Sophrolaeliocattleya Dream Catcher

Sophrolaeliocattleya (Slc.) Dream Catcher is a hybrid of Sc. Beaufort and Slc. Bright Angel.  It blooms in a rainbow of colors and most clones have very good form.  This is one of two examples I grow, the other is orange and has much better form than this.

Dendrobium vexillarius

Dendrobium vexillarius is a variable species from the highlands of Papua New Guinea.  It is variable both in plant size and in flower color.  My plant is 8 cm tall but the species can be much larger.  The unusually colored flowers are 3 cm and last for many months.  They are produced at the end of the older pseudobulbs, often after the leaves have fallen off, and are usually two or three to each growth.  My plant is grown on a piece of cedar shingle and has a pad of moss around the roots.

Dendrobium limpidum 'Ashley'

Dendrobium limpidum is from New Guinea and belongs to the Pedilonum section of Dendrobium.  This group of Dendrobiums have arching or pendant canes and most of them are quite large.  This plant is one of the smallest in the group.  It is considered by some to be the same plant as Dendrobium dichaeoides and  the plants do resemble another orchid genus named Dichaea with their closely set alternating leaves.  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 other flowers 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.  On another note: I took this plant in for judging a few days after I posted this and it received a cultural award (Certificate of Cultural Merit) from the American Orchid Society.

Phalaenopsis Mini Mark 'Holm'

This is one of the few hybrid orchids I own and one of only three Phalaenopsis.  It is a very small plant, a hybrid of the species, Phalaenopsis philippinense and Phalaenopsis Micro Nova.  It blooms in the spring and is grown on a bathroom windowsill, since it requires warmer temperatures than my other orchids.

Masdevallia caudata

Masdevallia caudata is one of the most desirable of all the Masdevallia species.  It has huge flowers, in this case 16 cm from the tips of the tails, and on a plant that is only 8 cm tall.  It has a very strong but rather unpleasant scent and blooms in the spring.  It comes from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.  My plant is grown in sphagnum moss in a plastic net pot and watered nearly every day.

Pleurothallis mathildae

Pleurothallis mathildae is from Brazil.  It is sometimes found under the name Trichosalpinx mathildae, and that name is probably more current.  The plant is 7 cm tall, the flower spikes also 7 cm and the tiny flowers less than 1 cm.  The flowers do not open widely on some plants including my own.  I grow it on a small branch with cool to intermediate temperatures.