Central Ohio Orchid Show purchases

[catherinecarney]

Hi all--

OK, I have now joined the ranks of the seriously addicted.....I attendend the orchid show in Columbus, Ohio last weekend and, despite trying REALLY hard to stay within my budget, I had a bunch of plants follow me home:

1. Den. aggregatum (not in bud, but new growth showing--I mounted it on a piece of malaysian driftwood)

2: Onc. velutinum/ Tolumnia velutina (a bunch of bare root pieces in one pot, so I'm doing a repeat of the encyclia polybulbon experiment and growing them several different ways--hopefully with better results)

3: Epi. Fantasy Valley 'Starburst' (in bloom, love the coral color)

4: Onc. Tsiku Marguerite 'NN #1' (in bloom, sweet citrus & vanilla fragrance)

5: Enc. cordigera x Nursery Rhyme (in bloom, nice fresh scent, gorgeous intense ruby/wine lip)

6: Aerangis citrata (in bloom, I mounted it on a piece of cork)

7: Enc. phoenicia x plicata (two seedlings that came out of the flask in mid February).

Good thing I left the charge cards and checkbook at home or I would have been in real trouble....And this was in addition to the two noID multiflora type phals I bought at the grocery store earlier in the week....At this rate I'm going to have to build a greenhouse or join a 12 step program for orchid addicts.

Catherine

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice haul!

[Leafmite]

Congratulations on the great purchases! The twelve step program for orchid addiction is:
1) buy an orchid
2) buy an orchid to keep the first company
3) buy an orchid 'with the intent to give as a gift' but keep it instead. The person for whom it was intended doesn't have the right conditions to grow the orchid.
4) as you buy the orchid, tell yourself it is the last one.
5) buy an 'investment' orchid as it isn't often seen and you might not get another chance
6) buy an orchid as a reward for an accomplishment. You deserve it, right?
7) buy a holiday orchid to beautify the room. A nice way to celebrate, too!
8) buy an orchid as you feel bad for the speaker who traveled so far to speak to your OS
9) help others with their gift giving by letting them know of an orchid you like. After all, it is kind to help them avoid stress.
10) attend an orchid show and support the society and vendors by buying orchids. It is a good deed.
11) the windows are filled so you must be firm and stop buying orchids...except for those two you have always wanted.
12) admit you are not going to stop buying orchids.

[catherinecarney]

Nice 12 step program, Leafmite--looks like I'm about there....Amazing how addictive this hobby can be.

Any hints/tips from the experienced people out there to help me with these new plants??

Catherine

[The Orchid Boy]

Nice haul! In winter, don't give the Den. aggragatum a drop of water & keep it cool but still in a bright spot. Give it high light and let it dry out, it does quite well mounted. It usually blooms before new growth starts.

[catherinecarney]

Thanks for the Den. aggregatum info! It was potted when I got it, and and I'd read it did better mounted. Glad to hear I did something right when I put it on the driftwood.....Hope I can give it what it needs and bring it into bloom for next year--IMO it's one of the most attractive blooms I've seen in both color and form.

I also mounted the Aerangis citrata and the Onc/Tol velutinum/velutina (which is the current name??)--any others that would do better that way?

Catherine

[Leafmite]

Sounds as though you are on the right track!

[Brooke]

It is Tol. velutinum now. They were removed from the Oncidium family.

Your citrata wants lots of water and what I call high Phal light. I sit my mount inside of a small clay pot to help hold the moisture longer. You will love it.

Brooke

[The Orchid Boy]

One quick note on the Dendrobium aggregatum... It is now called Dendribium lindleyi.

[catherinecarney]

Hi Brooke--

Thanks for the Aerangis citrata info! I've been watering the mount daily until the sphag that it's on is thoroughly wet, then letting it drain before I set it back up. By the next morning the cork is pretty dry and the sphag is just damp to the touch. Humidity over the fish tanks is around 50%, temps in the mid 70's by day and mid 60's at night. Most of the light is from a north window, with some light from the fish tank, so probably needs more.....Delicate and graceful plant, definitely love it! Also, thanks for the name update on the Tol. velutina (I'm assuming since the genus is feminine ie ending in a that the species name is as well?)--can you tell I'm a total newbie?

Orchid Boy--thanks for the update on Den. lindleyi nomenclature--I'll update my tags!

Catherine