot like Dendrochilum glumaceum, one of my favourite scented orchids.
A couple of questions
- Do you keep the Dracula outdoors & do you need to make any special effort to keep it cool through the summer ?
- Any chance of pollinating the Dendrophylax/Polyradiction ?

Please post a picture when the flower opens ?
Solenangis aphylla, another ghost, is in flower at Kew at the moment. I'll try to get a decent picture to post.

[Michael]

Hello Craig!

Just a few things blooming then Michael
Very nice varied collection & very well cared for. I don't think you'd have much bother with Ophrys - they're not so tricky really & you have a great climate for growing them.

Well, i think my problem is the lack of lime. Our soil do not have lime and is a bit acidic...

Your first Dendrobium looks a lot like Dendrochilum glumaceum, one of my favourite scented orchids.

You are right, i missed that one. The scent is fantastic indeed! The Coelogyne flaccida also has a strong scent reminding of jasmine.

A couple of questions
- Do you keep the Dracula outdoors & do you need to make any special effort to keep it cool through the summer ?

I grow all my Pleurothallids and other highland plants inside a greenhouse that i built with my dad against a dripping wall that stays fresh, even on summer. I just need to take care about the watering regime. But sometimes, on the hottest days of summer, i store the most delicate species inside a refrigerator to avoid too much heat stress.

.- Any chance of pollinating the Dendrophylax/Polyradiction ?

I could try, but i am afraid of losing the plant as this is its very first flower, and besides being EXTREMELY slow growing (and i cannot emphasize that), the plant could stunt in growth for a long time, just to be able to nourish the seedpod. I would like to let it grow bigger before atempting to pollinate it. If the plant were yours, what would you do?

Please post a picture when the flower opens ?
Solenangis aphylla, another ghost, is in flower at Kew at the moment. I'll try to get a decent picture to post.

Ok, no problem!
Looking forward to see the picture of that one too!!