Winter blooms

[SaraJean]

These are the first round of orchids to bloom this winter with more to be added over the next couple of months.

First is the Cattleya walkeriana var. tipo 'Select'. This is the first and the smallest of my 5 walkerianas to bloom. Unfortunately I rotted the other bloom spike on this one. I was lazy in taking pics so they are a little past their prime but, my god, the fragrance
IMG_1427 by Sara , on Flickr

Next is a darling little Sophronitis cernua that I plan on mounting on a cork piece this year
IMG_1350 by Sara , on Flickr

And finally a Dendrobium hodgkinsonii. This one is very new to me and I am kind of surprised it bloomed at all. It’s the orchids first blooming and in a 2" pot. I do love my latouria types!
IMG_1433 by Sara, on Flickr

[DeaC]

If a favorite is even possible it's #2! All well grown btw.

[jcec1]

All very nice - though the dendrobium is so exotic and strange looking.

[Leafmite]

What wonderful blooms!

[charlesf6]

It must feel real nice to have all of that winter blooming.

[camille1585]

How beautiful, and you have a nice variety of orchids blooming! I love my winter blooming plants, they always add a bit of cheer to an otherwise dreary winter.

What does the Catt smell like? It's gorgeous!

[No-Pro-mwa]

Gorgeous blooms. Did you get the cernua from J&L? It's potted just like my one I got from them. I blasted a bud on it. I have to soak it every day and I missed some. How often do you have to water yours? I need to re-pot both of mine but a mount is never going to work in my conditions.

[kenjibel]

nice blooms sarajean. im planning to start with latouria types. do you have some advice for me?

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by kenjibel

nice blooms sarajean. im planning to start with latouria types. do you have some advice for me?

From what I have noticed with my Latouria species and hybrids is that they love to be flooded with water frequently but want to dry out fairly quickly, so no soggy roots. If you leave them dry for too long they will start to drop leaves rapidly, a little black tip will develop and then, bam, the leaves start hitting the bench. They are a pretty hardy bunch though and can take abuse. I grow them warm-hot most of the year and in the winter (with the exception of my Den.spectabile, I let that one get quite cold and stopped fertilizer in November) I keep the night time temps around 60-55 degrees F simply because that’s what I can provide growing them in a greenhouse. Many of the the hybrids do wonderfully on a windowsill. I water less in the winter and cut back on fertilizer but I do not give them a true winter rest. I haven’t noticed that any of my hybrids need a temp drop in the winter in order to set spikes. For the most part, they seem to like fairly bright light. More light than phals, but can bloom in less than cattleya type light. I have mine under a 50% shade cloth and they will get a little direct morning sun. Hope that helps! I have some spikes developing on my spectabile, polysema, macrophyllum, Little Atro, and Microchip, so I’ll be sure to add those when they bloom

---------- Post added at 05:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 PM ----------

Originally Posted by camille1585

How beautiful, and you have a nice variety of orchids blooming! I love my winter blooming plants, they always add a bit of cheer to an otherwise dreary winter.

What does the Catt smell like? It's gorgeous!

Thank you! I’m terrible at describing fragrances but if heaven had a scent, the walkeriana would be it. Rosey, jasmine, a tiny bit minty and maybe Pez (the candy)? Its a very complex fragrance and absolutely intoxicating.

---------- Post added at 05:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:20 PM ----------

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

Gorgeous blooms. Did you get the cernua from J&L? It's potted just like my one I got from them. I blasted a bud on it. I have to soak it every day and I missed some. How often do you have to water yours? I need to re-pot both of mine but a mount is never going to work in my conditions.

Mine is from H&R. I have only been watering it once or twice a week but my humidity has been ridiculously high lately, between 80-98%. So things are taking forever to dry out, even with three fans running in the grow area.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

Thank you! I’m terrible at describing fragrances but if heaven had a scent, the walkeriana would be it. Rosey, jasmine, a tiny bit minty and maybe Pez (the candy)? Its a very complex fragrance and absolutely intoxicating.

Yum, that sounds so so nice! Makes me want a walkeriana as well, but in my climate/latitude, I don't think it's a very easy plant.