Orchids in Bloom

Masdevallia Maui Lollipop

2012-02-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

I've posted pictures of this plant and its flowers before and even though I don't grow many hybrids this is worth posting again: it is such a charming plant. It's is a hybrid of Masdevallia mendozae and Madevallia Angel Frost. It is most like Masdevallia mendozae, but has more erect flower spikes and a paler though brighter orange color, with slightly more open flowers.

Dryadella cristata

2012-02-06T04:51:00.000-08:00

This orchid species is really tiny, only 3 cm tall with 1.5 cm flowers. Dryadella cristata is from Colombia and blooms in the winter here. The genus, Dryadella, was separated from Masdevallia and contains approximately 30 species. The species name of this plant refers to the crested petals, visible as blackish-purple bits in the center of the flowers.

Angraecum breve

2012-02-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

This tiny orchid is from Madagascar, a country that has some very unique and wonderful orchids. It belongs to a group of orchids that have white and green flowers and very long spurs. It is also fragrant, especially at night, which means it is pollinated by night-flying insects who are attracted by the fragrance and who use the nectar for food.

I am totally charmed by this plant, however, both for its size, for its white flowers and for the spur which gradually uncurls as the flower opens. Most Angraecums are large plants and some are huge. This plant is a little fan 4 cm (1.5 in.) across, the flower is 3 cm (1 in. plus) in size and the spur is over 10 cm long (approx. 4.5 in.) when the flower opens and it is fully uncurled.

It was an Angraecum, a different species and a much larger plant, with flowers carrying a 12 inch spur, that Darwin used to predict the existence of a moth with a 12 inch tongue. This flower is probably also moth pollinated. I've included pictures of the unopened bud with the spur curled up and a pictures taken as the flower opened and the spur uncurled.

Specklinia tripterantha

2012-01-30T09:15:00.000-08:00

Once classified as part of the massive genus, Pleurothallis, the plant was reclassified in 2004 by Carlyle Luer. By any name, however, it is an oddity, at least in this case. My plant has turned out to be cleistogamous or self-pollinating. It bloomed for the first time this winter with quite a few flower spikes and only one flower opened: the rest developed seed pods.

The plant is 10 cm tall and the flowers are 2 cm in size and lovely light yellow color, but I am going to pass the plant on to someone else. I'd like to see if the flowers are self-pollinating when grown at a warmer temperature, but don't have the time or patience to find out. The plant is very common, ranging from southern Centeral America down through much of South America.

Masdevallia decumana

2012-01-20T06:50:00.000-08:00

I have two plants of this species, one is mounted and the other potted and both do well, blooming profusely in early winter. The species is from Ecuador and in my opinion is one of the most beautiful and desirable of the Masdevallias. The plant is 10 cm tall with flowers that are equally large.

Masdevallia sotoana

2012-01-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

Masdevallia sotoana is a recently described species from Ecuador that looks like a poor cousin of Masdevallia strobelii, The coloration of the two species is similar and this species also has the glandular hairs covering the inside of the sepals that are a feature of all the species in section Saltatrices. As noted with other species from this group, these have both the "hairs" and a kind a "belly" at the base of the flower, though this is not very distinct in Masdevallia sotoana. The plant is a miniature, 7 cm tall, and the flowers, which are held just above the foliage, are about 2 cm long.

Paphiopedilum Nighfire x Slipknot

2012-01-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

This unregistered hybrid really belongs to son Edward and was a gift several years ago. It blooms on every new growth and sometimes produces two flowers per spike. It has mottled foliage and long, very strong spikes. I always enjoy photographing it when it is in bloom for obvious reasons.

Masdevallia glandulosa

2012-01-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

Masdevallia glandulosa is another small species from Ecuador. Its flowers are unique both for the tiny glandular hairs for which the plant is named and for their strong clove scent. The plant will perfume a whole room. I have seen clones of this species where the tails curl back, but this particular clone does not open widely and holds its tails forward. In my experience the plant prefers to be potted and likes somewhat moister conditions and lower light than other Masdevallias. The individual flowers are a bit over 3 cm in length and the plant is 8 cm tall.

Masdevallia naevia

2012-01-03T12:04:00.000-08:00

Masdevallia naevia is from Ecuador and belongs to the group of Masdevallias that have rather large, spidery flowers. This species blooms on spikes that hold the flowers well above the foliage and the flowers are 10 cm from tip to tip. The name "naevia" refers to the purple spot at the base of the dorsal sepal and means "birthmark."

Masdevallia lilacina

2011-12-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

An attractive and small orchid species from Peru, the flower is approximately 3 cm and grows on a 10 cm plant with narrow leaves. It blooms in the spring and when it blooms produces many flowers if it is happy. Mine is grown in a net pot in live sphagnum.

Phragmipedium Cardinale 'Birchwood' AM/AOS

2011-12-20T22:07:00.000-08:00

Son Edward won this plant at our society's annual Christmas dinner. Its tag identified it as Phragmipedium schlimii 'Birchwood', which it clearly is not. We've identified it tentatively as Phragmipedium Cardinale 'Birchwood' but if anyone knows better we would be happy to be corrected. Phragmipedium Cardinale is a hybrid of Phrag. schlimii and Phrag. Sedenii, but we've discovered that the hybrids in this group all look very similar and that has made us unsure of the correct id. Unlike some of the Phrags, it is a relatively small plant and we are growing it on a bathroom windowsill with some Paphiopedilums.

Barbosella australis

2011-12-19T09:03:00.000-08:00

Barbosella australis is a rather common miniature orchid species from Brazil (the name "australis" means "southern"). It should be grown on a mount and forms a creeping mat of small 1.5 cm leaves and produces flowers that larger than the leaves, about 2 cm long. I received this plant as Barbosella cogniauxiana from a vendor who ought to know better and was a bit annoyed to find that it was not correctly identified, though the flowers are beautiful in their own right.

Orchidarium Changes

2011-12-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I added two more fans to my orchidarium. I was having problems with spotting on the leaves of some Masdevallias, and I have always been a believer in air movement - good air movement solves most problems with leaf drop and spotting if the humidity is high enough. I added them at the top of the case near the front sliding panels and they already seem to be making a difference. The case badly needed cleaning and I was able to combine the addition of the fans with a thorough cleaning, something I do two or three times a year.

This makes a total of six fans in the case. Four three-inch fans provide air movement and two four-inch fans blow down into the water at the bottom of the case and provide both air movement and humidity. The humidity in the case never goes below about 70 percent and rises to about 90 percent after watering. With the air movement, the humidity and the cool temperatures the environment seems to be about as good as I can make it for Pleurothallids and New Guinea Dendrobiums.

Someone asked if I would post some pictures of the plants and flowers in the case. That was a tough assignment, since the combination of harsh light, dark and light subjects, and air movement made it difficult to get decent pictures. These were the best I could do and I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures.

Masdevallia constricta 'Kailyn' HCC/AOS

2011-11-29T14:26:00.000-08:00

This is the other plant I had awarded at the last session of the Northwest Regional Judging Center. It was given a High Class Certificate for the size of the flowers which are substantially larger than any other clone that has been awarded. They are given a measurement of 13 cm in the awards description, which reads: "Four large, well-presented flowers and six buds; sepals white, sepaline tube orange color deepening toward column; petals hidden; caudae medium yellow; substance firm; texture matte." Some of the flowers have been larger, however, as much as 15 cm. The species is from Ecuador and this awarded clone is named after one of our granddaughters.

Masdevallia decumana 'Nancy' CCM/AOS

2011-11-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

I brought this plant to the Northwest Regional Judging Center in Seattle last Saturday and it was awarded a Certificate of Cultural Merit by the American Orchid Society (CCM/AOS), with 22 flowers and 7 buds. I've posted pictures of this plant previously, and it always blooms profusely, but this was by far its best blooming to date.

http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2010/11/masdevallia-decumana.html
http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2010/08/masdevallia-decumana.html

Paphiopedilum helenae

2011-11-19T05:55:00.000-08:00

This is the smallest species in the genus, Paphiopedilum, and also one of the most recent discoveries, having been found and described in 1996. My plant has a span of a little over 12 cm and the height of the plant with the flower is only 8 cm, a charming little thing. The flower is between 4 and 5 cm in height and spread. The species shows considerable color variation and this plant has a darker pouch than most I've seen. Since its discovery it has been used in hybridizing in an attempt to produce miniature Paphiopedilums, but none of the hybrids I've seen are as nice as the species itself.

