New Orchid: Miltassia Cairus 'New River'

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I picked this up today (Over an Oncidium Sweet Sugar 'Million Dollars' and two others that were quickly ruled out) and I'm pretty excited about it. On my wishlist is another Miltassia (Mtssa. Shelob 'Tolkein' AM/AOS, 'Webmaster' or 'Okika' with its variegated leaves or probably any other cross I find) so it'll be nice before I try ordering a pricier orchid online to see if I can keep a Miltassia alive and better yet re-bloom one.



Miltassia Cairus 'New River'

It's a nice dark purple with some subtle spotting that might remind someone of a Rorschach test, this picture, however, is right out of Freud.

New Orchids

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I picked up two new Orchids today - a Den. phal hybrid of some sort and something that belongs to the Oncidium alliance. It wasn't labelled at all (anymore) so I've really got no leads other than its alliance.

The other is easy (Not that I have a name or anything. I really don't even know what colour flowers it has):



NOID Dendrobium phalaenopsis (hybrid)

From my research I should start to water and fertilize fairly heavily once the new shoots roots start to grow. Then I should let it rest (but not a complete rest rest, just reduce watering and no fertilizer rest) once the growth stops (I guess I'll figure out when that is when it happens?) and hopefully it'll bloom in the spring. Then, once even more new growth starts in the spring and starts to put out roots, water again, letting it rest at the end of the summer for a fall flowering. Doesn't sound too bad.

The plant needs to be re-potted though, as I'm sure 90% of the roots on this thing are visible in the picture and the medium is complete garbage (compacts so much when dry, really not good when it's supposed to go dry for long periods of time). Seems like it'll stay too wet the rest of the time too.

The waiting game: shoots and buds.

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I have a lot that will be going on sometime later. I've even got a few first blooms for some plants, and first re-blooms for others, which is pretty exciting, or at least it will be.



Unknown Aloe hybrid

Both of my new Aloes are in bud. I hope there will not be any complications from having to bring the one pictured inside when the temperatures drop too low, the other (Aloe descoingsii x Aloe haworthioides - couldn't get a clear picture of the tiny spike) is already inside and was when the bud showed up so I'm not so worried about that.



An Echeveria cv. in bud too, another first.

I've got some exciting action going on with the Orchids as well.



Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Bluebird' is in spike.


Aerangis biloba

I only just got the Neostylis this spring and usually it takes longer for me to get any results from my Orchids, so very happy with that spike. It's supposed to be fairly reliable at flowering more than once a year so with any luck I'll get another spike on it in the spring (it was flowering in February when I bought it).

The Aerangis has flowered for me before, though this year it looks like I'll only have one spike. The plant was allowed to get too dry too often this spring and I'm paying for it. The moss packed (densely) around the roots stayed wet for a long time so I removed it, and increased watering. At least, for a time. Then watering slowed, and the plant went downhill. I moved it to the plant stand where I'd have better access to it and watered more and new leaves started to grow so I've tied a looser layer of moss around the roots and it's definitely responding to the moss and the more frequent watering. Still, i didn't expect flowers after its mistreatment.



NOID Miltonia

This has been a slow grower for me, happy to see new growth though. Will keep it wetter next summer than I did this year.



NOID Cattleya

I've had this Cattleya for a long time with no results. This will be its fourth new shoot since I got it with no flowering yet. It will likely run out of pot next year and will have to be repotted. This year it spent the summer outside in full sun, which I'm hoping will get me something for my trouble. My Oncidium Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' AM/AOS is not showing any signs of spikes after summering outside, and maybe it's too early but nothing yet from my Cymbidium. Night temperatures are dropping to single digits now so I'm really hoping to see something from the Cymbidium.

Streptocarpus 'Spin Art'

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Streptocarpus 'Spin Art'

First blooming of Streptocarpus 'Spin Art' - variable blue and yellow striping on a red flower make this a really unusual Streptocarpus. Not my thing (I'd take 'Purple Pepper' over 'Spin Art' any day) but actually pretty cool.

