I need to borrow a Sawzall

I'll need a strong arm to assist cutting through the rhizomes of what was the Buddha belly bamboo. Need to find a reciprocal saw. It's pot, with only 20" mouth is waist high. I'm thinking of Carissa macrocarpa - Natal Plum; slow growing, sweet flowers, wind resistant, full sun. But is has serious spikes, though not quite as mean as a bougainvillea. Need to find a nursery that sells such shrub/trees. Flamingo road would probably be a good start.

Sprayed the orchids with Bayer Advanced Formula for Flowering Plants and Shrubs. Sprayed at 5p or so. No danger of fungus after this bath. Probably should have done a trial on a single plant. Letting them dry before the sun saved them from harm.

What about a tall column of chicken wire for as a perch for the vanda's. Sunk in a large pot of cement.. We'll see how the smaller science experiment with the teretes work.

The winter solstice is 5 days past and the sun is already setting 15 minutes late. Possible?
 

Bounden duty

I am a member of the American Orchid Society. The AOS 2014 Orchid Source Directory came as a supplemental to their monthly Orchid Magazine. I am going to rate some websites in the booklet. Starting in Hawaii;

1. www.hrorchids.com - They evidently have bought space in the Orchid Source Directory, however the downloadable color catalogue seems to date from 2006-2007.

2. www.kaleialoha.com - Orchids offered don't have any genus information appended to pics. More of a orchid florist than an interesting source of orchids.

3. www.kauaiorchids.com - website down for service..

4. www.kawamotoorchids.com - primarily an Ebay seller. I bought a small (but pricey) trichoglottis brachiate, healthy, shipped quick, carefully packed.

5. www.lehuaorchids.com - Paphiopedilum, Masdevallia, Agraecoid, Lycastenae, etc. Specialized grower.

 A neighbor complained that my bougainvillea bracts were blowing onto her terrace and her dogs were eating them and vomiting. I cut it down from the level from 15' to about 6' below the level of the wall. I had cut down the Buddha belly bamboo the day before. It's growth had become too irregular and some of the lower branches were dying. I need to come up with a tree for the pot; wind resistant, etc.

This is a sorry excuse for a blog.

A monopodial

Acclimated this girl within a month of acquisition from partial sun, to full mid to late afternoon sun. Seems to be quite happy so far. You can see that it's already loosing some of its legginess with this sunshine. 

renanthera storiei

Too much loving?

Mokara Sayam with Miss Joachim

It's been warm and sunny this past week. Very busy at work. My time on the terrace has been made up trying to re-hydrate the vanda velum and selectively watering pots with the 3 litre water can. I probably did a seaweed Super Thrive wash once during the week.

Today, I was up early, before the sunrise. Reading about pests and diseases on the St. Augustine Orchid society. It reminded me that it's preferable to spray in the early morning. So I did. With Organicide. Leaves and roots-- all of the vandas, strap leaf and terete, the renanthera storei, trichoglottis brachiatis. Oh nooo. Organicide is made up, among other things, of fish and sesame oil. I thought I had carefully put one ounce in one gallon. Absolutely no sun after spraying  Natural, oil-based insecticides like Organicide can attack insects, fungus, rot. 3 in 1.  Wonderful. But I haven't had luck-- with them unfortunately. I don't think they're advisable in zone 10b.

I have tied 2 of the Mokara Sayam to the teretes that are themselves affixed securely against chicken wire in one instance and a branch of hardwood. Having a bunch of vandas hanging around is not really natural looking, so why not bundle up some different types of vandas-- if the strap leaves can take the sun, the different types leaves, rates of growth, flowers could be quite the center piece.




Vandas - strap leaf and 2 types of terete (same as above), it might make an interesting mass

Splurge day

 

We are on a diet; for 6 days one can eat proteins, greens and beans as the only carb. 1 day of the week can be a train wreck of macaroni and cheese followed by wild blueberry scones, donuts. I haven't lost much weight on this diet.