Zootrophion niveum

2011-11-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

The genus name, Zootrophion, refers to the cage-like shape of the flowers in this genus with their little "windows." The species name, niveum, refers to their color or lack thereof. This particular species is from Ecuador and is one of the smaller species in the genus. The plant is less than 15 cm and the flowers are about 4 cm in size, usually two per growth.

Masdevallia coccinea 'Dwarf Pink'

2011-11-10T15:49:00.000-08:00

Masdevallia coccinea is probably the most beautiful, the most sought-after and the most hybridized species in the genus. Most plants are quite large with very long spikes, but this particular clone is smaller in size with much shorter spikes and therefore the only example of this species I am able to grow. The plant is 15 cm tall with spikes that are another 15 cm and flowers 5 cm. The species comes in a rainbow of colors, but this clone is pink, opening a deep pink and gradually fading to a very pale pink. It is native to Colombia and Peru and grows at high altitudes.

Dendrobium agathodaemonis

2011-11-04T13:57:00.001-07:00

This plant is often considered to be a variety of Dendrobium cuthbertsonii, which it does resemble in some respects. It is different, however, in the fact that the growths are generally smaller and thinner than those of cuthbertsonii, and the flowers lack the dark coloring on the midlobe of the lip - they are pure white in this case. My plant is 4 cm tall with flowers that are very close to that size and which dwarf the plant. The plant is a prolific bloomer with long-lasting flowers and is in bloom nearly year around. It is native to Papua New Guinea. The flowers are semi-pendant and the plant, for that reason, is best grown on a mount.

Trisetella hirtzii

2011-11-04T13:57:00.000-07:00

I purchased this plant as Trisetella nodulifera, which is definitely is not. If my identification of it is correct, it is instead Trisetella hirtzii from Ecuador. It is small plant, 3 cm tall, with flowers a little over 1 cm in size. It is grown mounted with cool temperatures and blooms off and on throughout the year with a flush of flowers coming in the fall and early winter.

Triotosiphon gnoma

2011-11-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

I purchased this plant as Masdevallia or Acinopetala minuta, but it does not appear to be that species and I am pretty certain it is Masdevallia or Triotosiphon gnoma instead. The plant is only 2 cm tall and the flowers are nearly that long. Because the plant is so small and the flowers carried on such short peduncles, they lie close to the surface of the moss in which the plant is growing. Seen close-up the flowers are nearly transparent and the inner parts of the flower are visible through the sides. My plant is still very small, since it was only a couple of leaves when I got it and nearly died subsequently. The species is from Ecuador.

Sophrolaeliocattleya Dream Catcher

2011-11-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

This mini-Cattleya has everything going for it. It is small plant, around 15 cm, with large 6 cm flowers that are of excellent shape and good clear color. It blooms on every new growth, with two flowers per growth and the flowers are very long lasting. They open a reddish-orange color, but quickly fade to a bright orange that is veined and lightly flared in red. The lip, as can be seen from the photos is yellow with red veining and a red mid-lobe. The difference in color in the photos, however, is due not only to the age of the flowers but also to the season. The flowers that open in warmer weather are distinctly lighter and less deep in color than the flwoers that open in cooler weather.

Stelis ciliolata

2011-10-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Native to Ecuador, this plant is found at higher elevations and requires, therefore, cool temperatures in cultivation. Its name, ciliolata, refers to the striking white "hairs" that fringe the sepals. The plant is 12 cm tall with flower spikes that grow to about 20 cm. The spikes carry 15 or more 1.5 cm flowers, several of which may be open at a time, and the spikes bloom over a long period. The plant, as a result, is seldom out of bloom.

Acinopetala herradurae

2011-10-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Acinopetala is a new name for this species which was previously classified as a Masdevallia. It is charming species, but not as beautiful as Masdevallia lamprotyria, the species that this was supposed to be when I purchased it. This species is small with narrow leaves 10 cm long and 4 cm flowers. Though not very colorful the flowers are produced in abundance. The plant is native to Colombia and Ecuador.

Restrepia sanguinea 'Walter'

2011-10-06T18:22:00.000-07:00

The "Blood-red Restrepia," for that is what sanguinea means, is from Colombia and in plant habit and size is typical for the genus. The erect growth, around 10 cm tall, carry a single lanceolate leaf and the 5-6 cm flowers come from the base of the leaf on rather long stems. This particular flower is from the clone, "Walter," which has been awarded five times by the American Orchid Society for its large and deeply colored flowers. Like all Restrepias each growth produces a succession of flowers over a very long period of time and is seldom without flowers.

Platystele ovatilabia

2011-10-05T23:20:00.000-07:00

When I posted this tiny species previously, I was not very happy with the photos. It is in bloom once again and this time I managed to get some good pictures of the flowers which show how transparent they are and which give a much better idea of their charm. They are tiny, only 3 mm across, and are on a plant only 4-5 cm tall. The plant grows across Central America and into Mexico. It is best grown mounted since it forms a kind of mat of leaves and though reputed to bloom in the spring, always blooms for me in the fall.

http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/search/label/platystele%20ovatilabia

Lepanthopsis vinacea

2011-10-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

For miniatures that are easy to grow, floriferous and beautiful, one should consider the smaller species in the genus Lepanthopsis. As the name indicates these are closely related to Lepanthes and are native to the Americas from Mexico to the West Indies and Brazil. There are 25 species in the genus and this plant is fairly typical with its small but intensely colored flowers.

Lepanthopsis vinacea comes from Venezuela and Ecuador and as the name vinacea indicates has "wine-red" flowers. Under a macro lens the flowers show themselves to be nearly transparent and arranged in soldier-like rows along the spikes. These flowers are only a few millimeters in size and the plant is only about 6 cm tall with flower spikes about the same length as the growths.

I've provided pictures of the flowers both on a black and a light colored background:

Dendrobium Illusion #2

2011-09-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

This hybrid of Dendrobium cuthbertsonii, a tiny species, and Dendrobium lawesii, a large cane-type species, is much easier to grow than either of the two parents, and is almost always in bloom, though the largest flush of flowers comes in the autumn. One plus is that the flowers last for many months and so the plant is rarely without blooms.

http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2010/07/dendrobium-illusion.html

Dendrobium violaceum

2011-09-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Dendrobium violaceum is a variable species both in flower color and plant size. This particular example is very large and has flowers that are also larger than some of the other plants of this species I own. In this case the plant is 30 cm tall, one of the largest plants I have, and the flowers are 3.5 cm. The plant comes from Papua New Guinea and the name violaceum refers to the color of the flowers. These flowers opened not violet but pink and faded to the color seen in the photos.

Trisetella hoeijeri

2011-09-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

I've posted a description of this species before (see below), but it is in bloom once again with more flowers than ever, so I thought I'd post a few more pictures. The plant is tiny, only a few centimeters tall, with bird-like flowers that dwarf the plant.

http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2011/06/trisetella-hoeijeri.html

Effusiella amparoana

2011-09-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

This charming species, one of my favorite orchids, was formerly classified as Pleurothallis amparoana. By any name its flowers are some of the most curious in the orchid family, looking like little hairy toilet bowls. I've previously posted pictures and a description of this species, but since it is blooming once again and has more flowers than ever, I thought I'd post it again.

The previous post can be found here: http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2010/07/effusiella-amparoana.html

Lepanthes nycteris

2011-09-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

Lepanthes nycteris is from Bolivia and Peru and belongs to a group of orchids whose flowers are mostly small but very unusual, very complex and often very colorful. A previous blog post shows a large number of these flowers (see below). In this case the rather strange flowers are named after a family of bats, the Slit-faced Bats, or Nycteridae.