Also my new orchid (likely almost certainly a hybrid like Epicyclia) smells identical to blistex Medicated Lip Ointment. It smells strongest between sunrise and early afternoon and has variably smelled like roses, tea and medication. It's an unusual smell in an orchid but I like it. A co-worker ("Orchids are boring") bought one and thinks hers had a tag so maybe I'll get an ID? Otherwise NOID Epicyclia will be as far as I can get.

Hope everyone had a great Canada Day yesterday!

New orchid - Encyclia

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I think promising myself not to buy any more succulents until next spring may prove... expensive.







The Pseudo-bulbs are almost more colourful than the flowers! The flowers are sometimes fragrant though, and attractive in their own special way. Definitely like the form of these though and the colour is interesting.

Update - it's an Enc. cordigera x Epi. floribundum 'Chief'

New Plant: Bletilla striata

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I've just planted a Bletilla striata in a shady corner of my garden near my ferns.



Bletilla striata

The flowers are gorgeous, a really vibrant pink on a flower that is clearly an orchid. Less than half the price of my failed Cypripedium reginae which was eaten by a squirrel. (We've since gotten new Cypripedium reginae plants at work which are a larger size than last year (in bud actually) and cheaper, but I won't try it again for a few more years.)

I will be mulching this area with a deep layer of mulch after a thorough weeding. I may also provide additional winter protection from a rose hut of sorts (DIY style) - which is apparently good to have around to protect them from late frosts in spring.

Lc. Love Knot 'Seto'

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Lc. Love Knot 'Seto'

I got this orchid as a Mother's Day present but have only just gotten to taking its picture. On top of the beautiful flowers is a strong fragrance that at the right time of day can hit you from across the room. Big fan of this one.

Pretty Plants at the Toronto Zoo

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I was at the Toronto Zoo on Tuesday April 27th. It was a little on the chilly side but there were few people around so on the whole it was a great day.


Some fantastic looking Tulips at their peak.


Vriesea splendens hit by the sun just right.


And interesting Orchid species.




Either a Flowering Quince or a Hawthorn... leaning towards Quince but could be wrong.


Is this an Alocasia?

Sarcoglottis sceptrodes in bloom

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There are many orchids grown for their leaves. In some cases, such as Ludisia discolor the flowers are nice, just not the showiest part of the plant. When someone says that Sarcoglottis sceptrodes is grown for its leaves... they mean it.



Sarcoglottis sceptrodes in flower.


Sarcoglottis sceptrodes closeup.


Sarcoglottis sceptrodes closeup, from another angle.

The plant is 23" from the top of the pot to the tip of the spike. I'm not sure I'd use ugly to describe the flowers. Certainly not beautiful, but interesting for sure. They have become slightly more yellow with time but nothing significant.

Wish list addition: Paphiopedilum Winged Flight 'Elektra' HCC/AOS

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I saw this image at the AOS home page (it's not there anymore, hasn't been for a long time now) and the only other site I found any picture of this form has made it impossible to link even to the page the picture is on and has made it pretty clear he doesn't want people to look at it (hint - Google image search the name exactly as it appears in the title).

It is the result of a cross between P. Berenece & P. lowii which apparently scored a 78 (80-89 inclusive out of 100 would have made it an AM/AOS (Award of Merit/American Orchid Society vs Highly Commended Certificate - See here for more on AOS awards)) and was named "Elektra."

Paph. Winged Flight is a simultaneous multifloral, which is pretty self explanatory - multiple blooms all open at the same time. These can put on a fantastic show though a sequential may last longer (at the expense of each individual flower not lasting as long).

I'm mostly using 'Elektra' as an example here - It's a fantastic looking Paphiopedilum But it's not the only really nice looking Paph. Yes I would like to have an 'Elektra' but it's more the idea that I love.


Paph. Michael Koopowitz 'Norma' HCC/AOS is a good example of a very dramatic simultaneous multifloral Paph that's also been awarded.