Now, yesterday I put 2 Noriko Sumida together in a pot interspersing orchid bark around the roots very loosely to help keep maintain a little moisture. The pot is unglazed and we have a hot sun, so I think the assistance is warranted. How did you secure the orchids in the pot you may asking? Please see below:




 

It's gotten up to about 85 degrees (F) today, sunny and dry. I Jacked (Jack's 20-20-20 All Purpose) everyone up today full strength with some sea weed emulsion-- a popular cocktail. The teretes especially 'Miss Joachim' seem to be responding well to this bright, hot, winter sunshine. Miss Joachim is tied to a nice straight arm of hardwood and is sending out rootlets feeling things out. The Mokara Sayan (x2) have a black stickiness on the stem (on base of strap leaves). Probably a bug that eats and leaves sticky droppings (white flies will do this when they eat the fronds of the coconut palms over my car). Need to get on the case here asap.

http://www.tohgarden.com/orchid-care/common-orchid-pathogens/

Looks like my Mokara might have some black mold due to too much water sitting on the leaves, right at the. joint between leave and stem. Soap and water. Need to focus on the roots in daily watering. A pesticidal spray might be in order for thrips .

Tropical Orchid Farm, Inc., Haiku, Maui, HI 96708



Here is a good online source for orchids.These handsome semi-teretes were just 15$ ea. I saw a Noriko Sumida approx. same size as below sell for $30 on Ebay recently.. I would buy from TOF again if I should ever buy another orchid. Great selection.Very professional. Shipped quickly, wrapped carefully-- and just as cheap as my going to RF Orchids in Homestead, FL.and buying them there (1 hour away). R.F. does have great tables running down the hot houses with cuttings and smaller plants for 8-15$. I bought a nice 12-15" sprig of trichoglottis brachiate for cheap, they tied it into a pretty clay orchid pot. I feel a growing affinity toward monopodial orchids. I wonder if I can find an untreated fence post I could sink into a bucket of concrete to tie vanda's on? A  10' pole would be fantastic covered with rowdy vandas climbing over each other.



Had to have a v 'Noriko Sumida', but they had a $45 min so I ordered a pair @ $15per. Beautiful plants!

2 peas in a pod. The Noriko brothers tucked in. I think plants like a mate when possible.

 

Also ordered a fairly priced vanda denisoniana, healthy in empty pot 15$

 

Received a healthy looking Catleya skinneri f. delicate 'teresita de Pizz. x self as a gift. Can't find a pic online for this particular variety.

 

Very pleased with my purchases. Worth every penny.

 

My Selph-ishness

 

b. 'Selph's Mahogany' blooms in early spring. A very fine erect rhizomatous begonia with a lot of character (pic from a few years back.. but I still have some Selph on the terrace-- looking forward to its flowering).

 and a little off topic..

Getting close to the Winter Solstice, happy holidays! (Fairchild Botanic Garden)

In your garden

 Papillionanthe teres var aureolablum securely weighted in. A cutting of vanda 'Miss Joachim' dropped down the interior against a hardwood branch, good for food and moisture. The placement's southerly exposure gives this sun-lover at least 8 bright hours of the winter sun. Nice schomburgkia has found a perfect home (hopefully)  on palm. The label on this handsome boy is illegible. The bloom will point us in the right direction.

 I've ordered 2 Vanda Noriko Sumida and 1 Vanda Denisoniana  both in empty 3.5" baskets, this order coming from Tropical Orchid Farms in Maui, HI-- and the Fort Lauderdale orchid show is yet to come (beginning of 2014). See below for pics nicked off the web.

V. Denisoniana  

V. (semi-terete) Noriko Sumida


 

Late November rains?? what up wid dat??

Pouring afternoon rains were a good excuse to get wet and sweep dirt and leaves off the terrace. It was a late afternoon deluge and it was getting cooler, oh no! fungus, black spot, I can't see any good coming out of it. Having said that, it had been a beautiful, sunny day earlier, so everyone had gotten some shine. The Dutchman's pipe is spitting out a few blossoms. The pattern would make a royal fabric.

