FRAGRANT Ascocenda Blue Tahourdin

If you like FRAGRANT vandaceous orchids, then Ascocenda Blue Tahourdin is an orchid for you.  While the color is a rather dull grayish purple, it has a very STRONG fragrance and it is very pleasant  -- a very sweet fragrance, strong but not overpowering.

Like many Ascocenda's, this plant likes lots of water and relatively high light.  In the morning, I give this plant direct sun.  But if yours has not been in direct sun, try it gradually to prevent burning.  This plant likes high humidity, particularly in the summer, and can take hot night temperatures.  It also like full doses of fertilizer.  Keep the crown dry at night if at all possible

Look at the bottom photograph at the blossom at the very bottom.  This photograph was taken this morning after a hard rain the night before.  Look closely and you will be able to see a drop of water hanging off of the bottom of the blossom.

One of the things I like about this plant, even more than the blooms, is the way the roots grow.  The roots on this orchid tend to grow out all up and down the plant and sticking straight out and then dangling down at the ends.  It gives the plant a very decorative and asian feel to it.

If you live in Miami, I have some seedlings of this plant that I would be willing to sell.

This orchid is a cross between Ascocenda Karnda X V tessellata.

A Better Identification: Sc. Purpurato-Rex 'Cahiz-Yrygoyen'

This orchid was previously identified on this blog as Blc Tribute X Blc Mem Crispin Rosales.  It was the name that appeared on the tag from the vendor.  While I could not find this cross on OrchidWiz, based upon viewing pictures of the two stated parents, neither of the parents looked anything like this bloom.  It made me suspicious.  Another viewer on the web also felt that this bloom could NOT be Blc Tribute X Blc Mem Crispin Rosales.

So I sent a picture to the vendor.  He also believed that the plant was mislabeled and that the name of the cross is Sc Purpurato-Rex 'Cahiz-Yrygoyen'.  This cross does appear on OrchidWiz but without a picture.  Although, as of the lastest version of OrchidWiz, it does not show this particular cultivar.  When you look up the parents of this newly identified cross, they both have similarities to this bloom.  This identification is much more likely to be correct.

Have you had similar issues with plants that were mislabled from the vendor?

RAINING AND POURING IN MIAMI

Do you grow orchids outdoors in South Florida?

If so, be careful at this time of the year.  Based upon the showers that I have been receiving, it seems like we have definitely entered the "rainy" season.

Orchids like to get wet, but most also like to dry out fast.  With the high humidity and afternoon showers, it is hard to get orchids to dry out before nightfall.

There are a few stategies that you can use to overcome this problem.  If you use fungicides as preventives, now is the time to start your spraying schedule.  I would recommend once a month through September or possibly even October depending upon the weather.

Another strategy, is to mount your orchids with little or no media.  This works great during the rainy season and during the drier winter, especially for orchids that have a growing season in the spring and summer and require a rest during the winter.  The only issue that one may have is during the spring, if we have dry weather, one may need to water more than once per day.  That same is true for the very hottest days in the summer when there is no rain.

Additionally, make sure your orchids are well spaced in an area that gets any breeze that is available.  If possible, one may also want to use a fan if you can find one that is suitable to outdoor use. 

If all else fails, if you have any areas that are covered from rainfall, you may want to move your most sensitive ones undercover.  The biggest downside to this is that they may not receive enough light under these conditions.

As always, be observant, watch your plants so that you can react to changing conditions and reactions.

Rlc Tribute X Rlc Memoria Crispin Rosales - Suprise In My Garden

Orchids can be such a suprise.  I purchased this unregistered cross as a small cutting about three years ago.  At first I had high hopes.  But the plant languished and looked like it was going to die.  But I kept watering it and taking care of it.  Earlier this year, it grew its first new bulbs, two of them.  One of the bulbs developed fast and before long I noticed a flower spike coming out of it.  Well, I was not going to get my hopes up this time.  Most orchids will have their buds open gradually, but the buds on this one showed no signs of opening.  It seemed to be doing nothing.

SUPRISE!  Yesterday afternoon the buds opened right up. 


The flower is very delicate and is tissue paper thin.  It has no fragrance.  The color is mostly a yellowish white.  Of course one can see the big purple lip on each blossom.  I doubt that the flower will last very long since it is so delicate.  Many cattleya will last two or three weeks, but some blooms may last as short as a day depending on the particular genus or hybrid.  With the photograph, I can enjoy it anytime.  In the meantime, this orchid is in my family room brightening my day.  May light shine in your life today!

Awarded Blue Ribbon - Blc Chyong Guu Chaffinch - 'Ta-Hsin' X Ctna Starrlyn 'Kate'

I have posted photos of this plant in bloom in the past.  This is the first time it has bloomed with five flowers.  This plant was awarded a blue ribbon at the recent SFOS monthly meeting.

THE BEAUTY OF GROWING ORCHIDS AS A HOBBY

Orchids have beautiful blooms.  Most anyone who grows orchids as a hobby is going to be primarily interested in getting his orchids to bloom.  Each person wants to enjoy the beauty.

Another beautiful thing about growing orchids for a hobby, like other hobbies, is that it is totally voluntary and discretionary.  One is only controlled by the requirements of the plant and how much effort one wants to put into the hobby.  A hobby orchidist only has his plants as his boss.  There are many different ways to grow orchids and everyone has his own preferences about how to go about it.  My suggestion is that one should listen to everyone.  One person's way may seem wrong to you, but it may be what works for her.  Use what you like and what works for you.  If what you are doing does not work, try something different.  There are many variables that can interact for your success or failure - moisture, light, temperature, nutrients, air movement, etc.  Each person's conditions affect what will work for him. 

My main suggestion.  Be observant.  Watch your plants to see what is happening and what is working and what is not.  If one thing is not working.  Try something else.

Since growing orchids as a hobby is totally discretionary, like all hobbies, one only does is for the enjoyment and beauty.  Those who grow and sell orchids for a vocation need to remember that no one really needs to buy orchids.  They do it for their enjoyment.  So have fun, smile, be nice.  Enlarge the circle, include everyone.  Just as the beauty and the many differences of each and every orchid draws one in and opens your life to the beauty ----- be open to the many differences of all of the orchid growers you encounter.  Enjoy the beauty.  Unlike an orchid, each person has a choice regarding the beauty of their actions.  Be beautiful, just like your orchids!

Blc Chyong Guu Chaffinch 'Ta-Hsin' X Ctna Starrlyn 'Kate'

I have previously posted a picture of this hybrid bloom on this blog.  I have two of these plants and this is the bloom from the second plant.  Amazingly, the blooms look quite different on the two plants. 

I was told regarding the first plant to bloom by someone who should know that the bloom did not look like the hybrid as described.  They implied that the plant may have been mislabeled.  Since I purchased the plant from a local orchid vendor, I thought that I would ask them.  I received the impression that they did not really want to be bothered with the question.  Finally, they did tell me that they had obtained the plant from another vendor at a show that did not want to transport the plant back with them.  They could not verify in any way whether the plant was really what the label claimed.  I have not been able to find any registration of this hybrid. 

Now that the second plant has bloomed and it looks quite different from the first, I wonder if one or both of these plants are mislabeled or whether there really can be this much variation between the appearance of blooms from one plant to another of the same hybrid.  I do like the appearance of this bloom much better than the first one.

This difference in appearance raised a number of questions.  How well do orchid vendors label their plants?  If you did not breed the hybrid, do you have any responsibility for proper representation of exactly what plant you are selling?  Can two plants of the same cross produce quite different blooms?

Does anyone have any experience with this?