Look what opened today

[Carpe Diem]

The little Encyclia cochleata alba, bought in spike, gave me this cute little flower today, first bloom.
Also a picture of my latest purchase, Maxillaria tenuifolia, not in spike.

[cbuchman]

I have the non alba form of Encyclia cochleata, but yours is a cutie. I think I might "need" one of those. I got a Maxillaria tenuifolia at the Philadelphia Flower Show last year and am hoping it will re-bloom this year. The smeel reminds me of the Caribbean which is most welcome in the winter/spring!

[GardenTheater]

Congratulations. I like the alba color.

[RosieC]

Not seen the alba form before. Really pretty.

Max tenuifolia likes a lot of water. Mine is mounted so I can water a lot without worry of rotting roots, and the bulbs plumped up once I was watering it enough and lost the wrinkles.

[Vanda lover]

What a cute little white octopus!

[terracotta7]

Oh my goodness! I was just thinking this whole week about making an orchid order. (obsessing, actually) These two were on my wish list!!! So tell me:Will I be making a mistake to get them as a newbie, or are they something that a regular person can grow in a pot on a windowsill? I have found that I have enough light to rebloom oncidiums, dendrobiums and phals. Will that do for these as well! Thanks in advance for any advice!

[cbuchman]

I've had my cochleata for years and it blooms for about 9 months of the year. Right now I have 7 flower spikes and one is branching (a first for me). It's in a 10 inch clay pot and bark (probably due for fresh medium soon). I've killed my fair share of orchids over the years, but this one has thrived.

Ive only had my Maxillaria tenuifolia since the March. I got it in bloom and it kept blooming until the really hot weather in late June. It is growing well. ... so far so good.

So I say go for it!

[terracotta7]

I believe I will.I would like to have an orchid that blooms that many months out of the year. Thanks for the culture information...that is the kind of thing I need!!!

[Hmmm15]

Congrats!!! It's really elegant : )

[dope.fatboy]

Terracotta7: encyclia cochleata is tough as nails and will bloom really small, even though it gets to be a relatively good size plant. My plant sits in a south facing windowsill with low humidity and dries out fairly hard and is doing great. You shouldn't have any problems with that one.