My Orchids and Bromeliads in Port Charlotte

[mremensnyder]

Encyclia tampensis, Seminole County ecotype from private land. Grow with frequent waterings with MSU with mycorrhizal blend because this species has always been a shrinking violet for me. This year it will start growing for real, it already looks better.

-Michael

[Toadwally]

A Florida gem. 👍👍

[mremensnyder]

I ordered this plant on eBay 8-9 years ago and it has done well in the Orlando area for most of that time. I moved to Port Charlotte last March and it has not put on much growth but I am going to start fertilizing all epiphytes weekly with MSU.

Any recommendations on growing this and Encyclia tampensis well. I am hoping daily watering and weekly mycorrhiza will mimic wild growing conditions.

[mremensnyder]

This is a Phalaenopsis species and as I have forgetting its ID it is a NOID plant, getting ready to bloom. I am giving this the MSU treatment too.

[mremensnyder]

This one is a fall bloomer with purple flowers with speckles that looks like dancing spiders. It hasn't bloomed the past two years.

[Toadwally]

Wet-dry-wet-dry and lots of sun is a good recipe. In Everglades, big colonies on pond apple in full sun, but direct sun in morning or afternoon also works. Sadly, no experience with Epi. flor.

[mremensnyder]

Two more Phalaenopsis NOIDs I just numbered #1, #2 and #3. These had some rot issues but the MSU with mycorrhiza helped. They are doing okay but not thriving either.

[mremensnyder]

I found a patch of these growing in my yard last month and decided to keep a culture of this tropical deciduous species in a pot. They bloomed for a few weeks and some set seed. Now they are drying out and starting to go dormant until next "winter".

Our lowest temperature here this winter has been 36-37F but we had a rare two day streak with highs in the mid 40s. Most were protected except the natives.

[mremensnyder]

I just bought this beautiful purple Phalaenopsis hybrid for my mom at Publix yesterday. I am on a modest budget this year but as they say, "it is the thought that counts".

[mremensnyder]

Here are some bromeliads and a native fern I have had for some time, except the Tillandsia setacea. The latter was a chance find as a tiny plant on a bundle of sticks on the edge of my yard shortly after we moved in. This species is not common at all in Charlotte County.