Many of the most dramatic Paphs also happen to be Simultaneous bloomers. I like the horizontal petals on Paphiopedilum Winged Flight a lot though the long twisted petals of P. Mount Sander (for example) are undeniably stunning as well. Both the horizontal and vertical petals give a very graceful very formal look to the flowers and really on any given day I might prefer one or the other.

I suppose what I'm getting at is that there are a lot of really cool Paphiopedilum cultivars and I don't have any of them. A good Paph is a pricey Paph, my collection will not grow fast but a Paphiopedilum that will send up multiple spikes each year each with multiple blooms (or even just a single spike with multiple blooms) is a Paph worth buying.

Plant ID & an Orchid

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So there's this plant that looks a lot like a Senecio rowleyanus but the leaves are elongated to a point, more the shape of the leaves on a Sedum morganianum but with the growth habit and colour of Senecio rowleyanus. Any ideas?

I also fell in love with an Epc. Yucatan today.



Epc. Yucantan

It may be coming home from work with me this week. I didn't check if it was fragrant though my Epc. (Now Gcy.) Kyoguchi is slightly fragrant.

Everything is telling me I should steer clear of this plant but it's perfect and I need it.

Oh, and I think I have thrips. In my terrarium. I'm only seeing signs of damage on my Cryptocorynes which I will soak for a few days and keep a very close eye on everything else in there. What should I use on the other plants?

New orchid growths

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Yesterday I was having a look at my Oncidium Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' AM/AOS (Sorry, I just like typing its name out in full) and noticed that the new growth that was on the plant when I bought it had finally decided it was not going to grow again. Boo. Well then I noticed two new growths. So I watered it and fertilized it. It's also sending out new roots.



Oncidium Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' AM/AOS Growths.

Later that afternoon I was checking in on my Cymbidium NOID to see if it needed water or anything and found that it too was growing. Yay! I see two so far. This year it will live outside for the summer until the nights get cold in the fall and spikes are developing.



Cymbidium NOID Growths.

Ludisia discolor flower

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This opened for me this morning. Yay! A few days ago I also noticed that I have a second spike just starting to develop on another stalk so I should have some flowers on this plant basically non stop well into spring (maybe with a gap between spikes but we'll see).



Ludisia discolor flower

Here's a picture of the whole plant. It is in a 4" pot and is currently 22" tall from the soil to the top of the bloom stalk (no doubt at all it will pass 2' before it finishes).



Ludisia discolor

I grow it in extremely low light in a north window with no additional lighting. I water it when I think of it and that seems alright, though I never keep it dry for too long. I'm sure it would be happier with better soil and more water but maybe because it gets so little light it isn't as picky about water. I don't know. My room is also usually warm and humid and it hasn't complained about that at all. Actually they're often grown in terrariums because they are well suited to warm, wet and humid conditions. Just, you know, terrariums that are 2' tall or more.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, February 2010

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This is my first Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Lots to post pictures of though!

My Phalaenopsis NOID continues to flower its strange recently green flowers:



Phalaenopsis NOID

This plant is on my mom's plant stand with some of her African Violets, Streptocarpus, and Chirita. There's always something flowering on this stand. (Did you go out and buy yourself an African Violet?)



Saintpaulia 'Ma's Crime Scene' - Fantastic colour on a refreshingly simple flower. The thin white chalk line around the leaves is the perfect finishing touch on this well named variety. This one's a personal favourite.


Streptocarpus 'Royal Grape 7122' - this is the best performing Strep we have, this plant has been in bloom continually since December. I wish I could say that about all Streps but no luck. This one's 100% a keeper.



Saintpaulia NOID - I've posted this plant before but this time around it's even better.

My Paphiopedlium is still going strong downstairs by the big south window (space on this table is at a premium) on the big plant table with still more African Violets and the like.



Paphiopedilum NOID - When I "finished" my photoshoot with this guy earlier in the month I lucked out - the sun was shining right on the plant table and filling the room with light. I pulled out my camera and took a few shots of it backlit by the sun. Here you can really see the beautiful stripes on the dorsal sepal which are my favourite detail on these flowers.

