THRIPS! South Florida Alert!

Now that the temperature is getting warmer and the air is still relatively dry, thrips will be everywhere.

If you have Vandaceous plants, you will need to spray for thrips.  Whatever your choice of spray, PROTECT yourself.

I have been told that thrips can damage other orchids also.  However, I have never noticed this to be a problem with my other orchids.  However, I do get bud blast on dendrobiums occassionally.  But there is so many possible causes of this that I am not sure if the thrips are to blame.  Maybe with all of my Vandas, the thrips are just not interested in the other orchids.  However, I do spray them all.

Cattleya Skinneri – National Flower of Costa Rica

The flowers displayed are C Skinneri coerulea X C Skinneri alba, as far as I can tell, an unregistered hybrid. In nature this orchid grows mainly in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, southeast part of Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. They usually grow in wet mountain forests. These orchids like strong winter light and good air movement all of the time. From late spring through autumn, these plants like lots of water, but they should always dry out quickly. During the winter months, they can be watered less. Fertilizer should also be reduced or even eliminated during the winter months. If you grow these orchids outdoors in Florida, root rot is a primary danger, particularly if you have the plant in a pot with some type of media. Many people grow these orchids in pots or baskets with a very coarse, open, fast draining media. Many growers will use a coarse grade fir-bark. If you grow in South Florida and your plants get rainfall, I would recommend mounting these orchids in a basket with little or no media. The downside to this method is that during very hot, dry weather, you may have to water more than once each day. I have actually found that from the beginning of spring through May in South Florida is the time of the year that one must be careful of the plant becoming too dry. During about two and one-half months, one may need to water thoroughly in the morning and again before noon. These plants most often bloom between February and June. It appears that there is some confusion over names, since some identify these plants as Cattleya deckeri while others say that C deckeri is a different plant – possibly a separate natural hybrid. I happen to own a plant that the seller labeled as C deckeri. My C deckeri looks very similar to the C Skinneri coerulea X C Skinneri alba except it always blooms EARLIER, usually in January.

"Florida Orchid Growing - Month by Month" by Martin Motes

If you grow orchids in Florida, you need to have the book "Florida Orchid Growing - Month to Month" by Martin Motes.  It is the best practical resource for growing orchids in South Florida.  Rather than vague, general advice designed for no where and no one, it has specific advice that is specific for South Florida!

ORCHID SHOW - MAR 12 - 14, 2010: Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, FL

When: Friday, March 12, 2010 - Sunday, March 14, 2010 from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM


Description: Enjoy Fairchild's 8th Annual International Orchid Festival!

Choose from over 10,000 orchid plants from more than 50 vendors.

Explore the wonder of orchids during one of our many garden workshops and walking tours.

Marvel at rare orchid species in the American Orchid Society juried show, presented by the Orchid Society of Coral Gables.

Visit the new Orchid Tea Room for an energizing spot of tea and dessert.

Enjoy wonderful food and entertainment.

Cattlianthe Newberry Ruby

I bought this plant last year as a less that one year old seedling.  Very unusual that it would bloom this soon, although the bloom is relatively small and the plant only has one bloom..  This is a fairly NEW cross also.  It is a cross between C Precious Stones X Ctt Barefoot Mailman.  The cross was made by Carter and Holmes and was registered by them in 2009.  I have given it standard Cattleya care and I was graced with this beautiful little gem.  It must be easy to grow, because I really do not fuss over my Cattleyas.  I use "benign neglect".   Then the ones that do well, I know they are well adapted to my normal conditions.

PHAL AMABILIS

Phalaenopsis Amabilis is a species that comes from Malaya through Sumatra, Java, and the rest of Indonesia.  It is a very EASY orchid to grow.  It is very adaptable and a robust, reliable bloomer.  While it is hard to see in a single photo, this plant has three spikes and somewhere around 20 blossoms.  Follow the tips that I have given on Phals in other blog postings and you will have good luck with this plant.  Ever heard that white Phals are hard to grow.  Not this one.