The plant is 6-7 cm and the flowers a little over 2 cm tall. The plant has oval leaves on thin, wiry stems and the flowers come in succession on thin dangling spikes. For this reason the plant is better grown mounted, and mine is on a thin piece of cork bark. Since it comes from high altitude cloud forest, it should be grown cool and moist and prefers quite low light.

For more information on the genus Lepanthes see this post:
http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2011/08/lepanthes-jewels-of-orchid-world.html

Neocogniauxia monophylla

2011-09-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

I've posted this species before, but this year it is blooming on three new growths and I thought I'd post it once again. It is quite slow growing, but blooms faithfully in the autumn on each new growth. The species is from Jamaica and is grown mounted on a piece of branch, now covered with moss. It is kept with my cool-growing orchids and watered every day, sometimes twice a day, with a very weak fertilizer solution, though that is occasionally interchanged with plain water.

http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2010/08/neocogniauxia-monophylla.html

Epidendrum escobarianum

2011-09-06T06:40:00.000-07:00

This amazing plant is in bloom once again, this time with more flowers than it has ever had before. The plant is notable for its beautifully patterned foliage and for the size of its flowers which are 6 cm on an 8 cm plant. The plant is from Ecuador and the previous post can be found here: http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2011/03/epidendrum-escobarianum.html.

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii

2011-09-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii is an orchid that I have posted before:
http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2011/07/dendrobium-cuthbertsonii-bicolor.html
http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2011/03/dendrobium-cuthbertsonii.html
http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2010/12/dendrobium-cuthbertsonii-var-semi-alba.html

It is one of my favorite miniature orchids and one that comes in many color forms, as the previous posts show, so here is another plant in bloom for the first time.

Lepanthes, Jewels of the Orchid World

2011-08-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Lepanthes is a genus of orchids from Central and South America with well over 800 species in the genus. It is known for its colorful flowers, which are often very intricate, very odd-shaped and very colorful, though sometimes very small. The flowers can be several centimeters in size, but are often only a few millimeters. Even the tiniest flowers, however, are amazing when viewed under a magnifying glass, or photographed with a macro lens. They can well be thought of as the jewels of the orchid world.

L. escobarina

L. orion

L. niesseniae

L. ophioglossa and L. ingridiana

L. telipogoniflora

L. elegantula

L. caprimulgus

L. hirtzii

L. gargoyla

L. cochlearifolia and L. unidentified species

L. felix

L. discolor

L. pastoensis

L. velicata

L. stenophylla

L. agglutinata and L. meniscophora

L. calodyction

L. hirsuta

Note: the last two photos are not mine. They are AOS awards photos and I have no idea who the photographers were. If I am using them improperly I would be more than ready to apologize and remove them.

Talpinaria bivalvis 'Neal' HCC/AOS

2011-08-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

This plant, recently reclassified, is from Ecuador. Formerly classified as Pleurothallis talpinaria, it is now reclassified due to the breaking up of that massive genus, as Talpinaria bivalvis. The plant is 11-12 cm tall and quite slow growing, producing only a few new growths each year.

The flowers are 1.5 cm tall and are produced singly or in pairs throughout the year, with a flush a new flowers in the spring. The growth continue to produce flowers over a very long period of time. When awarded this spring it had had thirty-three flower and nine buds on a relatively small plant.

This plant was awarded a High Class Certificate by the American Orchid Society at the Mount Baker Orchid Society Show this spring. It has the clonal name, 'Neal,' for our handicapped son, and has a prized place among my miniature orchids.

Neofinetia falcata 'Gojyo Fukurin'

2011-08-20T21:54:00.000-07:00

Neofineta falcata is a well known miniature orchid, both because of its lovely long-spurred flowers and because of its beautiful fragrance. It is another orchid that has been extensively interbred by the Japanese, producing many unusual (and expensive) varieties.

This variety is typical in size and leave shape but is known for its variegated foliage, green with creamy yellow margins. It seems to have less scent also than the common variety of the species, but perhaps that is only my lack of ability to detect the scent.

It is native to Japan and is a part of the Vanda alliance though it is dwarfed by its larger cousins. It has also been increasingly used in hybridizing with other members of the Vanda alliance to produce small plants with delicately colored flowers.

Sophronitis coccinea 'Fourth Dimension'

2011-08-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I received a division of a selected clone of Sophronitis coccinea from my good friend, Duane McDowell, who also gave it its clonal name. It has finally bloomed on a summer growth, not its usual bloom time but welcome nevertheless. It is a plant that seems to need to be established before blooming, but I have been waiting very impatiently for its first bloom.

The plant is typical for this species, 9-10 cm tall with leaves that are almost solid dark purple when grown under high light. The flower is a bit smaller than other plants I've grown, 6 cm across, but is beautifully formed with very large petals, by far the best clone I've ever had. I should add though, that the flowers continue to increase in size for quite some time after they open and perhaps this still has a ways to go.

Soph. coccinea is probably the most beautiful of all the cool-growing miniature orchids and has been extensively used in hybridizing Cattleyas to produce both miniature plants and sunset colors. It has been much bred by the Japanese who have produced clones that are less temperamental and more warmth tolerant, but it remains some difficult to grow well unless its requirement are met exactly.

Mine never dries out and the temperatures never go above 80 degrees (27 Celsius), and are usually around 70 dropping into the 60's at night. I grow it in live sphagnum in a clay pot (which, I believe, helps keep the plant cool through evaporation). It produces mostly blind leads through the summer and never seems to bloom on every growth, but is a beauty nonetheless.

The species is native to Brazil but is increasingly rare in the wild due to over-collecting, most of it illegal. It is one miniature orchid I would not be without and which I've grown now for many years, with varying success. It is available from a number of dealers, often as seedlings from carefully selected crosses and can be quite expensive to purchase, especially in its rarer forms.

Mystacidium capense

2011-08-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Mystacidium capense is a small orchid related to Angraecum and Aerangis and comes from the same general area, in this case from South Africa. The plant is 8-10 cm across and the flowers are 2 cm tall, but have a very long, 6 cm spur on the back of the lip which is nearly transparent and in which one can see the nectar that attracts the pollinators, almost surely a night-flying moth of some kind. The flowers have a crystalline texture that is visible in the photos and are sweetly fragrant as well. The plant is best grown mounted to accommodate the pendant flower spikes and prefer warm temperatures, though I grown it cool to intermediate.

Dendrobium sulphureum

2011-08-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

In a previous post I described this species which is almost always in bloom, and which like so many of the New Guinea Dendrobiums, has very long-lasting flowers: http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2010/08/dendrobium-sulphureum-var-sulphureum.html. The plant now has more flowers than ever and I thought I'd post some new pictures. As the pictures show, the flowers are produced in pairs and usually stand side-by-side facing opposite directions.

Spilotantha amanda

2011-08-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

Formerly Masdevallia amanda, this attractive miniature species comes from Ecuador and is well-named, since amanda mean "enchanting.". The plant is 7-8cm tall and the small flowers, about 1.5cm, are held well above the foliage and come 3-4 flowers per spike.

Alaticaulia weberbaueri

2011-08-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

Alaticaulia weberbaueri comes from Ecuador and Peru and is a small size species, 18cm tall, with 2 cm flowers that open in succession, several to a flower spike. The triangular (in cross-section) inflorescence is one of the distinguishing features of the group of plants to which this species belongs. Formerly known as Masdevallia weberbaueri, it is named for its discoverer.

Sophrolaeliocattleya Minibeau

2011-07-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

This mini-Cattleya is a hybrid of Sophrocattleya Beautfort and Sophrolaelia Minipet. The plant is less than fifteen cm tall and the flowers very large in proportion to the plant, around eight cm across. It is one of the few hybrids I grow.

