The Spectacular Aerides family

[Orchidtinkerer]

Originally Posted by Keysguy

Anyway......left to right; lawrenceaea, odorata and quin in spike.

This is second bloom for the quin. Last year the flowers were not exhibiting the classic 5 wound marks so hoping they'll show up as the plant matures.

I also have a large houlettiana that hasn't bloomed in several years. They are all grown in the same spot so not sure what's going on. It's an extremely vigorous, healthy plant but not blooming like the others.

Hey Keysguy, I wish I could smell them. I only have an Aerides Houlletiana which is my amongst my slowest grower. It produces just over a leaf a year and at this rate will take forever to grow big.
I wish I could share your enthusiasm but the Houllettiana just seems temperamental and if it doesn't flower for years, is it really that spectacular - something I have to ask myself

which is your favourite out of the other 3?

[Keysguy]

I wish I could share your enthusiasm but the Houllettiana just seems temperamental and if it doesn't flower for years, is it really that spectacular - something I have to ask myself

which is your favourite out of the other 3?

You may have a valid point on the houlettiana if it's not going to be a reliable bloomer but when it does bloom I always tell myself it's worth the wait.

I really like this lawrenceae. The colors are pleasing and it's a nice vigorous plant.

[Fairorchids]

Aerides tend to ramble, and throw roots in every direction.

I grow them in Vanda baskes. When first repotted, they cascade over the side, and then do an S-curve to go back upright. They repeat this every time I repot, so they are not 'neat & pretty'.

[Keysguy]

Well, one of the spikes on the quinquevulnera is mostly in bloom now. Although it's a pretty pale pink, it's not the classic look of a quin that I has hoping for. I got this from a reputable South American breeder almost 2 years ago and this is second bloom (3 spikes this year) so I guess the color is the color. I went and looked at their website today and their picture is identical to mine. Don't think they had one at the time I ordered this. I also checked images in OrchidWiz and there is a very diverse array of colorforms of awarded quins including this pale pink.

Below first pic is mine now in bloom and second pic is from the web and more of the classic coloration I was looking for. If anyone knows where there is one of those available, I'd appreciate a heads up.

[SouthPark]

I like the pink one a lot! The other flower from the other photo is very nice too. This is where a collection of different ones is absolutely necessary hehehe. It really is like collecting those different colour jelly beans!

[smweaver]

Excellent aerides species. I don't have quinquevulnera, but I know that both odorata and falcata (var houlletiana?) have excellent fragrance. My odorata blooms reliably in the spring and summer months, but my falcata was a "shy bloomer" for a couple of years until I experimented by giving it a cool and dryish winter rest. It has since flowered every spring for me for a couple of years. I especially like its lemony scent. Congratulations on your plants and blooms. They're quite lovely.