Botanical Gardens - Orchid lover's dream

[jmmehler]

@WierdGuySeattle;

Shucky Dern! You are probably right!
I've been planning all week to mount it on cork this weekend. Even picked up a few more large pieces as I walked in this morning.

The botanist was there, and I noticed that he had moved it, together with another large Paph (in a 2 inch) pot. Asked him about it and he informed me that it was donated as a Paph.

Main difference seems to be that the leaves are softer than what I believe the Angraecum leaves are.

My second most favorite orchid now is the Angraecum. None at the BBG. But I've been looking at them on the internet, and will be travelling down to Boca Raton in a few weeks for their orchid show. Noticed a place called Botanical Ltd (botanicallt.com) has a good selection. Anyone out there know them?

Thanks.

[Lorraine]

Hi John,

You should be able to pick up and Angraecum sesquipedale at our show. I got one at our show 3 years ago with 1 flower. The next year there were 3. Last year I put it in part of a display at the Ft Lauderdale show and am attaching it here. This year it has 3 spikes again with 7 buds and 3 open flowers. It may be in an exhibit at our show if it holds until then. It is a great orchid to have. Mine is in an 8 inch wood basket. I'm contacting my friend who will be at the show to see if he's bringing any.

[jmmehler]

Last Saturday, my buddy Ronnie, and two other members of our society joined me at the gardens. We worked mostly on some small Bulbophyllums, Enciclias, Oncidiums, Epidendrums, and a host of others.

Just putzing around when I noticed one of the large hanging plants is an Angraecum Eburnum. It has about 7 mature fans, with another 3 or 4 kiekies coming out. Did not look like it enjoys the medium that it's in. It is in a 15 inch basket with completely rotted bark. I left it alone except for pulling off all the dead leaves and most of the weed. It has 4 seed pods of varying age. Don't know if they're viable, but would be interested in finding someone who'd be willing to flask them.

We mounted a few more, see pictures. A Bulbophyllum Ambrosia, on a 12 inch piece of cork, and I think the other is a Dendrobium Ciliare. Will have to double check.

Also found this unusual one, in bloom. Any guesses?

Hope you all enjoy the pics.

[Lorraine]

Hi John,

Nice job mounting. Regarding the Angraecum..if the medium is old and rotted it has been suggested not to disturb established roots. Carefully remove the old stuff and add new. If the basket is rotted, cut off the wires on the corners and remove whatever is loose and set into next size basket. I have a cheap pair of bolt cutters just for cutting the heavy gauge wire. Careful staking will give you a beautiful specimen with the keikis around the base.

[Tim P.]

So glad I stumbled upon this thread. You have done amazing work. Keep the pictures coming!

[jmmehler]

Still making progress. Not so glamorous now, but I still stop off 3 to 4 mornings a week for 30 to 45 minutes, on my way to work. I repot between 4 and 6 plants each time. I hope to be finishing up on the encyclias, oncidiums, zygopetalums, et al within the next couple of weeks. There seem to be hundreds of these. I've repotted a good many of the small and medium dendrobiums, but haven't gotten to the large ones yet. Also still have the large bifoliate cattleyas.

Nothing has been fertilized since I started last October, however, stuff keeps blooming. First picture is c lawrenceana coerulea. Second is C skinneri coreylisens. third is epc epiorange 'merita'. Fourth is d chrysotoxum. Fifth is a picture of the rynchostylus that I mounted a few months ago. It just put out a new root about as big as my first finger. Note the other roots are pencil thin and knarled.

Started an inventory of the micro-propagation lab. All I can say is WOW! Completely stocked, and unused. Also found some more time in my schedule. Starting Monday afternoons, will be stopping by and will be flasking Angraecum seeds. Also have some Brassavolas I might play with as well.

Stay tuned. A massive bloom is coming out of one of the Brassavola digbyanis, and a the blooms from a SLC Dark Waters 'Sheherezade' has just started to open. Did I ever mention that the first time I heard the name Sheherezade was from 'the one that got away' 38 years ago? Yes, I still pine for her.

[rosemadder]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Suggestion for repotting the Catts and Dens. We have been using a rock material called Stalite mixed with charcoal and some sponge rock. These guys love it. We have a lot of rain here in the summer and using this we have no medium breaking down, great drainage and when repotting comes along just move to a bigger pot medium intact. It is available at a Landscaping rock supply in Miami so I have to drive a ways to get it but well worth the drive. Less expensive than other S/H material. Comes in small and large size. Large is perfect for the catts and dens. Small is too small.

I too can't help but think an inorganic medium might be terrific for situations like this. All that medium breakdown & repotting is a huge amount of work!

[GardenTheater]

This is fabulous! Great job rescuing the neglected plants. I cringe to think what they would be like without you.

---------- Post added at 09:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 AM ----------

Originally Posted by jmmehler

@WierdGuySeattle;

My second most favorite orchid now is the Angraecum. None at the BBG. But I've been looking at them on the internet, and will be travelling down to Boca Raton in a few weeks for their orchid show. Noticed a place called Botanical Ltd (botanicallt.com) has a good selection. Anyone out there know them?

Thanks.

I've purchased Angraecoids from Botanica and received nice and healthy plants. It's one of the orchid families they focus on. They have a Sobennikoffia, I'd love to have. It is uncommon in collections and has a gorgeous flower and scent. Here's a link to photo: Sobennikoffia humbertiana. It would be a great addition to the botanical garden. Imo

[jmmehler]

As promised, slc Dark Waters 'Sheherezade'... DJR, thinking of you. Also, brassavola digbiyani, and cattleya skinneri coerulea. The latter is such a delicate and beautiful little bloom. Bunch of dendrobiums are starting to bloom as well. Note, nothing has been fertilized since I began last October. Enjoy.

[Lorraine]

Looking good John. You get to enjoy so many new and exciting flowers you didn't know the Garden had. You would also enjoy what's blooming here now too