 



Aristolochia elegans

Dr. Motes



v. tessellate 'wink' 

Purchased 'wink' at the Motes Orchid tent at AOS meeting at Fairchild. Almost all of the vandas offered were cut and hanging down like this. The larger have learnt to bend back up toward the sun. They had some very impressive orchids.

The gorgeous combination of greys and various shades of purple and blue was irresistable combination-- also a Motes offering. 


Ascda John de Blasé x V tessellata





Wired out

 

This genus is named after its butterfly shaped flowers.

Three teres alba wired to chicken wire. The pot is weighted with lava rock, some rock in column as well. A bag of orchid bark interspersed in rock and on top, to hold in a little moisture. The pot is unglazed terra cotta. There are some roots covered by bark and rock. Hopefully this won't cause any problems due to weight. Will it allow the roots (in the rock) to breath? In any case, this is a sturdy contraption. Column could be clipped to pot as well if the teres should make it top heavy / wind prone.

Ordered more terete, Joachim, for the other side of terrace-- or maybe to tie up with these alba?

AOS Fall Members Meeting and Orchid Sale at Fairchild (the best botanic garden in the world).

Our hero with a newly captured renanthera storiei

On  display; renenthera  storiei
Plants are best grown hanged in baskets and on mounted and require full sunlight and intermediate to warm temperatures. If hunged the roots must be watered frequently. Plants should be grown in media that is well drained such as tree fern fibers (for small plants),several pieces of coarse fir bark, or sphagnum moss. If they are grown in pots there must be excellent drainage.

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Liliopsida

Order: Asparagales

Family:Orchidaceae

Subfamily: Epidendroideae

Tribe: Vandeae

SubTribe: Aeridinae

Genus: Renanthera

Species: Ren. storiei

 

The objects of my desire  (vanda teres alba syn Papilionanthe Teres alba)

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Liliopsida

Order: Asparagales

Family:Orchidaceae

Subfamily: Epidendroideae

Tribe: Vandeae

SubTribe: Aeridinae

Genus: Renanthera

Species: Ren. storiei

Dear Catherine

I'm ashamed that I haven't written sooner. I wish we could take you on a tour of  the gorgeous nurseries we have in South Floriday. Tomorrow is the fall meeting of the American Society at Fairchild Botanic Garden. There will be an orchid show and sale with some of the best orchid vendors in the country;
http://www.fairchildgarden.org/Events/?date=11-2013&eventID=860http://www.fairchildgarden.org/Events/?date=11-2013&eventID=860

In particular I want to explore terete leaved orchids or Papilionanthe teres. They demand full sun, humidity, rain. They can be fairly floriferous given this tropical cocktail. And, they are odd looking, which has special appeal to me. I'll post pics.

http://orchids.wikia.com/wiki/Papilionanthe_teres

My rhynchostylis bangkok sunset is blooming, pretty thing with a elegant scent.



Much love, your cousin John.

Fairchild Botanic Garden hosts AOS fall member's meeting-- plant sale then roast pork in little Havana

I'll be looking especially for terete vandas.  There is a very tempting Vanda Miss Joachim up for grabs on Ebay.. 14.95 buy it now-- shipping from Homestead. I'm sure the plants at the show will beat anything I'll see on ebay. 2 days to go.  I'll have to sit on my hands. Not sure if I'll make it till then

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanda

Mokara Sayan 3 plants mulched in .. (?) from Mickey's Orchids, SW 23rd Ft  Lauderderdale

 

The key to successfully cultivating epiphytic Vanda species are consistent growth conditions. The plants are singularly intolerant of fluctuating environmental conditions or watering regime in cultivation, and results in the plants dropping lower leaves and having a haggard, straggling appearance and going into decline. The epiphytic Vanda species are not plants for beginning orchid enthusiasts and usually require a controlled growing environment to achieve some measure of success in cultivation (please donate money to Wikipedia).

