Using pumice stone as a potting mix

One of the great advantages of attending orchid conferences is learning new and promising growing techniques from experts like Chuck Hanson of Ecuagenera. He raises his Gongora plants in 3/8 inch pumice stone. Among other things, his technique insures that the media is appropriate to the species’ need for a dry season.  Hanson keeps his Gongora plants dry [...]

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8 new greenhouse blooms…and a friend’s windowsill bloom

Nine new blooms appear on the “Photos” page…eight from the greenhouse and one from a friend, Mark Prout. The greenhouse Pleurothallis ornata (formerly shiedei) is one of the oldest Pleurothallid Alliance plants still in my collection. Often in spring the plant is covered with the thin-as-hair inflorescences and the tiny, spotted flowers.  A long branching inflorescence of Phal. stuartiana [...]

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More blooms…and a word about Cycnoches

Five new blooms from this week are posted to the Photos page. One of the blooms is a Cycnoches (Cyc. pentadactylon ‘Galaxy 4N’), one of my favorite orchid genera. A challenging genus, Cycnoches orchids need a definite rest period, during which the leafless bulb should be watered sparingly. Some Cycnoches growers, who pot their plants in a bark [...]

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13 blooming plants in greenhouse

Blooms a-plenty in the greenhouse this weekend. Diminutive in size, the Acampe papillosa has a powerfully sweet scent. A recent purchase, this miniature vandaceous orchid was blooming when I bought it. Sophrocattleya ”Crystella Smith” is a vigorous little plant and a reliable bloomer – blooming several times a year. I bought Brassia Rex for $5 on [...]

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Favorites from the Collection, Part 3 of 4

Of my 32 Top Favorite orchids, these 11 earn four out five points (See the Nov. 3 post for the ranking criteria). (Again note the ones with an asterisk *. In a few days, I’ll do a special post about these.):  Brassia Rex (reliable and profuse bloomer, knockout bloom, and durable plant) Cirropetalum Elizabeth Ann [...]

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