Maybe I won't be showing off my orchids, Bill. Gosh, that's a lot of work to get awarded. I never have enough time as it is.

I'll have to look for a photo on my other forum, where a member makes these elaborate wire armature for each bud to lie in while it develops. It reminded me of some of the Japanese gardening tricks with bamboo scaffolding under the specimen trees and shrubs to train the into a specific arrangement.

My first thought was also of Japanese gardening tricks when I read that. Also reminds me of my mother reminding me to always comb my hair and put lipstick on. I'll never be perfect.

I heard of using scotch tape to straighten out some blooms. Heh, I could use occasionally some duct tape.
Seriously now, my Rlc Hawaiian Green Valley x digbyana 'Laura' broke through a very heavy double sheath the other day. The first bloom faced upwards and the second bud was really tight coming out right behind it. I tried to gently guide that first bloom and give the second one some room by opening the sheath just a touch more. I probably could have used a lesson in how to stake a spike in a basket with nothing to anchor it. Long story short, the bloom is still in the wrong orientation and the other half-open bloom is languishing in a small vase on the kitchen window sill. Not my best.....

I can't even get the spikes headed in the right direction, let alone the buds...especially with the Catts.

oh , Ursula...so sad about that accident. At least you can still enjoy it on the windowsill...unlike the whole spike I broke off on my Susan Fender .
I've been using styrofoam peanuts with pretty good results.


A friend of mine cuts egg carton lids into strips with notches on the ends to manipulate her buds during the development phase.

Hmm, something to try.....

Same here, only I use pieces of cork, (wine bottle corks) cut to the right angle, just to hold the flowers apart and up off the leaves, in this case.

Good idea! I like that!

Anybody need wine corks? I have a gillion of them. Anybody need a 140 or a 210 bottle wine cabinet?

I am curious as to what everyone thinks of this plant, a seeding blooming for the first time. As the name tag indicates it is Rlc. Waianae Leopard X Schomburgkia (Myrmecophylia) christinae.


I thought that it was pretty neat! I just like the enclosed lip with the deep raspberry purple swatch down the center and along the side edges and the deep yellow discs in the throat.
There is some reddish spotting apically on the sepals and less on the petals. Flower size was four inches and it is basically colored like a Waianae Leopard. The Rlc. Parent has removed a lot of the ribbon like undulations of the Myr. parent.
Biggest complaint was low flower count. But I thought as a seeding/first time bloomer, it has potential. Plant belonged to Florida Suncoast.

It is nice, but I probably wouldn't pick up an Orchid with this color.

Florida SunCoast has some amazing crosses. Personally, I like the crazier flowers that Myr. can bring to a bloom and I'm with Ursula on this color.

I liked the individual [arts but think the bright white looks too harsh against the petal color.

Well it seems that so many of these hybrids involving Schomburgkia, mean a long spike with flowers resembling the Schomburgkia and not really the other parent. This was different.
Maybe if a solid color Cattleya was used with good substance the resulting flower might be better. I mean the Waianae Leopard is cool and all but not in this instance I suppose.
Thank you for the feed back.

Today I went to the Orchid Species Society of Victoria (OSSV) annual sale. Despite being a sale, they still had a single bench with plants on display. Didn't get photos of all, but did take these:









Also picked up a couple of Cymbidium species seedlings:

Cymbidium hookerianum 'Drouin' X Self (first photo is from the OSCOV Show last year)


Orchid (Cymbidium wadae)

I have noticed that you like Cymbidiums Australis!
But I really lost track of these once I left NYC. But a Grammatocymbidium, that is so cool! You can see the influence of the Grammatophyllum.

While judging there I saw Cymbidium dayanum come to the table a couple of times. It is so pretty.
Also had the pleasure of experiencing a Maxillaria luteograndiflora once. It was a spectacular plant. I must research it and see what we gave it. It was a good sized plant so I am thinking a cultural award of some type.
Not sure of a quality award though. Seeing your images was really neat. Those really triggered some memories, thanks so much!
I don't run into many Cymbidiums down here, not Maxillarias for that matter! Good luck with those babies!!

Thanks Bill Glad you enjoyed the photos. It was the first time I've seen Cym. dayanum and a Grammatocymbidium in bloom in person (I have a seedling of the same Grcym. grex, so I now have a clearer idea of what to expect).

Oops I forgot. Oncidium wyattianum?!! I do not think I have ever seen that species live, just in books. Wow! That is so cool.
Oh my goodness, that is a very dark Paphiopedilum philippinense. At least it seems so. Very nice dorsal with that dark burgundy. The petals are dark and that kind old gold, rich mustard color of the pouch. That seems both dark and richly colored as well!! Thanks again. So neat to see them.

You saw some gorgeous orchid flowers at the show, Joshua.

Last spring/summer, I had some really grand Grcym. Mem. Nathan Newman plants. Their blooms were nice with 18-24 flowers on each stem and the plants were in flower for 8 wk. or more. This is a pretty large plant, around 24" and the stems were about the same height.