Aerides lawrenciea freed from the bondage of a block of tree fern

Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Vandeae
Subtribe:	Aeridinae
Genus:	Vanda

Untitled

 

Rhynchorides Bangkok Sunset is a hybrid between Rhynchorides Thai Noi (Rhynchostylis coelestis X Aerides flabellata) and Aerides houlletiana

Bulbophyllum laxiflorum

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Liliopsida

Order: Asparagales

Family:Orchidaceae

Subfamily: Epidendroideae

Tribe: Podochilaeae

SubTribe: Bulbophyllinae

Genus: Bulbophyllum

Species: Bulb. laxiflorum

Found in Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Java and the Philippines in riverine, lowland hill and lower montane forests at elevations of 100 to 1800 meters as a miniature sized, hot to warm growing, unifoliate epiphyte with .2 to .8" [.5 to 2 cm] between each cylindrical pseudobulbs and a single apical, leathery, elliptic, acute at the apex, petiolate base leaf that blooms on an erect, basal, 2 7/8" or more [7 cm or more] long, several to many [20] flowered inflorescence with fragrant flowers held in an umbel, at, or near leaf height that can occur at most any time of the year.



and it's on my dinner table! evidently a slap of benign neglect is warranted.

Cattleya Lost Tag #2407 Orchid

My ebay-- impulse buying  while watching Doc Martin

Image not available Photos not available for this variation It seems I've overwatered trichoglottis, some of the leaves have a shrivel to them. However, it may have been the neem I sprayed midday (they were all shaded). So much to learn, I see the spectre of a broken heart of the inexperienced orchidist..

 Coming soon....Orchid (Bulbophyllum laxiflorum )#3 sweetly fragrant

 

.

All work and no play makes my ass tired

Trichoglottis brachiata fore, Ascocenda adisak blue growing pretty tall in the background (note keiki appearing just above roots lower right). For some reason, the habit of the trichoglottis holds great appeal, comparable to my affinity for upright rhizotamous begonias

It's been dry and sunny of late. I've staggered my watering (by can), feeding with drinks. Fish emulsion tea  for a lucky few. Still using the Maxi-crop on the orchids.

$12.95 (x2)

Here's what we're hoping for from Robert's Delight



Vanda Robert's Delight 'Crownfox Big Red' FCC/AOS Home Depot $12.95

 

Brassavola nodosa 'Mas Mejor', AM/AOS, CCM/AOS

 

An awarded variety of the fine large flowered form of this epiphyte.Cool to Intermediate. February - March blooming. Species from Central and South America. Home Depot bagged orchid department $12.95.

Honey for the nose?



 



2 words

Trichoglottis Brachiata; I'm smitten and looking forward to seeing this fascinating orchid aflame.

It's been sunny and hot this past week. Heavy waterings warranted.

For the epiphytes, a  good bath in a systemic spray early in the week to ward off the black rot-- Maxi-crop tea nearly every watering. A keiki has sprouted from the Ascocenda adisak blue, which has become quite a large vanda. I am becoming a real believer in Maxi-crop (with a hit of Jack's 20-20-20 from time to time).  More later.

Pic from RF  Orchids, the source of my Trichoglottis Brachiata.

Ho mode pot

Plat du jour

SURPRISE ! Hiding behind a spinning bulb rack, Jammed against the side of the sliding door (which continued to open and close as I browsed) was the Home Depot vandas, ascocendas and cattleyas section-- a new source.. priced from $5.95 -> $12.95.  Tonight's treat was cattleya Toshie Aoki X Bl Richard Mueller -orange 3/6/2012.


The sanguine moon has risen

6AM Hosed down orchids and drenched the rest thoroughly.

They designed the drainage off of the terrace very poorly. My water runoff falls on my downstairs neighbors 2 smaller terraces. At times there is a good deal of debris and soil laden water.  I'm thinking of having a wooden floor built that guides the water to a drain in the middle of the floor and block the drain spouts.

