Everblooming Orchids! Yeah!!
 

O.K fellow orchid lovers. Here is another opportunity to share your vast orchid knowledge with those of us with more unvast orchid knowledge. That's right, I'm starting a new list. You know how much I love lists.
As many of you know. My collection of orchids is somewhat lacking in the flower department (See thread: Somethings Missing...Oh Yeah, Flowers!). So I was thinking wouldn't it be nice to have some orchids that flower continuously (as opposed to never). So, sit back dust off those brain cells and start typin. I want to know about your favorite everblooming orchids. I know there are a few. Anything that blooms at least nine months out of the year qualifies.

Thanks.

Aaron "The Orchid Whisperer" M

Hi Aaron,
The only ever-blooming orchid that fits your description, and that I have in my collection is my Phalaenopsis equestris. I got it as a bare root keiki that put up it's first and only spike about 5 months later. That was in March of 2007. That spike bloomed continuously for 13 months...that's right, until April of 2008.
I left the spike on because it looked like it still might not be finished...and it wasn't! It put out a couple more blooms in May, and now has a small keiki on the end. A tremendous bloomer if I must say so myself! :blushing:

Aaron - you could try some Paphs - some of their flowers last so long that they can become pretty much everblooming. None of mine are there yet - still mostly seedlings waiting to flower... but I live in hope, one day!

I have a dendro that's been blooming since about March. Its now full of flowers aqnd a new spike getting ready for more. Nothing in the nine month category though.

I would like to mention Haraella odorata! Mine has been in bloom pretty much ever since I got it last October! It may have taken a month off.....but I don't blame it! It's a real cutie....you should check it out!

I have a huge specimen dendro - Dendrobium Jaquelyn Thomas 'Uniwai Supreme'. It's gone crazy and has been in bloom for almost a year and a half. I don't know if this qualifies 'cause there are so many canes there but still it's pretty weird.

I have an red Epidendrum noid that hasn't stopped sending up spikes and blooming since I bought it last March. Right now there are three spikes with open blooms on it. It is nice to always have something blooming. Just bought an Epi hybrid. No spikes yet.

I find that between the two E cochleata that I have, there is always something in bloom! Den oligophyllum is another that keeps going and going...and my favorite Phal equestris 'Three Times A Lady' x Blue Too' just almost never stops!

With good culture, sequential blooming phrags can stay in bloom for years! :biggrin: <mumble> and they aer a lot easier to grow and flower than paphs </mumble> :evil:

also, dend cuthbertsonii flowers can last up to 9 months (or so I heard) :goodluck:

grumble
 

:rofl: You are cracking me up Jorch! We watch and wait for spikes! :yawn: Someday .....

O.K., let me clarify. I would consider any orchid that flowers nine or more months out of the year "everblooming"

Thanks for all the responses so far.

AaronM

I have a large den antennatum that has been blooming since April. It usually has about 8 spikes going at any time.

What about the Oncidium papilio. That's a sequential bloomer, Mine has been at it since Oct /07. Currently two flowers open, 2 spikes waiting to unfurl

Lecent

In Sri Lanka an orchid grows in pots always got flowers.
long crincle leaves and a big bush . got many colors.
I will give the name . The flowers in my avi. see the pic. easy to grow.

Spathoglottis is the name of them.

Oh yeah.. thanks for bringing that up Lecent! Buy a psychopsis in bloom and it'll stay in flowers for YEARS!!

quiltingwacko, hey neighbour, we are both on the west coast and our conditions should be quite similar! I continually have phrag spikes and flower year-round. I have not had a single day since fall of last year without a phrag bloom in my place :biggrin:

OK, let me contribute: one that blooms at least 9 months of the year (I don't mean blossoms last that long) is Epidendrum ellipticum. It's pretty small but the bloom spike gets quite tall and keeps blooming while the new growths are maturing and getting ready to bloom. Evidence: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...s/ORC11_01.jpg That's a new spike on the left next to the blooming spike which will continue to elongate till it gets maybe 18" long. Blossoms last maybe 2 days. Here's a closeup http://www.orchidboard.com/community...s/ORC11_03.jpg Sorry, not fragrant!

I think what must be considered is the growing conditions these orchid have been raised in that allow them to bloom as long or as continuously as everyone has stated ..
I am sure there are some that wouldn't do as well for me in front of a window of western exposure indoors in the Northeast ...
Just a random thought to be considered :dumb:

Spathoglottis is lovely. So is Ellipticum. I will have to have a serious talk with my phrag and tell it to get with the bloom program here. Actually it just quit. Had been blooming since April.

I submit Paph 'pinocchio' I don't know what it has done for others but it has bloomed successively for me with borderline conditions since mid Jan 2008. It was purchased in bloom

Good idea D. My ellipticum gets full sun (south window) all year (if the sun is out :biggrin: ) and watered 2-3 times per week. I water and fertilize at same time every watering. I use 125ppm Nitrogen MSU formula in RO water to water. I often spritz the top of the bark mix with straight RO water to get all the salts off. The plant I showed is in a 2.5" pot and has been there for two years. It would be a champ for you Dorothy in a west window.

Oooh. I love those colors!

