I have been looking forward to this one all summer, it is such a strikingly beautiful flower and the first time it blooms for me. I bought it last fall and I think I actually stalled it a little bit by repotting it, but now it is fianlly blooming and it is also coming [...]
Clamshell octopus, that sounds like something our of a B-horror flick… but the common name for this species is the cockleshell or clamshell orchid, although we tend to call it the octopus orchid (bläckfiskorkidé) here in Sweden. It is not hard to see why, either name fits the bill. The flowers are about 9 [...]
This has got to be one of my proudest moments as an orchid grower… so far. My Phragmipedium Grande has finally decided to bloom!! I have waited two years for this glorious occasion and I plan to take full credit. Damn I am good! (and modest) Ehm, well… truth be told a few weeks ago I thought I [...]
Back in April (5 months ago) I decided to start a little experiment with Masdevallia and different growing mediums. Until then I had only cultivated my Masdevallia i sphagnum moss, but I wanted to try goring them in semi-hydro volcanic rock. I had two near identical M. tovarensis orchids so they were a logical choice for [...]
This little gem is blooming now for the first time - for me. I wonder how it got its name, because it sounds as if it should be some hardcore, heavyweight flower, when instead it is quite delicate. The white cone created by the fused sepals is almost sheer and the deep purple spots inside shines through [...]
Ah, drum roll please! It is time for this years’ Prostechea cochleata flowering. The first bud just opened and there is one more not far behind, plus another set on deck. This particular orchid usually has a few flowers open at once, and when one set is done a new set is ready to open, which makes for very long flowering periods. Last year, [...]
I have decided to start a little experiment testing potting media with Masdevallias. I happen to have two lovely Masdevallia tovarensis orchids that need to be repotted, so they have been volunteered for the project.
I plan to place one back in sphagnum moss, like they both have been cultivated for the past year and a [...]
Mother and child (and grandma) are doing fine. (keiki >>)
I have been dying to try cultivation in semi-hydro for years, and a couple of months ago I finally went for it. I chose a few test subjects and so far the result has been overwhealmingly positive! Here is a status report:
Paphiopedilum american hybrid in semi hydro 3 weeks… the roots have [...]
I decided to give semi-hydro a try – finally! I have been dying to try this for years and really do not know why it took this long to just go for it…. Anyway, here is my new Maxillaria variabilis (red) from O&M in s/h leca. I will return with a status [...]