Masdevallia eurynogaster

2011-07-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

Masdevallia eurynogaster is another species in the Saltatrices group of Masdevallias. The flowers in this group are tubular, have glandular hairs on the inside of the flower tube, and have a "belly" at the base of the flower tube. This species is from Ecuador and blooms on lax spikes that tend to hang over the side of the pot. The plant is about 9 cm tall and the flowers about 4.5 cm from the tips of the tails. This is the first time I've grown and bloomed this attractive species.

Zygostates multiflora

2011-07-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

This miniature species belong to a group of orchids known as the Ornithocephalinae, all of them related to the "Bird's Head" orchids in the genus Ornithocephalus. This species, as is the case with many other in the group, is from Brazil. Its name is appropriate since it is indeed "many-flowered." The plant itself is 3 cm tall with tiny psuedobulbs and leaves. The flower spikes are 15 cm long and bear numerous, white, 5 mm flowers that are very intricate and have a shiny green tip to the column.

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii bicolor

2011-07-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

Purchased recently from Mountain Orchids, this seedling is blooming for the first time with three of its huge flowers and two buds. Dendrobium cuthertsonii is a micro miniature species from New Guinea. The plants are only a few centimeters tall and are almost hidden by the huge 3 cm flowers. This plant with its bicolor flowers is the result of careful selection and breeding of the species.

Trisetella hoeijeri

2011-06-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

This tiny orchid is related to Masdevallia and used to be classified with them. It is native to Ecuador, grows at high elevations and requires cool temperatures. It is named after its Swedish discover who found it first in 1990. Because of its tiny size it is best grown mounted on a twig or small branch and needs good humidity and frequent watering.

The plant itself is only 2-3 cm tall but the flowers are 3 cm by 5.5 cm measured from the tips of the tails. They have a sparkling texture and look like little white birds in flight. The flowers are carried on thin wiry spikes that are about 3.5 cm long. It blooms off and on year around but produces a flush of flowers in the late spring or early summer.

It is very different both in flower shape and color from most of the other species in the genus. Most of them have reddish or purplish flowers with a rather cupped shape and are quite small in comparison to this species. For these reasons the species is also one of the more desirable in the genus and was much sought after when first discovered.

Phalaenopsis Be Tris 'Zuma Nova'

2011-06-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

This is really a switch from my previous posts. This is not a miniature, is not cool-growing, is not grown in my orchidarium, but I thought I'd post it anyway. It is one of only a couple Phalaenopsis plants I still have, including a couple of species, and is grown on a bathroom windowsill with a southern exposure and good strong but diffused light through the privacy glass.

It is blooming here for the first time and looks like it will have quite a few small but attractive flowers. I haven't made up my mind yet whether I'll keep it or trade it, but will probably enjoy the flowers for a while first. The flowers are only 4 cm by 5 cm but the plant is a typical Phalaenopsis and though probably not full grown is about 35-40 cm across.

The plant is a cross of Phalaenopsis Be Glad and Phalaenopsis equestris, and this particular clone has an award from the American Orchid Society, a Highly Commended Certificate (HCC/AOS). The cross was made by Krull-Smith in 1989, so it is quite old, but has quite a few awards, this one given in 2001. As far as I can tell the flowers are not fragrant.

Masdevallia fuchsii

2011-06-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

Here's another species in the Saltatrices group, i.e., tubular flowers with a "belly" and hairy glands on the inside of the tube. This species is from Ecuador and is a miniature, only 10 cm tall, with flowers that measure 4 cm each way. With its bright colored flowers, spreading tails and sweet scent, it is a favorite of mine.

Elongatia guttata

2011-06-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

Known also as Pleurothallis janetiae, Stelis janetiae and Elogatia janetiae, the name at the top of this post is the name under which this attractive species is currently recognized. It is from Costa Rica and supposed to be warm to hot growing, but does well for me with other cool-temperature Pleurothallids.

My plant is 8cm tall and produces its flowers in succession on thin wiry spikes that tend to be pendant. The plant for that reason is best grown mounted, though my plant at present is in a pot. The flowers are close to 2cm tall and are nearly transparent, one of the selling points of this species.

Masdevallia aurea

2011-05-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

Masdevallia aurea is another species in the saltatrices section of the genus Masdevallia. That translates into tubular flowers with longish tails and a kind of bulging "belly" at the base of the flowers. This group includes many of my favorite Masdevallia species.

The plant is small, 6-7cm tall, and the flowers which are held on spikes near the top of the leaves are 7cm tall from the tips of the tails. The flowers have a faint sweetish scent that I cannot identify and have hair-like glands on the inside of the tube. The plant hails from Ecuador.

Muscarella megalops

2011-05-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

Also known as Specklinia megalops and Pleurothallis megalops, this unusual species is from the Ecuadorean Andes. The plant is only about 5 cm tall and the few, widely spaced flowers are carried on wiry spikes that tend to hang down. The name, megalops, refers to the very large (and hairy) lip that is characteristic of this species.

Masdevallia filaria

2011-05-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

Masdevallia filaria is another species from the Saltatrices section of Masdevallia. Compared with the flowers of Masdevallia ventricularia in the previous post the relationship is obvious. Both have the tubular shape and "belly" that are characteristic of this section.

The plant of this species is about 10 cm tall and the flowers 5 cm in height. Like the previous species it blooms in the spring and comes from Colombia. Its name, filaria, refers to the thread-like tails of the flowers and it sometimes considered to be the same species as ventricularia.

Dracula lotax

2011-05-02T10:41:00.000-07:00

This is one of those orchid names that makes me laugh. There is a whole group of orchids, well over a hundred species, called Draculas, named for their odd flowers and their fancied resemblance to a dragon's mouth. They are related to Masdevallia and belong to the group of Central and South American orchids known as Pleurothallids.

The name of this species is especially humorous since lotax means "clown," so that it is literally the "Clown Dracula," which is rather incongruous. It is so named however, because it has a little clown's face in the center of the flower. It is the name Dracula that really does not fit, since this miniature species does not have the dark, bat-wing flowers of some other species in the genus.

The plant is 12 cm tall and the flowers about half that size. It requires relatively low light, cool and damp conditions, and can be grown in a pot since its flower spikes are held upright, unlike those species that send their spikes downward. I grow it in live sphagnum moss in a net pot and keep it as far away from the lights as is possible in my orchidarium.

Dendrobium malvicolor

2011-04-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

Dendrobium malvicolor is another delightful miniature orchid. It is native to Sumatra and is reputed to be very tolerant of different growing conditions. I grow it cool but it is supposed to tolerate warm temperatures as well. It is best grown mounted and is supposed to have a dry rest in the winter.

The growths are about 5 cm long and are thin and wiry at the base, thickened towards the top rather like a club. It flowers in late winter or spring after dropping its leaves and the flowers come in clusters of three to five. They appear to be white but actually have a pinkish blush especially at the base of the flowers.

The tip of the column is also bright purple, adding interest to the flowers. Its name, malvicolor, refers to the supposed resemblance between the color of its flowers and those of the mallow plant. It belongs to the section Pedilonum and has long-lasting flowers, that have a sparkling, crystalline texture, eviden especially in the last photo.

Schoenorchis seidenfadenii

2011-04-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Schoenorchis seidenfadenii is tiny but charming orchid related to the huge Vandas. It grows in a little fan of thick fleshy leaves and produces an abundance of tiny pinkish flowers in the spring. The individual flowers are less than 1 cm in size but are born on densely flowered sprays. It is native to Thailand and Vietnam and is best grown mounted. It is supposed to be warm growing, but I have it with my cool growing plants where it does very well, growing and blooming reliably.

Masdevallia ventricularia

2011-04-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

For some reason I am especially attracted to the flowers of the Saltatrices group of Masdevallias, perhaps because their flowers are so odd. The flowers in this group are all tubular, many with a kind of bulging "belly": at the base of the flower. The flowers often are bug-like or slug-like.