If you are looking for an everblooming orchid there are no such thing, but things that are very very close. For instance any Psychopsis (In the Oncidium Alliance) is a single flowered sequential bloomer. Only a few weeks downtime every few month and a slight winter rest. My fav is Psychopsis Kalihi (papilio X kramerianum) The cross has much larger flowers than either parent. For a dendrobiums, I like Dend Nora Tokunaga(atroviolacium pygmy X rhodostrictum). Roy tokunaga made this cross and the parents bloom at diff times of the year, the cross blooms year round, grows year round and is almost never is without a cluster of flowers.

My little Restrepia striata has been in nearly constant bloom since I brought it home in May. . .lovely flowers that bob in the wind and look like little flying insects.

I've read that these are nearly ever blooming. It's a great plant.

Oh Gwen, I forgot about the Restrepia. It is such a tiny little thing. I have a Brachypus that I brought home in April and it has never stopped blooming.

I'd go with the psychopsis or phal. equestris (although the psychopsis doesn't like being disturbed so i think it is best to mount it so you can leave it alone as much as possible)

I would think any of the cochlopetalum section would be a great choice.
My particular favorite is paphiopedilum moquetteanum.
Mine has been blooming for a long time, the blooms last for a month or so. Then another bloom opens up soon after the previous one falls off. Not a true everblooming but close to what you may be looking for!
AHAB

I really need to get my hands on some paphs. But can never seem to find anything nice under $25. Paphs would be great for me as long as they have attractive leaves. Since none of my plants like to bloom attractive folliage is important.
Recently acquired a Phal. schilleriana that has lovely silver mottled leaves. The seller also said that it was a frequent bloomer. Of course he also said it was a healthy plant. I'm thinking I won't see any flowers for at least eighteen months or more.

Keep the great ideas coming all.

AaronM

Another one that is just about everblooming, in the sense that the blooms that you do get last for months. . .is Dendrobium cuthbertsonii.

I bought mine from Andy's Orchids back in May (already in bloom) and they show no signs of fading.

But this one is harder to grow. . .needs cool conditions and bright light.

But if you can pull off the growing conditions, these are fantastic and one of my top faves.

I found two mottled leaf paphs at our local garden center on the sale table for half off. They didn't have tags or blooms. But I think I got them for about 15.00 each. Mine are growing like weeds but haven't bloomed yet. . .so they're still mystery plants.

Soooo. . .check out the sale areas near you!

I have two divisions of Bl Sunset Glory (Bl. Richard Mueller x L purpurata) in water culture ~125ppm N. Between the two of them I have flowers or new buds most of the time, even in the Winter in the North East. True to their reputation they grow very fast and bloom on each new growth. They are lovely and have a sweet citrusy scent in the morning.



http://www.orchidboard.com/community...et_Glory09.jpg http://www.orchidboard.com/community...set_Glory3.jpg http://www.orchidboard.com/community...set_Glory2.jpg

My HD no longer discounts the out of bloom orchids. Instead, they throw them in the trash!!

AaronM

Aaron, You should talk to the manager of the garden Dept, Make a deal with them for a buck a plant or something. They still make something on them and they don't go to the trash!

well I am a novice but I was thought that its the nature of orchids to bloom and if they are not they are missing something either temp,more than likely my problem was light so I added extra florescent, and on my Phal after my blooms fade I cut down 1 in below where the bloom was and more times than not another spike of the exsisting one but you being a senior member probably already know all of this no offense

I gotta go with Phrags as well, we have a longifolium that has had flowers or new spikes developing as older ones finish for 3 years now. Also a Conchiferum running a close second at 2 years. Sequential bloomers like these are a real treat!

Hi Aaron,

I've only had my B. Nodosa since the end of April but I have had blooms on it ever since. They last a few weeks but before they are gone another spike or two has been right there. This is a bigger plant but if that's any indication I expect to see flowere all year long. The friend I got it from calls it a weed.:rofl: And it is fragrant:biggrin:

Ah Skip, I remember way back, last month, when I was a junior member. Oh to be young and carefree again...

AaronM

:rofl: Wow, those were the days. Try some of the sequential Paphs, I believe Paphiopedilum primulinum and Paphiopedilum moquettianum
can stray in bloom, on flower at a time, for years. And the best thing is when the first spike is ready to give up there is almost always a new one, or more, ready to take its place. The flowers have no scent but there are several color variations which keep your eyes busy enough. For something a little cheaper try a reed stemmed epidendrum, they dont hold flowers for nine months but they are usually putting out a new spike every three or so weeks, with a large plant you will almost never not have a spike, I have one thats been blooming for a year and a half now, and it just sent up four new spikes.

Because of some lame deal they have with the vendor they can't sell them at a discount. Besides even if we marked them down, like we used to (50-75% off), I would have to wait at least 24hrs to buy them because I'm an employee. Well at least I get mediocre pay and a 0% employee discount.

Aaron "Needs to Find a Better Employer" M

Thanks
 

I a, very lucky I work for a company that does quite a few indoor plants and the people love orchids and will tl pay top dollar. But lucky me the dont want them after they bloom. So I am sort of orchid rescue.Some are a little distressed but have been able to save many lost a few.I now have 32 all different types learning all the time. How they all have different needs and personalities. Love this site and going back reading past post has been very enlightening. Thanks for yours and everyone's help who has helped me and maybe I can return the favor sometime.