Dendrobium helix

The Jacksonville Orchid Society's orchid show was this weekend and I found a few new plants to add to my collection. This is an antelope style dendrobium from the section Spatulata. A species that is very hard to find and that have a few different varieties out there, but I was very please with this color and the form of the flower. Flowering at any time of the year, in hot to medium climates, this plant should do very well in N.E. Florida's weather. As always, it does need to go into the GH during winter and not be exposed to temperatures lower than 55'F.

A large to giant sized, hot growing epiphyte from New Guinea on exposed branches of lowland coastal forest trees at elevations of sea level to 150 meters with clustered, swollen basally, tapering apically, yellow orange stems carrying many, elliptic to ovate-elliptic leaves that diminish in size towards the apex and blooms at most any time of the year on a to 20" [50 cm] long, erect, ascending or horizontal racemose, axillary, laxly, many [15 to 20] flowered inflorescence with nodding, stiff, fleshy flowers, that arises from the leaf sheaths at the apex of the upper leaf nodes of mature leafed canes. In the winter months water and fertilizer can be slightly reduced allowing the plant to dry out between waterings and should be resumed when new growth is initiated. (Per IOSPE website. www.orchidspecies.com)

Den. Lorrie Mortimer

Den. Lorrie Mortimer is a cross that originates from Hawaii named after a Professor at UH. This is a cross between Den. Caesar x Den. Samarai. The flowers are very thick and should last for a long time. I have this plant in a clay pot with my special mix. The plant will eventually grow tall, about 3-4 feet and bloom 1-2 times a year lasting 2-3 months. Grow in 30%-50% shade and it will grow fine.

Den. aggregatum

As most of you know probably, I LOVE DENDROBIUMS. There are so many different forms and sections in this genus alone. I originally bought this plant as a 'better gro' plant in a bag a couple years ago and this is the first time it has bloomed. This species is now named Den. jenkinsii and originates from China, Eastern Himalayas, and Napal. My plant is growing in bark, which I plan to re-pot into my special mix next, and a clay pot. Most people do say to give this species a 'winter rest', however, I do not. I simply cut back on watering every 7 days during the colder months. Have questions? Leave a reply below.

Dendrobium Queen Cobra

      As most of you know by now, I am in love with antelope style dendrobiums. This is a plant I received last year from a society members collection. This is the second blooming that I have had since then and it is getting better every time it blooms. There are two inflorescences with about 30 blooms/buds between the two. Also, there are about 10 canes on this plant. The parents are Den. Hula Girl x Den. Gold Flush and was registered back in January 1, 1968. This is planted in a bark mixture, as I received it, and in a 6-7 inch plastic pot. I have not re-potted it yet due to the nice healthy growth pattern of this plant. As for culture, the antelope dendrobiums are very tolerant and adaptable. I find that our weather here in N.E. Florida, being hot and humid in the summer, is quite well for these plants and they thrive in our conditions. I water 2-3 times a week with light fertilizer every watering. They are evergreen plants and do not require any rest in winter, but I do cut back on watering to every 4-5 days in the winter due to not as much evaporation as in the summer. Feel free to post any questions or comments below.

Blc. Memoria Mickey Boatwright 'Carmela'...

       This is such a reliable bloomer at the beginning of June every year. It has two flowers that never seem to turn just perfectly, but the flower is beautiful nonetheless. I have this growing in a 4" clay pot with my special mix of media. I grow it semi bright light under 50% shade cloth. It gets watered every 3 days from my automated irrigation. The flowers are well shaped with a nice red color to them. There is a slight fragrance of sweet spices. The fringe on the lebellum also looks like it has neon lights.

B. nodosa x Lc. Blue Boy 'Gainsborough'

       
        Here is another plant that I acquired last year from a society member's collection. I have it potted in a clay pot with my special media (if you don't know what it consists of, please scroll down and read the blog). The nodosa looks very dominant in this flower and the coerulea color from the Blue Boy has came out more purple in color. The flower form looks fairly nice in my opinion. It is flat with a somewhat symmetrical form. I keep this in between my Cattleyas and my Phalaenopsis plants. If you grow this like B. nodosa you should be fine. As for watering, I water this every 3 days on my automated system.

Psycopsis Pavone...

It has taken me a couple years to bloom this Psycopsis. I bought it a couple years ago from Roy of H&R Nurseries. It is quite a large bloom, bigger than my other psycopsis. This is the first bloom to open on a 36" inflorecense. There are two other spikes coming up also, so when they bloom it should be a nice little show. These plants are everblooming and the spikes should not be cut after the bloom has dropped. My other psycopsis has been blooming nonstop for almost 2 years now. It will usually slow down in the winter, but nonetheless continues to bloom year round.