It’s bellina season again… It smells lovely in the warm vivarium right now, although I think my particular clone has a pretty weak scent for a bellina. Some say one flower can fill an entire houses with its fragrance, mine is definitely a bit more shy than that but I do not mind. This species likes [...]
I love orchid buds almost as much as I like the flowers. Most orchids have the most amazing buds and I particularly like the moment right before they are about to open up, it is a very sensual moment. Dracula buds are right up there among my favorites. The fused long narrow sepals and the swelling [...]
Allow me to present this years edition of Cattleya intermedia var. orlata, one of my absolute favorites from the Cattleya genus. I jokingly call her the queen of my collection, as she definitely commands respect with her timeless beauty. A faithful bloomer every spring, although this year she is almost a month early early [...]
I have two very nice Masdevallia tovarensis orchids. Both of which are in bud right now. One bud opened early in December and it was beautiful!! But the rest are just sitting there, waiting. Waiting for what!?! Every day go in there looking, hoping, waiting. But nothing.
I finally figured out that I think they [...]
The same lovely Prosthechea cochleata that I just pollinated have also been working on a new bud on this years’ growth. I thought it would wait until spring to bloom since it just finished blooming on the previous years’ bulb. But, this little lady had other plans, and she is facing some complications.
For [...]
I have been tiptoeing around my two Masdevallia tovarensis for weeks now watching the little buds grow – but they grow oh sooooo slow!! And then last night I managed to break off one of the most developed buds, the one almost ready to open up! A quick slash, a gasp for air, followed [...]
I know you have all been holding your breath, crossing both fingers and toes, hoping this latest little Leptotes unicolor bud would make it… but alas. No dice. Number 5 in order to go to an early grave… tough to watch. I appreciate all the positive energy coming this way though. Perhaps better luck next season.
The bud is still hanging on this morning… and it is looking good. Last time it bloomed I had it in the nano-vivarium, and the growing conditions in this vivarium are so much better, so I really cannot figure out what the problem is. At this point I am keeping both fingers and toes crossed hoping [...]
This is the most frustrating thing ever… My Leptotes unicolor is setting bud after bud that inevitably blasts (shrivels up and dies) before maturing to flower. I have watched at least 4 buds go the past few weeks and there is currently a new bud on the way. It is at the critical stage [...]
Well, I have some good news and some bad news… Good news first. My huge Phragmipedium Grande (caudatum x longifolium) is going to bloom!! It has been growing like crazy for the past two years but has refused to flower - until now. It has a beautiful bud coming and I am sooo proud!
Ok, so to the bad news. [...]