Celebrating 1 year with orchids

[Val]

This week I have celebrated 1 year with orchids.

My collection now includes 54 Phalaenopsis (25 of which are species, primary/secondary hybrids and novelties) and 8 non-Phals.

I have lost 6 orchids (1 Miltoniopsis and 5 Phalaenopsis), but got 15 keikis. So the balance is stil in the black

The celebration begun with the first flower of P. Equalcea 'blue' (P. violacea 'blue' x P. equestris 'Blue Lip') - see pic 1. Then P. Kuntrarti Rarashati bloomed for the first time, and the flower is better than I expected.

I treated myself with a trip to a nursery in Germany, where I bought some of the top items on my wishlist:
- P. equestris 'alba' - in bloom
- P. speciosa C#1 - 1 year from flowering size
- P. ambonosa (amboinensis X venosa) - in bloom
- Dtps. Purple Martin 'Dark Blue' - in bloom (see pic 2)
- Dtps. Purple Gem - in bloom
- P. Liodoro - in bloom

I would have bought at least twice as many (my wishlist is stil long), but space has become a problem. I'm happy with my collection and I have decided to stop expanding horizontally and focus on growing vertically, where there's some space left

[tucker85]

Congratulations on your one year anniversary. You've accumulated quite a collection. I love that Purple Martin 'Dark Blue'. It has a much better color than my Purple Martin.

[Val]

Originally Posted by tucker85

I love that Purple Martin 'Dark Blue'. It has a much better color than my Purple Martin.

I have learned that this is one of the benefits of buying in the nursery. There were several in bloom, and I chose the darkest flower. That would have been impossible online.

The Penang Girl I bought from them in May, during the show in Mariemont, is quite a large plant and would have been impossible to ship.

[WhiteRabbit]

congrats! both those Phals are gorgeous!

[glengary54]

Only 8 non-Phals? I think it is time you branched out. lol

[RosieC]

Congratulations