House orchids 2012

[Anthony Darby]

Magnificent orchids everyone

Maren and Sarmienta, I see various tillandsias in your photos too.  Besides T. usneoides, what are the others?

I don't see usneoides in the first picture?

[ashley]

Thanks Sarmienta.  That looks like Tilllandsia aeranthos flowering profusely in your first picture; most of the others I can only guess at.  Fascinating and beautiful plants. 
Yes I have a small collection, mostly at work on the wall of my office near a big sunny window.  That way I can take a short 'gardening break' whenever the urge arises  
Yours look really happy outside; where do you garden?

I don't see usneoides in the first picture?

Anthony, I was referring to Sarmienta's Euchile citrinum pictures he posted on 13 May, and Maren's picture of her Trichopilia hybrid (mid-right). 

[Hans J]

Here is flowering a Masdevallia hybrid ( it is from the Neon series )

[monocotman]

Hi,

a recent ebay acquisition from Germany.
Continuing the experiment to find orchids that will grow and bloom easily in the house and aren't called phalaenopsis.
Always nice to buy something 'on spec' and receive something you're happy with.
There was a time when these were as rare as hens teeth.
This flower is about 6 inches across and has only been open a few days so may reflex a bit more.
The first smaller flower came in bud in the post but the new flower developed in it's new home and is much bigger.
I thought that these plants wanted high humidity, but this one is growing in the kitchen/diner in front of the patio windows so apparently not.
I've another Lycaste, a hybrid, which is doing similarly well.
The new bulb has developed well during the last 6 weeks and there is a fourth flower just starting. Maybe I'll cut that one off to save strength.
The older backbulbs are all pretty small.
I've tried to photograph the plant on the kitchen hob underneath the hob lights. Not too much natural light but a nice background-I think I need a tripod,

Regards,

David

[daveyp1970]

David i am sure Lycaste was a favourite of victorians because they make such good house plants but because of modern heating fell out of favour(so we have been informed through books ect) another case of misinformation.

[Maggi Young]

Is that Lycaste virginalis alba, David?
Has it a scent? Looks like it might!

Continuing the experiment to find orchids that will grow and bloom easily in the house and aren't called phalaenopsis.

  Yes, I can understand that need!

[monocotman]

Oops sorry Maggi - forgot about the title.
You're right about the name of the plant.
At least that is what I bought it as.
I just wonder about some of these plants nowadays whether there is a bit of hybrid blood in there somewhere.
The flower is big and the plant appears to be fairly vigorous.
However it could just be another couple of generations of selective line breeding.
Regards,
David

[monocotman]

Maggi - no scent to this plant.
Davey - the only problem I can find with these plants is that the leaves grow so big!
Next up a plant acquired in bud about 3 weeks ago from Ratcliffes and comes from their current list of phragmipediums.
It comes from the Eric Young Orchid Foundation on Jersey and is one of their 'spares'.
The natural spread is 11cm.
The cross is Beauport x Dalessandroi.
The plant is fully mature with a tall spike and has naturally split into two over the years.
The flower at the base of the plant is the first one - as usual with these plants they drop one flower
when the next opens,
Regards,
David

[Roma]

Flowering now 2 Phalaenopsis
and
Encyclia vitellina on a north facing window

At the Cruickshank Botanic Garden on Friday  the biggest inflorescence I have ever seen on Epidendrum ibaguense

[Maren]

A vanda with a silly name but terrific performance. Has been in flower for 2 months already:

Vanda Orange Spotty.

[monocotman]

All,
first up a species - cattleya labiata.
First flowering seedling from a german vendor last year.
Grows pretty well in the kitchen in winter and the greenhouse in summer.
The scent is knockout.
Next up is a named paphiopedilum clone from  Ratcliffe's - puddleham 'doolittle'.
It is a slow grower and not too big even now - the plant is only about 8 inches across,
Regards,
David

[brianw]

I noticed in Tesco's supermarket, just before Christmas, other orchids than Phalaenopsis are appearing in the £5 special offer racks. I bought a nice white Dendrobium nobile with 4 stems, 2 flowering. Yes I know I can't abuse it as much as the Phalaenopsis but at that price not much to lose.

[Maren]

Too true, Brian, what other highly decorative flowering pot plant can you get for a fiver? I have a whole houseful of Phalaenopsis 'rescues', which get better every year.

When they are at their worst, I take them for my talks to garden clubs, where I demonstrate how to turn a neglected plant into something worthwhile by re-potting, staking, trimming, treating etc.. Always goes down a treat - it must touch a nerve.

[Pete Clarke]

There seems to be some tropical orchid experts here, so can anybody identify this for me?
I am told it is a Pleurothallid. The flowers are very small and unusual.

[SteveC2]

I'm thinking Mediocalcar, possibly M. decoratum.  Saw one many years ago at a show, covered in flowers, obviously made an impression.  Apologies if Im wrong, I'm really a hardy man!  it wouldn't surprise me if it's a pleuro as a lot of our society members are into them, but again I'm no expert.