3 cute but stinky blooms…and a solution for unclogging pump sprayers

A great little species bloomed last week: Bulbophyllum frostii. (See the three blooms on the Photo page.) Blossoms look like tiny elves’ slippers. The only downside is that, like many bulbophyllum, frostii’s blooms are a little stinky – not bad, though, because the flowers are so small. In fact, to get even a slight whiff [...]

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Ants in the greenhouse

Blooms aplenty in the greenhouse this week. The Phal. tetraspis has never had this many blossoms at once. It’s one of the species from which, even after the blooms drop, I’ll not cut off the inflorescences because they will provide more blooms next time. Early spring always brings a  burst in flower production — it’s [...]

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3 Phragmipedium tips and a sick Phalaenopisis solution

Last weekend I attended the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City’s exhibit at the KC Lawn and Garden Show. The OSGKC invited several regional societies and national orchid vendors to join our local group for this big event. Attending a show like this is a great opportunity to learn from some of the best growers [...]

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Tips – Fighting the Vermin

This last weekend I violated one of the best tips I’ve ever received from a seasoned and successful orchid grower: inspect each of your plants at least once a week. Most weekends – which is the only time I can spend long hours in the greenhouse – I follow that tip. I examine the entire [...]

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