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.
Paphiopedilum niveum
A small, warm to hot growing, calcicoles terrestrial species from Southeast Asia where it grows in shaded limestone fissures from sea level up to about 200 meters. This is, in my opinion, the most beautiful species in the lovely Brachypetalus subgenus, a group of Paphiopedilum priced for its beautifully mottled or tessellated leaves. In the case of Paphiopedilum niveum the snow white flower is complemented by stunning blue-gray mottled leaves with a purple spotted underside, making the plant equally attractive weather it [...]
Masdevallia andreettana
I am so happy about seeing this wonderful species blooming. I got this division from a friend earlier in the summer and it did not take long before a bud started forming, and what a result! The flower is quite large in comparison to the plant and the flower is covered in little hairs making it look as if it was made out of cake frosting or little tiny icicles. I adore it! Flowers like [...]
Paphiopedilum Magic Lantern
I just adore Paphiopedilum micranthum, but I have not managed to keep my pure species plant alive, so instead I have to "settle" for the offspring in the several primary hybrids with micranthum that I grow, this being one of them. Paphiopedilum Magic Lantern is a very successful cross between P. micranthum x delenatii. Sweet and easy to grow (yet slightly boring... sorry) delenatii taming micranthum making this cross a delight to grow. Delivering the lovely micranthum chin, reminiscent of Mumps (epidemic parotitis) that [...]
Orchids on summer vacation 2012
Mmm summer. It really feels like summer when I bring the orchids outside for a few weeks while we are on vacation. Well, I can't bring all the orchids, but it usually amounts to the vandaceous bunch and this year was no exception. Hanging under the eve of the seaside cottage this summer is indeed mostly vandaciaous orchids, including the whole Neofinetia-collection and joining them are a few Cattleya along with some additional strays. I go [...]
Phalaenopsis violacea var. coerulea
A wonderfully fragrant Phalaenopsis species from Malaysia and Sumatra where it grows at an altitude of about 150 meters. It is a warm growing pendulous epiphyte with nice waxy flowers of light violet hues on a cream base. Some say the fragrance is a mix of bubble gum and cinnamon, but I think it smells more like Lilly of the Valley with a hint of Jasmine perhaps. I especially like the faint purple striping on the lateral sepals near the center of the flower, [...]
Lepanthopsis floripecten
The summer is approaching. Two more weeks of work before some needed vacation time. The temperatures have been mercifully low for the season, making the cool vivarium easier to manage. This lovely Lepanthopsis floripecten is one of the lovely ochids in bloom in there at the moment. I love the long lasting flowers, looking like a delicate string of pearls glowing like gold moving slowly in the breeze. It is a warm to cool growing epiphyte from [...]