Blooms, buds and growth

[Junebug]

Everyone in the shade house has grown well this season and I couldn't be more pleased. Currently the spikers and bloomers are mostly dendrobiums and they're all noids. A few cattleyas are in bud, sheath, and double sheath and with any luck it shouldn't be long before my Prosthechea cochleata and Catasetum begin spiking.

My Stanhopea Ronsard bloomed from 2 spikes a few weeks ago and she's now producing her third spike. Her freckled blooms had an intense coconut/vanilla fragrance and lasted about 5 days before fading.

My large but stubborn Blc. Bryce Canyon 'Spendiferous' x C. jemnamii 'Jungle Princess' finally got on the blooming band wagon. This particular cattleya does not perform well and burns in typical cattleya lighting conditions. She usually produces only one or two blooms a year in January. Two years ago there was one bloom during summer. This year she produced 8 buds this year after I lowered the level of her sun exposure. A bug destroyed her first 4 buds and damaged another 2, but the last two buds managed to bloom without incident. Her flowers are pretty pale and homely when they first open but they develop color and emit an intoxicating fragrance by day 3.

Enjoy.

[dounoharm]

nice setup! all your plants look happy and healthy, good growing!!

[Swamper]

Excellent job June. It looks awesome in there. I like your irrigation system too.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by dounoharm

nice setup! all your plants look happy and healthy, good growing!!

Thank you.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Swamper

Excellent job June. It looks awesome in there. I like your irrigation system too.

Thanks. My irrigation system is just an inexpensive mister designed for cooling patios. It's effective when used, but there's no timer and it's hooked up to city water. I've been working days, and pressed for time, so I haven't use it that much. There hasn't been much rain either so I just hose everything down well before leaving for work and then again when I come home and again about 2 hours before dark. The spanish moss is a new addition. It's helping to bump up humidity on exposed roots.

[CTB]

I like it, when I run out of room again I think I'll put the lattice sheets up, and double my space. Thanks for a good idea.

[peeweelovesbooks]

The blooms look fantastic!! TFS!!!

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by CTB

I like it, when I run out of room again I think I'll put the lattice sheets up, and double my space. Thanks for a good idea.

Thank you. IMO the heavy duty pressure treated lattice is the best choice. There's a sheet of lighter weight lattice on the north wall of my shade house, but it has smaller openings which makes it difficult to pass the hangers through. It also blocks a little too much sun and doesn't permit as much air circulation. The heavy duty stuff costs a few bucks more but it's well worth the investment.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

The blooms look fantastic!! TFS!!!

Thank you. Have you ordered any Catasetums yet?

[Call_Me_Bob]

they look great!!