Masdevallia ventricularia tends to have rather subdued coloring, but its 7 cm flowers, large for the size of the plant, have the typical tubular shape and "belly" of the group. It is from Colombia and Ecuador and is a small plant of about 10 cm. My plant is a very pale colored form of the species.

Masdevallia welischii 'Rip Hoff'

2011-04-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

Love that clonal name. Whoever used it had a since of humor - maybe paid too much for the plant. Hard to imagine that, though, since this is a spectacular Masdevallia species from Peru. It has 15 cm narrow but thick channeled leaves that take a bit more light than some plants in the genus. The flower spikes are 35 cm and stand well above the plant. The flowers are 7 cm from tip to tip, somewhat small for the size of the plant, but remarkable for their color and glandular hairs. Unlike other Masdevallias with these "hairs," however, these flower have them mainly on the dorsal sepal, which appears to be much darker than the rest of the flower as a result. The striking orange and red flowers are also darker on the exterior than the interior.

Masdevallia datura

2011-04-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Masdevallias, this species from Ecuador has huge flowers on a small plant. The plant is about 12 cm tall, but the flowers are nearly the same size from the back of the flower to the tip of the tails, and even larger, 15 cm, from tip to tip. The name, datura, refers to the flowers' resemblance to those of the Moonflower, Datura inoxia, which they do indeed resemble both in color and form. The plant flowers primarily in the spring, and the flowers have a faint, lily-like fragrance.

Mount Baker Orchid Society Show

2011-03-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

Our orchid society had its show last week, the first show I've participated in for many years. The show was held at the Skagit Valley Gardens Nursery in Mount Vernon, Washington - they give us space in their large display and sales house both for the show itself and for vendors and are very accommodating.

Our society is quite small and so the show was quite small also, but I was impressed by the variety of plants as well as the quality of the plants. In both respects it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Six American Orchid Society (AOS) awards were given and thirteen trophies, including the AOS Show Trophy.

Some of the plants that were in the show and for sale by the vendors are pictured below. I took a lot of pictures, but that only reflects the difficult of getting good pictures at a show where one has so little control of background, lighting, etc. I did not get all the names, however.

Cymbidium Rodco's Creation

Epidendrum radicans

Dendrobium Little Sweetscent

Unregistered Miltonipsis hybrid and Phalaenopsis Winning Spots 'Kulani #1'

Epidendrum stamfordianum

Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum x Pinocchio and Unregistered Paphiopedilum Maudiae hybrid

Colmanara Wildcat 'Carmela'

Beallara Tahoma Glacier and Oncidium Space Race 'Koko'

Brassia Jeanne Nixon

Wilsonara Fortin 'Calico Cat'

Vascostylis Hilo Rose

Psychopsis Kahlihi

Some of the plants that were in the show are pictured below. The Phalaenopsis are almost all by one grower in our society, David Edgley. I got as many names as I could and hope I've got them all straight. With so many plants and flowers it is difficult to be sure.

Phalaenopsis Carmela's Wild Thing x Paul Tatar

Phalaenopsis Carmela's Wild Thing x Paul Tatar and Doritaenopsis The Pride of Ben Yu

Doritaenopsis Sogo Golden 'Fangtastic'

Phal. Sogo Yukidian 'V3'

Doritaenopsis Fusheng's Mystical Dream 'Come True'

Doritaenopsis Scarlet in Snow and Phalaenopsis Small Sensation

Doritaenopsis Chian Xen Magpie

Doritaenopsis Ganlin Fairy 'K59804'

Ascovandoritis Prapin

Sarcochilus Cacross

Jumellea arachnantha

Schoenorchis gemmata

Phragmipedium Cardinal

Phragmipedium Living Fire

Phragmipedium Noirmont 'Hellen Illsley'

Phragmipedium Grande

Paphiopedilum Iantha Stage

Paphiopedilum St. Swithin

Paphiopedilum sukhakulii alba and Paphiopedilum Harry Sadler

Paphiopedilum sanderianum

Dendrobium odiosum

Dendrobium epidenropsis

Dendrobium Andre Millar

Dendrobium Princess 'Asai'

Encyclia fragrans

Cattleya skinneri

Unregistered Wilsonara hybrid

Masdevallia Claude

Restrepiopsis inaequalis

Pleurothallis teaguei

Masdevallia princeps 'Grim Reaper'

Angulocaste Paul Gripp 'Hull'

Angulocaste Evelyn Chang 'Isaac'

Stenosarcos Vanguard

Bulbophyllum graveolens

Bulbophyllum hians

Trigonidium egertonianum and Pleione confusa

Maxillaria variabilis

Calanthe rosea

Our society put in an exhibit of plants from the members which had some very unusual and beautiful plants. We have less than 25 active members, and I thought this a very nice exhibit from so few people and very well arranged also.

I built and put in a showcase modeled after one that had been used by the Pleurothallid Alliance and which I used on their behalf in 1993 at the AOS spring meetings in Houston. The picture below is of that showcase and the orchids displayed in it. The similarity is evident.

The showcase I put in this show was about 36 x 42 x 42 inches, was enclosed in plexiglass on three sides and could be used either free standing or on a table top as it was here. I had planned on using lights but they were not needed in the bright conditions of the greenhouse-type showroom.

The plants were displayed on a kind of mountain made of sheets of construction styrofoam glued together, lightly melted on the edges with a blowtorch to give them a more natural look, and then spray painted which also melted the styrofoam a bit more.

There were 39 plants in the display including two that were not mine, mostly miniature Dendrobiums and Pleurothallids. For those who are interested the list of plants follows:
     1.   Masdevallia (Alaticaulia) don-quijote
     2.   Masdevallia constricta
     3.   Masdevallia decumana - blue ribbon
     4.   Masdevallia glandulosa
     5.   Masdevallia datura
     6.   Masdevallia mendozae
     7.   Masdevallia hirtzii
     8.   Masdevallia ventricularia
     9.   Masdevallia (Tritosiphon) bangii - red ribbon
     10. Masdevallia Ruby Slippers (coccinea x calura) - blue ribbon
     11. Masdevallia Falcon’s Gold (Falcon Sunrise x constricta) - white ribbon
     12. Masdevallia Hampshire Prolific
     13. Trisetella hoejeri - white ribbon
     14. Trisetella gemmata
     15. Trisetella dressleri
     16. Trisetella klingeri
     17. Scaphosepalum ovulare
     18. Lepanthes elegantula
     19. Lepanthes ingridiana
     20. Lepanthes manabina - CCM/AOS, red ribbon
     21. Condylago rodrigoi
     22. Lepanthopsis astrophora ‘Stalky’
     23. Pleurothallis talpinaria (Talpinaria bivalvis) - HCC/AOS, blue ribbon
     24. Pleurothallis alata (Muscarella marginata)
     25. Epidendrum escobarianum - white ribbon
     26. Dendrobium malvicolor
     27. Dendrobium limpidum
     28. Dendrobium sulphureum
     29. Dendrobium cuthbertsonii semi-alba
     30. Dendrobium seranicum
     31. Dendrobium agathodaemonis
     32. Dendrobium pentapterum
     33. Dendrobium Illusion (cuthbertsonii x lawesii)
     34. Dendrobium Illusion (cuthbertsonii x lawesii)
     35. Dendrobium hellwigianum
     36. Dendrobium masarangense
     37. Chytroglossa paulensis- CBR/AOS
     38. Lepanthopsis astrophora (not my plant)
     39. Dendrobium porphyrochilum (not my plant)

I must admit that I am a little embarrassed by all the attention it received, but that had a lot to do with the fact that many of these orchids are not commonly seen at shows because of their size. Not only were the visitors to the show quite interested in the tiny orchids but the plants and display received a number of awards.

There were three American Orchid Society awards for different plants, a trophy for the best Pleurothallid, Masdevallia decumana, and the American Orchid Society Show Trophy, shown below in addition to a number of ribbons awarded to different plants.

