Orchid blog
This blog is dormant at the moment, but it is still getting a lot of visitis so I will keep it up for you guys as a resource. My future adventures will be published on my new blog, hope to see you there!
My focus… if pressed to name favorites it would have to be orchids of the Pleurothallid Alliance. But a Paphiopedilum was the first orchid I ever fell in love with so slipper orchids will always be close to my heart, and while we are on the subject I might as well disclose a love affair with Neofinetia as well.
Leochilus sp.
This is a miniature epiphytic species from the tropical Americas. Leochilus is a pretty unusual genus in cultivation here in Europe and there is not much information about it really. My plant does not look like much either, very unassuming with two small leaves measuring about 5 cm each. So I was rather surprised when I realized it was about to bloom, then it produced this 10 cm long inflorescence with a cluster of large flowers at the [...]
Dracula deniseana
This narrow leaved medium sized cool growing epiphyte comes from Peru. It was registered by Luer in 2002, but other than that there is not much information to find about this species. No collection data exists and it is not very common in cultivation. I got mine from Peruflora last spring and this is the first time it is blooming for me. The flowers are light pink with purple spots and dark red tails and very shapely with a stunning [...]
Prosthechea vitellina
Prosthechea vitellina, formerly known as Encyclia vitellina, is a medium sized epiphyte found in Mexico to Cental America where it primarily grows in oak or pine forests and cloud forests at altitudes of 1400 to 2600 meters. It is an intermediate to cool grower that enjoys a lot of light. I grow mine potted in sphagnum moss in the intermediate window, very bright with supplemental lighting year round. It is blooming almost constantly, only taking a short breather late fall to [...]
Lepanthes caprimulgus
This lovely little gem is blooming again - or perhaps I should say "large" as the flower measures almost 1 cm which is rather large for Lepanthes. The flamboyant purple-striped flower is hanging precariously on a nearly impossibly thin inflorescence that blooms several times in succession. This one started blooming last summer and bloomed all through winter and is now going at it again after only a couple of months rest. A nice characteristic of this genus... once they start blooming [...]
Masdevallia princeps
The Chief Masdevallia, a common name that is just oh so fitting for this incredible orchid! I have impatiently been watching the long flower spike develop for a few months now, but it has been well worth the wait. The flower is just stunningly beautiful and breathtakingly large. The flower is 4 cm wide and measures an impressive 35 cm from dorsal sepal to sepaline tails. The species comes from central Peru, apparently near Tarapoto but [...]
Spring cleaning and another rain system upgrade
Yes you heard me right, yet another rain system upgrade... I have actually been wanting to simplify the watering setup I have for quite some time now. I basically wanted to take out the drip system and expand the rain system instead. Yes, admittedly I am a perfectionist and a little bit of a paranoid over achiever, but I actually have several really good reasons for doing this. First of all, I really would prefer [...]