There's more Gesneriads flowering around the house - there always are. This morning I counted 7 African Violets, 1 Streptocarpus, 1 Chirita 'Stardust' and a Streptocarpella all in bloom right now. Relatively speaking this is a smallish number compared to the size of the collection but it's still a good amount of colour to have around on a February day.

And of course, if you're looking for flowers look no further than you local orchid show.

Southern Ontario Orchid Society Show, 2010

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As promised, a selection of my favourite pictures from the SOOS show.

Including the ones I posted yesterday there are 75 pictures from the show - you can find all 75 pictures here.

This post will be light on words, heavy on pictures. Enjoy!


Vanda Sansai Blue


Propetalum Mathina


Miltoniopsis Maui Sunset '409' - Really like this one.


Angraecum leonis


Vanda Nok x Vanda Yip Sum Wah


Paphiopedilum Leopard x Macabre #1 - My own NOID Paph. seems likely to share parentage with this plant, likely from the same or a very close cross.


Paphiopedilum Macabre - Paphs and Phrags were extremely well represented here.


Phragmipedium Magdalene Rose x besseae


Cymbidium NOID


Dendrobium Katsuura


Cymbidium Leo

Southern Ontario Orchid Society Show, 2010

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I spent this morning at the Southern Ontario Orchid Show. Got there at around 10:30 and stood in line for half an hour. Paid my entry, checked my coat and went for the sales tables. Here was my haul:

I started by looking through the two rooms for plants on my sales list and found an Aerangis fastuosa from the same vendor I got my Aerangis biloba from last year. I was super tempted by a few Oncidium alliance intergenics and hybrids but for now I was going to keep on trucking with my list.



Aerangis fastuosa

By the time I cleared the second room I was sure I wasn't going to find a ton of stuff from my list so I expanded to things closely related to things on my list.



Phalaenopsis philippinensis


Phalaenopsis philippinensis - showing the underside of the leaves.

Phalaenopsis philippinensis was a good alternate to P. schilleriana (the silver markings are not as attractive but it does have the bonus maroon colour to the undersides of the leaves and to the new growth.



Ludisia discolor var. alba

Ludisia discolor var. alba was the most exciting jewel orchid I saw. I'd have loved to get a Macodes sanderiana but there were none to be found. The Ludisia was pretty cheap though and it is nice so on the whole I'm pretty happy with it.



Milt. Rene Komoda 'Pacific Cloud'


Milt. Rene Komoda 'Pacific Cloud' Flower

Back at the table where I found my Aerangis while there were many stunning Oncidium intergenics in bold colours with all sorts of spots and elongated pointed petals and all sorts of nonsense (which is not to say I didn't want them all mind you, just no space and not enough money) this Miltonia. The flowers are smaller than many and the markings are so simple but it was so striking. I bought one with three spikes, one basically fully open, another starting to open and a third not open at all, but with only 2-3 buds on it. It's a small plant but I think it's fantastic.



Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Bluebird'


Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Bluebird' Flower

My dad had asked us to look for an orchid he used to have which was "yellow" and smelled like "Cinnamon." Couldn't find it but I figured he would like this anyway. It's blue (ish) and smells amazing (sort of like Jasmin and allspice). So... you know, close enough right? And only $25 for a fairly big plant as far as these things go.

It is a cross of Neofinetia falcata x Rhynchostylis coelestis and should be about a million times easier than a Neofinetia but I'm a little concerned I don't have Vanda appropriate conditions. Will have to see how this goes.



Sarcoglottis sceptrodes

My mom picked this out though I'll admit I'd already been eying it. Another orchid grown for its leaves. It's supposed to be easy but too much light and it will get more red but lose the variegation, too little light and it will lose the red but keep the variegation. Have to do a lot of research on this. It's supposed to be easy, according to the person who sold it to her.

I also took about a bajillion pictures (actually only some 180 +/-, and many of those are of name tags) of the show plants which means it will take a fair bit of time to get those sorted through so you may see them later tomorrow or maybe Monday, or maybe spread out over a few posts. But I think right now i need to have a nap.

P.S. - If you're in/near Toronto and didn't go to the show today I definitely recommend going tomorrow.