The three AOS awards were an HCC/AOS (High Class Certificate) awarded to Pleurothallis talpinaria, a CBR/AOS (Certificate of Botanical Recognition) for a plant of Chytroglossa paulensis, and a CCM/AOS (Certificate of Cultural Merit) awarded to a plant of Lepanthes manabina.

It was a lot of fun but also a lot of work. I spent a day and half at the show and was worn out by the end of that time. The case itself sets up and breaks down in about half an hour, but I helped with all the show activities, too, and even took part in the ribbon and show judging.

Chytroglossa aurata

2011-03-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

This tiny species represents everything I love about miniature orchids. Viewed closely the flowers are amazing in their colors and in their intricacy, in this case a combination of green, yellow and brown, of spots and fringes, and arranged in rather unusual pendant, downward-facing fashion on zig-zag spikes.

The plants are 5-6 cm tall, the flowers slightly less than 2 cm and the spikes, carrying up to 10 flowers are 12 cm in length. The species is from Brazil and belongs to a genus that includes only a few other species, which are very similar to this.

This little orchid belongs to a family known as the Ornithocephalinae, which includes the better known genus, Ornithocephalus. That genus has mostly white and green flowers, and so the flowers of this little species provide a welcome change in color.

Epidendrum escobarianum

2011-03-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

I purchased this about a year ago from Ecuagenera in Ecuador. They sent it when they were in the USA for a show, along with a number of other Ecuadorian orchid species. When I purchased it, it was only a few mostly bare canes on an old piece of tree fern, but it has since grown vigorously enough that I have been able to send a small division of it to a friend.

The plant is semi-pendant with canes 10 cm long. The plant tends to produce new canes a few cm from the base of the older canes, so the plant gradually gets longer and longer. It has beautifully pattered foliage, though the patterning fades as the new canes age. The leaves are displayed in the same way as a Dichaea, with the leaves all more or less in the same plane.

The flowers are produced in pairs at the tip of the canes and though not untypical for an Epidendrum of this type are quite large and very beautiful. They measure around 8 cm from top to bottom and come from a rather large sheath that looks at first like another leaf. The flowers are very waxy and very long lasting as well and are displayed back to back.

I had this plant at a recent meeting of our local orchid society and was told that it had the reputation of being very difficult to grow. I have not found it so. I give it as much light as I am able and water it daily without giving it a rest. And, as with all my other orchids, it receives a tiny bit of fertilizer in nearly every watering (a pinch of 15-30-15 fertilizer to two gallons of water).

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii color forms

2011-03-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

Once known as Dendrobium sophronitis, this tiny species from New Guinea is one of the most desirable of all miniature orchids. Its color, the size of the flowers in relation to the plant, and the longevity of the flowers all make it a real treasure.

The plants vary somewhat in size, but are never more than a few cm tall. The flowers are larger than the plant and come in many different colors, even in a bi-colored form. This post shows some of the different colors of this lovely orchid.

Dendrobium limpidum

2011-03-04T06:56:00.000-08:00

Dendrobium limpidum is from New Guinea and belongs to the Pedilonum section of the very large Dendrobium genus. This group of Dendrobiums have arching or pendant canes and most of them are quite large. This plant is the smallest in the group.

It is considered by some to be the same plant as Dendrobium dichaeoides. Whether the same or not I am unable to judge, but the plants do resemble another orchid genus named Dichaea with their closely set alternating leaves, and are quite beautiful in their own right.

The canes are about 10 cm in length and produce clusters of rather small flowers that impress more by their bright color and number than by their individual beauty. The flowers are less than 2 cm but come in clusters of around 15 flowers.

Like the plants in the Pedilonum section the flowers tend to be more or less tubular. In this case the flowers are not only tubular but do not open very far and have a lip that curls up to block most of the open end of the flowers. This can be seen in the close-up photos.

One very nice thing about this species is that the older canes continue to produce flowers for several years, though the new canes do not bloom the first year. The older canes eventually lose their leaves but will even then continue to produce flowers.

My plant is grown mounted and given as much light as I am able to give it. It is watered every day and seems to be quite easy as long as the temperatures are not too high and the humidity not too low.

Lepanthes caprimulgus

2011-02-25T06:13:00.000-08:00

This incredible miniature plant is quite rare. It comes from Ecuador and Peru and is only about 6 cm tall, but the flower is nearly 1.5 cm. As is often the case with Lepanthes, it bears its flowers on thin, wiry spikes, in this case about 6 cm long, but curving over so that the flower is usually facing the plant. The name of the flower refers to its fancied resemblance to the genus of birds which include the Whip-poor-wills and Goatsuckers.

Laelia sincorana

2011-02-23T18:41:00.000-08:00

Though still a miniature, especially in comparison to most of the Cattleyas and to other of the Laelias, this is one of the larger orchids I grow, and certainly has the largest flowers of any of my orchids. The plant is about 10 cm tall and the flowers about the same size. The species is from Brazil and has been recently reclassified as a Cattleya. I still think of it as a Laelia, however, and have difficulty adopting the name change.

The plant only ever produces one flower and does not bloom on every growth, but seems to bloom seasonally. I grow it mounted under the highest light I can give it, and hold back watering a bit when the growths mature, though there are usually new growths started at the same time. The lighter colored, flatter flower below is from another plant, slightly smaller and with a smaller flower as well.

Triotosiphon bangii

2011-02-17T18:13:00.000-08:00

Masdevallia bangii or Triotosiphon bangii, now the correct name, is one of the smallest Masdevallias. The plant shown is growing in a pot only 3-4 cm in diameter. The tiny flowers are only millimeters in size and the plant only a few cm tall. It is native to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. This particular plant was awarded as a Masdevallia, however, and given a Certificate of Botanical Recognition by the American Orchid Society. It is supposed to be tolerant of a range of temperatures, but I have found it a bit finicky, dropping leaves when not happy. I keep it cool and moist.

Alaticaulia don-quijote

2011-02-11T13:23:00.000-08:00

Also known as Masdevallia don-quijote, this species is a real charmer, both for its name and for its unusual form. It is native to Ecuador and is named after the Man of La Mancha, for its supposed resemblance to the bowed legs of a horseman (lateral sepals) and a lance (dorsal sepal). The plant is larger, as Masdevallias go, about 15 cm tall, with 35 cm flower spikes that bloom successively, and flowers that are about 11 cm tall. It is a very vigorous grower and bloomer.

Andinia schizopogon

2011-02-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

This strange and unusual species comes from Ecuador and Peru. It has a rambling habit, narrow leaves and is best grown on a mount. It produces its flowers successively on short spikes and seems to be always in bloom. The flowers are 5 cm long and the plant 8 cm tall. It was formerly classified as a Pleurothallis but has been reclassified as part of the breaking up of that huge genus.

Lepanthes elegantula

2011-02-05T11:48:00.000-08:00

Lepanthes elegantula, a species from Ecuador, certainly lives up to its name: it is indeed most elegant. The plant is erect and stands at 5-6 cm. The flowers are nearly 2 cm tall, very large for a Lepanthes, and are a dark satiny purple that is very difficult to photograph. The flowers come one or two at a time, blooming successively on wiry flower spikes that stand well above the foliage.

Mediocalcar decoratum

2011-02-02T21:47:00.000-08:00

Mediocalcar decoratum is an unusual miniature, mat-forming species from the island of New Guinea. It is cool growing and does well either on a mount or in a pot, but needs room to ramble. The individual growths are about 1 cm, have a thick fleshy stem and a fan of four tiny fleshy leaves at the top. Each new growth begins near the top of the previous growth, forming an ever-lengthening chain. The flowers, .5 cm in size, come from the base of the growths and look like tiny candy-corns.

Masdevallia Falcon's Gold

2011-02-01T22:22:00.000-08:00

Since this was recently in bloom, I thought I'd post a few more pictures of this easy-to-bloom and easy-to-grow plant. This small Masdevallia is a hybrid of Masdevallia Falcon's Sunrise and Masdevallia glandulosa, a purple species whose color, very obviously, is recessive. The flowers are large and are held well above the foliage.