The orange bougainvillea is exploding with coral-orange bracts. With the purple and magenta bougies all in bloom together, I'm proud to assist these children as they present the world with a heartening splash of color. Smile everybody.

My heart's a'fire

Just STOP it!!  Here are 3 new purchases from RF Orchid. Nice plants with pups.  I've pasted pics for an idea of what can happen when the orchid gods smile.



ascecentrum miniatum in bloom (pic from ebay)

 



 My Ascecentrum  miniatum
 



'chili pepper' (pic RF Orchids)



Ascocenda Laksi 'Chili Pepper'





WHAT.. MORE ??

 

 



http://orchids.wikia.com/wiki/Trichoglottis_brachiata

 

 

Passing glances

 

The slightly cooler, bright (drier) days, along with a little PlantDynamite have coaxed masses of color from the bougainvilleas. The plumeria, top foreground, just love bright, dry weather and reward the gardener with pure white, with a very gentle scent- on a still day.

 

The orchids were fed this morning with some Jacks 20-20-20 and a capful of seaweed. As per my "Vanda Month by Month" reference, it's time to ratchet down the feeding in preparation for the slowing- dormancy- of the winter. The tropical sun may keep some growth alit. 



 

Making a run to RF Orchids tomorrow morning. I really want to splurge and buy the largest dendrobium aggregatum they have. Going forward, fragrance will be my guide in the orchid houses.

Thrips made me do it

Sprayed all orchids down, seriously, with Bayer Natria Disease and Pest Spray. Thrips have been 'collaring' my poor vanda roots. Once the root has the thrip ring the ends below the ring turn white and don't seem to be able to absorb water.. maybe they do, but they do not turn green when watered.

Satan's Spawn
 (pic from AOS)

Hoping too, that the anti-fungal properties of the spray will act as a happy preventative, keeping trouble more than a few steps behind.

Brown spots, raised lesions, discoloration on orchid leaves



aerides fieldingii looking pretty handsome



Internet pic of bacterial brown rot.. not mine  

Noticed a black raised lesion on a strap of the big Vanda (bacterial brown rot?), washed the leaf down with some hydrogen peroxide. I think maybe watering, with my healthful concoction of seaweed and Jack's 20-20-20... has been a little excessive.. Perhaps just focus on keeping the roots moist, lay off the leaves.

Que Rico!

Sweet little flower opened up today.

Prothecea Radiata 'Fragrant Taco'

And then came October

The sun has begun to recline into the southern sky. We've lost at least an hour on either side of the day.

I've attached a picture of terrace the first year or so after having moved in. The ridge of the main roof runs on an east west axis. The terrace faces due south. As the solar arc slips south in the sky, both the morning and afternoon exposure are extended. The days are shorter, but there is more usable light underneath the roof for the orchids. Some of which are hanging on the backside of the columns seen here. On pins and needles waiting to see what sunlight will be available for them at solstice time.

 

Main ridge is on an east west axis, my exposure.. due south

Still quite humid here, the day's temps are in the mid 80's, higher when it's sunny. 

Let the learning curve begin

 How much water for the vanda, whose bare roots transpire in this hot weather. How much feeding can I get away with, in an effort to kickstart remarkable growth or new flower spikes. The pseudo bulbs on the Schomburgkia lueddemanii x self were black (and seemed to be moving down rhizome). Thought I'd pull off the bad, perhaps some were still green, they were all touched (I hope it was rot and not something that could have been righted, otherwise a plant died in vain). $25-35 on the debit side of the GL. In my defense, it my have been infected before falling into my hands.

Not sure here, but it seems pretty safe to suggest; do NOT water a begonia with any amount of copper fungicide in the water. Don't do it. I drenched b. 'Selph's ..with left over water that containted the copper, leaves started wilting, and falling from the rhizome. Another drench of clean water seems to have washed the poison away enough to stop the wilt.

