A few things I picked up at the show!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by junebug's orchids

The Dendro was recommended as one that can stay fairly moist, to go in my gecko vivarium, near the water. (I've moved it since this photo was taken, because the manzanita it's on was getting soaked. also, I need to do something about the wire, but I haven't been able to get it off yet.)

To remove the wire, just clip it with a diagonal cutter, flush with the wood. Save the wire, these are good for making hooks on mounts that you may later want to make.

[Mountaineer370]

Very nice new orchids! And I just have to say that dog in your avatar is soooo cute!

[junebug's orchids]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer370

Very nice new orchids! And I just have to say that dog in your avatar is soooo cute!

Ah yes, my Joey. He's my little dummy (poor dog is dumb as a rock, but cute and sweet and very good at getting pets).

I was going to put the frilly flower in the center of the fishroom, where most of my orchids are, where it would get some afternoon sun everyday. Hoping that plus the artificial ambient light in the room would be enough to bloom it. I'm putting together a little display of smaller orchids and tillandsias on a piece of citrus root I have, to make a centerpiece.

If that isn't going to be enough, Roberta, I can just find a nice pot for it and put it in a west-facing window. It wouldn't be a bad one to keep in the living room, what with it being SO fragrant.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by junebug's orchids

I was going to put the frilly flower in the center of the fishroom, where most of my orchids are, where it would get some afternoon sun everyday. Hoping that plus the artificial ambient light in the room would be enough to bloom it. I'm putting together a little display of smaller orchids and tillandsias on a piece of citrus root I have, to make a centerpiece.

If that isn't going to be enough, Roberta, I can just find a nice pot for it and put it in a west-facing window. It wouldn't be a bad one to keep in the living room, what with it being SO fragrant.

Where you put your plants when in bloom is not very important - put them in your living area so that you can enjoy the flowers. But once out of bloom, most are not particularly attractive... you'll want to put them where they can thrive and bloom again (probably next year) So that Rhyncholaelia digbyana will need to grow some place much brighter, but while is in bloom enjoy it where you can smell it... not terribly long lasting bloom, but while it's in flower few can match it for being spectacular.

[junebug's orchids]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Where you put your plants when in bloom is not very important - put them in your living area so that you can enjoy the flowers. But once out of bloom, most are not particularly attractive... you'll want to put them where they can thrive and bloom again (probably next year) So that Rhyncholaelia digbyana will need to grow some place much brighter, but while is in bloom enjoy it where you can smell it... not terribly long lasting bloom, but while it's in flower few can match it for being spectacular.

I think it's a continual bloomer though, year round. Not that it will constantly have blooms, but it should bloom frequently enough that keeping it on the windowsill on a bay window in the living room wouldn't be a terrible idea. I will just need to pot it in something a bit less unattractive to make that work LOL.

Also yes, it's an ugly plant. For sure. This one probably is ready to be split, so.... I can play with a few different locations. I just didn't want to mess with it since it came with such a big, beautiful bloom on it.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by junebug's orchids

Also yes, it's an ugly plant. For sure. This one probably is ready to be split, so.... I can play with a few different locations. I just didn't want to mess with it since it came with such a big, beautiful bloom on it.

Don't be in a hurry to divide the plant - a division needs to have 3-4 pseudobulbs (with or without leaves). Any less, and the divisions will be weak/not bloom/maybe not live. My experience with Rl. digbyana is once a year blooming. Different individual plants have different blooming times, but each one likely to do its thing only once. If it gets very large, with multiple new leads, the individual growths may bloom over a period of a couple of months.

[junebug's orchids]

Thanks Roberta! Helpful as always <3

It is a HUGE plant. A 4 inch pot full of pseudobulbs. 10 at least. One is in bloom right now and a few are dormant. I'm not going to divide it just yet though. Gotta learn what I'm doing first haha.

[SundayGardener]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

What fun little purchases! My version of being overwhelmed at the first orchid show I went to involved taking one of everything and spending the equivalent of a luxury car payment... no restraint over in this corner, I hope I have gotten a little better

I like your style! Life is short!!


To OP: I get the impression that you have such amazing orchid shows on the West Coast! I've been reading here that many people prefer to get larger mature plants, and I realized that I have never actually seen many of those for sale at nurseries and shows. The exception would be vandas, which I think stay in the nurseries because we don't have a great climate for their needs (at least, that's how I see it). And most online vendors sell seedlings or plants in their first spike. I have gotten oncidiums with up to 7 pseudobulbs, so that's also an exception.

I'm "shopping vicariously" with you!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by junebug's orchids

Thanks Roberta! Helpful as always <3

It is a HUGE plant. A 4 inch pot full of pseudobulbs. 10 at least. One is in bloom right now and a few are dormant. I'm not going to divide it just yet though. Gotta learn what I'm doing first haha.

Up-potting makes sense once it finishes blooming, but save dividing for a couple of years from now, the NEXT repot. If it is a 4" pot, it's still a young plant. A 6 inch basket might be good - and outside in a few weeks (by which time it will have stopped blooming, and nights will be just a bit warmer)

[No-Pro-mwa]

Congratulations on your new orchids.