Masdevallia Maui Lollipop

2011-02-01T05:39:00.000-08:00

Maui Lollipop is a hybrid of Masdevallia mendozae and Madevallia Angel Frost. In my opinion, though it is a charming plant, it is not as nice as either parent. It most resembles Masdevallia mendozae, but has longer and more erect flower spikes and a paler color, with slightly more open flowers.

Masdevallia mendozae

2011-01-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

Masdevallia mendozae belongs to the Saltatrices group in the genus Masdevallia. The plants in this group generally have tubular flowers and are brightly colored. This species is no exception. It comes from Ecuador and is supposed to be very temperature tolerant, growing in warm as well as cool temperatures.

The slug-like bright orange flowers are 3.5 cm long and the plant itself is only about 10 cm tall. The plant is a prolific bloomer when grown well and blooms in late winter with occasional flowers throughout the year. I grow it in live sphagnum moss in a small net pot and keep it cool and moist.

Masdevallia strobelii

2011-01-27T00:03:00.000-08:00

This species, common in cultivation, but nevertheless desirable, is also in the section Saltatrices, and like the other species in that group is beautifully colored and tubular in shape, though not to the extent of some of the other species in the group.

The plant is remarkable for its sweet scent, its clear glandular "hairs" which cover the inside of the flower, and its white and orange coloring. It has been much used in hybridizing and imparts good color, sparkling texture, and its hairiness to its progeny.

The plant is about 8 cm tall and the flowers the same size when measured from the tips of the tails, though these usually fold back. The plant blooms for me in late winter with occasional flowers all through the year and is grown in live sphagnum in a net pot.

Scaphosepalum gibberosum

2011-01-24T19:50:00.000-08:00

This plant has some of the oddest flowers of any orchid. Even the names are an attempt to describe some of the peculiarities of this plant and its relatives. Scaphosepalum means "fused sepals" and gibberosum refers to the hump-like swellings on the flower stem.

The plant is 20 cm tall, but the flower spikes continue to grow, producing a succession of flowers at widely-spaced intervals and growing as long as 50 cm. The flowers are about 5 cm and can only be described with a picture they are so odd.

The plant is from Colombia and from high altitudes in the Andes, requiring cool temperatures and high humidity. My plant grows in a net pot in live sphagnum moss and is in bloom nearly the year around. It requires some space, however, because of the long flower spikes.

Trisetella gemmata

2011-01-14T21:36:00.000-08:00

The Trisetellas are all related to Masdevallia and were at one time classified with them. Trisetella gemmata is fairly typical of most of the genus, both in the color and size of the flowers and in plant size. The plant is a cluster of narrow channeled leaves about 4 cm tall, and the rather strange flowers are about 3 cm in size. It produces its flowers during the winter and each flower spike produces a succession of 4-6 flowers.

The plant is from Colombia and from high altitudes and does best in cool to cold temperatures with high humidity. I grow it mounted on a piece of bark and water it nearly every day. Its name, gemmata, refers to the sparkling texture of the flowers which is very hard to capture in a photograph, and Trisetella, the genus name, refers to the three thread-like tails of the flower.

Lepanthes telipogoniflora

2011-01-10T17:32:00.000-08:00

Lepanthes telipogoniflora is one of the most beautiful and sought-after species in this genus of tropical jewels. Its large flowers dwarf the tiny plants which produce them and the red-orange color of the flowers stands out in any collection. The plant is from Colombia and is a relatively new discovery, having only been described for the first time in 1996. Its name, telipogoniflora, refers to the perceived resemblance of the flowers to those of another orchid genus, Telipogon.

The leaves, which grow in a tight cluster are about 1 cm at their largest, the flowers about 3 cm in diameter. The flowers are not especially long-lasting, but are produced in succession so that the plant is seldom without flowers. It is difficult to catch the color of the flowers and their satiny texture, and the lip and petals are so tiny as to go almost unnoticed in the center of the flower, but are very intricate and beautiful when viewed closely. The plant is supposed to be warm growing but does very well for me in cool conditions with high humidity.

Paphiopedilum venustum

2011-01-07T15:13:00.000-08:00

I don't grow a lot of Paphiopedilums, but only for lack of space. I find their variety and strange forms very attractive, and Paph. venustum represents all that I love about them. It is a smallish plant with beautifully mottled leaves, as is evident in some of the photos, and has one of the most beautiful pouches in the genus, a lovely green with darker green veining.

The plant grows well for me on a bathroom windowsill where it receives diffused light from a southern exposure and it blooms faithfully every year. The fan of leaves is about 30 cm across and the single-flowered spikes are a little less than 30 cm tall. On my plant the petals are strongly reflexed, making the flowers look like they are flying.

Mediocalcar versteegii 'Mountainside'

2011-01-03T16:30:00.000-08:00

This very unusual species is from New Guinea. Its rambling growths are about 9-10 cm tall and produce small but brightly colored flowers a little less than 1 cm in size. It is part of genus of about 20 species native to New Guinea and growing at high altitudes in the cloud forests. The name Mediocalcar refers to a spur on the tiny lip which is mostly hidden inside the flower, and versteegii is after the name of a Dutch explorer of the 1800's.

Stelis purpurascens

2010-12-20T07:29:00.000-08:00

Stelis purpurascens is a large and robust plant from Mexico, Central and South America. The plant itself is about 25 cm tall and the flower spikes which come from the joint of leaf and stem add another 20 cm to the height of the plant. It is really too large for my space and I am going to have to trade or sell it.

The individual flowers are slightly less than 1 cm in size, but their lack of size is made up for by the number of flowers the plant produces, each spike having as many as 75 flowers. Interestingly, the flowers open and close in the course of day, opening when the lights go on, closing later and then opening again in the afternoon.

Masdevallia hirtzii

2010-12-20T07:12:00.000-08:00

Masdevallia hirtzii is a small species from Ecuador and Peru and is named after a German orchid collector, Hirtz. It is a relatively recent discovery, having been described in for the first time in 1989. A prolific bloomer, the plant often obscured by the numerous flowers. It belongs to the group of Masdevallias called Saltatrices, a group with tubular flowers and bright colors.

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii var. semi-alba

2010-12-13T06:31:00.000-08:00

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii is, without doubt, the crown jewel of the miniature orchid world. It is tiny, less than 2 cm tall, and has large colorful flowers that dwarf the plant and that last six to nine months. The flowers are trumpet shaped, about 2.5 cm long and the same across the open front of the flower.

The species is from New Guinea and comes in many different color varieties, including red, orange, pink, and various bicolor forms. This particular plant was purchased as a semi-alba variety but is pale yellow rather than white with the typical maroon band around the edge of the lip.

This species can be quite temperamental and is considered difficult to grow. I have another plant of the species that has not put out new growth for over a year. This plant, however, seems to be quite vigorous. It is grown mounted and with the highest light I can give it, just inches from the HO fluorescent bulbs I use.

The species requires cool temperatures and simply will not do well unless this requirement is met. It is reputed to hate fertilizer, but in my conditions gets watered with a weak fertilizer solution (a pinch of 10-30-10 in 2 gallons of water) every 2 out of three waterings.

Aerangis fastuosa

2010-12-10T11:12:00.000-08:00

I have a weakness for white flowers, and the fact that these are fragrant at night adds to their appeal. The species is from Madagascar and is supposed to require warm temperatures, but it does well for me in intermediate to cool conditions.

The plant is approximately 8 cm from leaf tip to leaf tip and the flowers are about 5 cm in size with long tails. The plant blooms in late winter to spring for me. It is one of the smaller Aerangis species and does not seem to be at all difficult.

Masdevallia Sunny Angel

2010-12-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite Masdevallia hybrids. The cross was very variable, but I love the bright yellow of this plant and the open flowers. It's small to medium size and not very fussy. Like all my Masdevallias, I grow it in sphagnum in a net pot.