Filled a bucket of water, added a drop of SuperThrive and soaked aerides, new vandas. They'll be dry by dusk. They need the moisture -- the almost constant breeze and heat stresses them out (thus speaks new orchid master), again, we'll how long it takes. But you never know.. there is some hearty new growth on some of the plants. My heart is in the right place.

Need to get some pics up and document this amateur horticultural circus.

Thanks very much for the comments on typical plant growth cycle. I'll study more.

Pure Science

Injected some fish emulsion into today's orchid douche. I'm at work now, but will catalogue plant size (photographically) by week as I alternate between fish and seaweed additives - as well as SuperThrive. Of course these will be in addition to a weak Jack's 20-20-20. Especially interested in Vanda root growth.

Does flowering stop plant growth?

Friday 9/27..

A spray of the Ascocenda adisak blue suddenly collapsed.. pollination? too much sun? The Aerides Lawrenciae has finished the stalks clipped. I've been trying to find confirmation that blooming halts the plant growth... stalks gone-- keiki on the aerides will finally start growing??

I've been watering the vanda daily with a light solution of tap water and emulsified seaweed extract. My orchids are growing. They seem to like the near constant air movement (ocean breeze). After three weeks now most are acclimated to the sun cycle. Watering the dendrobium, schomburgkia every other day.

Google has totally sold out, searches now on orchid growth brings ads, ads, ads.. I'm ashamed for them.

I searched on Google scholar with more interesting results-- here's one for us in S Florida:

Four-year growth and reproduction of Cyclopogon cranichoides (Orchidaceae) in South Florida

or maybe, 

Recent developments in the study of orchid mycorrhiza

or how about one on ye olde mycorrhizal fungi?

Understanding the roles of multifunctional mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi

Hitting some local nurseries this weekend. I bought 2 plants off of ebay. I don't know why, I'm in the Orchid capital of the country (except maybe for Hawaii), impulse buys while watching Doc Martin.. 

The week in review

I've begun using a 3 gal sprayer to start the day, giving  all mounted orchids a nice shower.. with  a little Jack's 20-20-20 in it. The plants are responding well to this 'bangers and mash' breakfast. The orchids don't seem to be negatively affected by the ocean breeze which has been brisk at times.

It was a beautiful day in S FL just a few degrees cooler than it's been, just one or two but I felt it. Stretching out to hit a backhand on the tennis court I pulled a lower calf muscle slightly, it has slowed me down. But, not enough to keep the family from going to Green Barn Orchid Supply in Delray.  The reason I had heard of them is because I had been scouring the internet for reasonable rustic looking orchid pots. This was one of the few places that advertised them, and at good prices. They had just received a big shipment of vandas from Thailand which were all hanging neatly in the hothouse. I accidently bought a Rhynchorides (Aerides x Rhynchostylis) Bangkok Sunset, evidently quite fragrant. 

I hope this isn't too copyrighted..

Bangkok Sunset ($30)

Also purchased was a quart of Maxicrop seaweed concentrate. Guaranteed to stimulate vigorous growth. I need to research growth hormones / food that are best for these monopodial epiphytes. Ok, I've done some research, I've had fish emulsion on the shelf for a while, it with the seaweed concentrate alternating by week should cause erections all around.

Green Barn Orchid Supply
5185 Conklin Drive
Delray Beach, FL 33484
(561) 499-2810
sales@greenbarnorchid.com

I

10 x 9" Rustic orchid pot $12

More later..

I'm a fool for a plant sale

Ascocenda adisak blue, an astoundingly beautiful deep purple vanda from RR Orchids.(I hope I'm worthy of such a prize).
.

 



Back at the ranch.. the roof provides protection from midday sun. Bird of paradise frond filters morning sun. Aerides lawrenciae hanging quietly (but smelling headily) in the background.

This vanda is from:
Antonio Romani
"The Vanda Man"
R & R Orchids, LLC
12934 25th Street N.
Loxahatchee Groves, FL 33470
Nursery 561.328.7377