Dendrobium seranicum

2010-11-30T13:08:00.000-08:00

This is another Dendrobium from the Oxyglossum group, though it does not come from New Guinea, like so many of the others. This species is native to the Molucca Islands, but comes from high elevations and requires cool temperatures. Its name, in fact, means "mountain dweller."

Each growth with its narrow leaves is about 10 cm tall and the flowers a little over 2 cm, but it blooms on the older leafless pseudobulbs and blooms during the winter. Like most of the species in this group the paired flowers are very long lasting, staying in good condition for months.

Ophidion cunabulum

2010-11-29T18:28:00.000-08:00

Ophidion cunabulum, formerly classified as Cryptophoranthus cunabulus, is a tiny orchid in the Pleurothallid group. The lance-shaped leaves are approximately 5 cm long and the flowers about 1.5 cm, blooming, one or two flowers at a time successively in the pendant spikes.

The plant is from Colombia and both names refer to the shaped of the flower, Ophidon referring to the snake-head shape of the flowers and cunabulum meaning "cradle-shaped." The plant is easy to grow and blooms freely over a long period of time.

My plant is in a small bonsai pot with the flowers dangling over the sides, but the plant could also very be grown on a mount. It is tolerant of different temperatures, but prefers fairly high humidity. I grow the plant under rather high light and the leaves and flower spikes are shorter than they would be otherwise.

Dendrobium Illusion #3

2010-11-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

Dendrobium Illusion is a hybrid of the micro-miniature Dendrobium cuthbertsonii and the large cane-type Dendrobium lawesii. It has short, upright canes that are reminiscent of lawesii, but only a few inches tall. The flowers are most like cutherbertsonii, but it is easier to grow and freer blooming than that species. In fact, because the flowers last so long - up to six months - the three plants I have are never out of flower. This one has the shortest canes and the best flowers and is in a 1.5 inch clay pot, though the pot is not visible because of the moss.

These are the parents. The first photo is of Dendrobium lawesii and the second of Dendrobium cuthbertsonii. Both are very variable in color, so I suppose this cross could be make to bloom in all the colors of the rainbow.

A link to a post showing another plant of this cross is here: http://orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2010/07/dendrobium-illusion.html

Maxillaria tenuifolia

2010-11-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

Know as the coconut orchid for its scent - it smells exactly like fresh coconut - Maxillaria tenuifolia is from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It is easy to grow and a common orchid in collections, often growing into very large clumps with hundreds of flowers.

Because it grows into a large specimen plant so quickly it is an orchid I no longer grow. The plant itself, however, is very reasonably sized, with 3-4 cm flat pseudobulbs and a single narrow, 20-25 cm leaf at the top of the pseudobulb. The 4-5 cm flowers arise from the base of the pseudobulbs.

The genus name, Maxillaria, refers to the jaw-like base of the lip in this species and other larger-flowered species in the genus. The species name, tenuifolia, refers to the narrow, grass-like foliage of the plant. It is an attractive plant with large and beautiful flowers.

Angraecopsis breviloba

2010-11-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

This tiny miniature, related to Angraecum, Aerangis and the other Angraecoids, is from Kenya and Tanzania. The plant itself is only a couple of cm in size and bears long flower spikes, around 15 cm, that are covered with small, almost transparent greenish white flowers. The nectar in the spurs is visible in the pictures, indicating how nearly transparent the flowers are. It seems very adaptable, since even though it is from warmer areas grows well with my cool-growing plants.

Masdevallia decumana

2010-11-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

My mounted Masdevallia decumana is in bloom again. I have several plants, but this is the only one I have mounted and it seems to grow and bloom better than the potted plants. Its blooms are somewhat short-lived, but it is spectacular when in full bloom. The species is from Ecuador.

Acinopetala chontalensis

2010-11-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

Formerly Masdevallia chontalensis (still that if you don't accept Dr. Luer's new classifications), this small species is a real jewel. It is from Nicaragua and is less than 6 cm tall with bloom that appear on short spikes just above the foliage. It almost always has two flowers per spike and the flowers, though small are very colorful. It is named for Chonal County in Nicaragua, one of its native habitats.

Lepanthes manabina

2010-10-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

This species, synonymous with Lepanthes mastodon, is from the cloud forests of Ecuador and Colombia, and is in many ways a very unusual species. It is pendant and has two different kinds of leaves. The larger, flowering leaves are on stems 10 cm or more in length, the leaves themselves a bit longer than 5 cm. These leaves are covered with coarse hairs on the upper surface and bear a succession of unusually shaped and colored flowers on ever lengthening thread-like inflorescences. The other leaves are smaller, only about 3 cm, and are borne on stems only 3-4 cm long. These leaves do not have the coarse hairs of the blooming leaves.

Each new growth has the typical sheathes of the genus Lepanthes. All the leaves are a dark reddish-green and are very attractive in their own right, but the flowers are the real attraction. They are a little over 1.5 cm tall and are an attractive reddish mahogany color with touches of yellow, red and green. The flowers not only bloom successively on their spikes, but each leaf will continue to produce new spikes so that each may have several flowers open and so that the plant is never out of flower. The name manabina refers to a western Ecuadorian state where this plant is found.

Dendrobium masarangense var. masarangense

2010-10-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

The name of this tiny species is bigger than the plant or the flowers. The plant is a tiny cluster of thin pseudobulbs and needle-like leaves about 7 cm tall and the flowers are about 1.5 cm, growing in pairs and showing themselves just above the pseudo-bulbs.

The plant is from New Guinea and is another one of the Oxyglossum Dendrobiums. It is a lowland species and somewhat warmer growing than many of the others. It varies some in color from white to pale yellow, green, or orange, the flowers in every case being nearly translucent.

Lepanthes ingridiana

2010-10-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite Lepanthes with its colorful and unusual flowers. It is also one of the larger plants in the genus. The plant itself is about 15 cm tall, though my plant seems to get taller with each new growth. It bears a single 5 cm leaf on an upright stem with the typical bracts of a Lepanthes. The plants are native to Ecuador and come from higher elevations.

The bright yellow spidery flowers are huge for the size of the plant. Fully extended they would be around 7 cm long, but they tend to hang in a kind of half-circle under the leaves. The flowers appear successively with a new bud forming as the previous flower opens. The plant is almost always in flower, therefore, with each new growth adding its succession of flowers to those already blooming.

Dendrobium sulphureum var. sulphureum

2010-10-23T13:37:00.001-07:00

This is another miniature Dendrobium from section Oxyglossum and from New Guinea. My plant is about 6 cm tall and produces 3-4 cm flowers. As with all the flowers in this section they are very long-lasting and the plant seems to be always in bloom. I grow it mounted and give it as much light as I possibly can, keeping it just inches below the HO lights in the orchidarium in which it grows.

Scaphosepalum anchoriferum

2010-10-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

Scaphosepalum is a genus related to Masdevallia and Pleurothallis and belonging, therefore to the Pleurothallid alliance. All the species in the genus, a total of about 15, have very unusual flowers. This species comes from Costa Rica and Panama. It is around 8 cm tall, with pendant spikes about 5 cm long that bloom repeatedly, one flower at a time. The flowers themselves are 1 cm long and very intricate and highly colored. The plant likes cool and moist conditions and because it spikes are pendant needs to be mounted or grown in a small mesh basket.

Trisetella klingeri

2010-10-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

I purchased this plant as Trisetella sororia, which it most definitely is not. I believe instead that it is Trisetella klingeri, from Ecuador. The plant is tiny, like all Trisetellas, only about 3-4 cm tall, and the flowers, born on 6 cm spikes are about 1 cm in size. This plant was at one time classified as a Masdevallia, but was separated into its own genus in the 1980's. It is named after an American orchidist.

Platystele ovatilabia

2010-10-19T14:17:00.001-07:00

This tiny species is native to Mexico and all of Central America. Very widespread, it is also tolerant of different temperatures, though it needs good humidity. The plant it self is about 3 cm tall and grows as a mat of narrow leaves. The flower spikes, which are about the same length as the leaves, carry 4-5 flowers at a time and continue to bloom for a lengthy period.