In The Orchid House With Amy

New Orchid

2012-03-09T04:03:00.000-06:00

Doesn't the color just scream Spring?

New Noid Phal. Orchid

New Portable Greenhouse

2012-03-03T05:24:00.000-06:00

I have begged my husband to build a greenhouse for several years and he finally came up with a solution. We live in a leased home and plan to make a big move closer to his job in a few years, so his solution is a portable greenhouse. He put down cement pavers for a foundation so I can easily wet it down in the summer. We have also added misters, and shade cloth as it gets over 100 most summers in Dallas. With the misters running I can bring the temperature down to about 80. I have moved about 50 orchids into the greenhouse and figure I can squeeze about 20 more if I utilize the bottom shelves or hang some mounted orchids. At any rate I am enjoying being outdoors and tinkering around with my orchids and I know the husband and children are thrilled that the orchids are no longer sitting all over the house.

My Boys Building The Greenhouse

It Took About An Hour To Complete "Ignore The Fence Thats About To Fall Down, That's Our Next Project"

We Decided To Go Ahead And Add A Shade Cloth As Even At This Time Of Year The Sun Is Very Strong In Our Back Yard

The Orchids And I Are Very Happy With The Results

New Orchid Brassavola Little Stars

2012-02-26T13:20:00.005-06:00

I went to buy some orchid pots for my seedlings and ended up buying a new orchid. Don't you just love it when that happens? I have read this orchid is fragrant at night and can have over six flowers on a spike.

Brassavola Little Stars

Growing Vandas In Jars

2012-02-19T07:48:00.000-06:00

I have two Vandas that do not seem to enjoy their pots. I have been reading many posts that say indeed you can grow Vandas in a jar or vase so I thought I would try it out with these plants. I will keep you updated on how they respond to growing this way although from my reading it sounds as if many do very well.

New Growth In Amys Orchid House

2012-02-12T08:02:00.000-06:00

I have several Orchids that are showing new growth of some type or another and it makes me so happy as the growing process is what I enjoy the most.

Paph. Magic Cherry x Hsinying Web has been growing this new fan for several months now. I was very worried about this orchid recovering as it was damaged by a Tornado that came through my backyard last summer. I enjoy this orchid so much as when it blooms it is nearly black.

Den. Wainae Profusion "My Droopy Den." has a new cane growing this orchid was also damaged by the Tornado and I had feared it would die as it has been droopy ever since the storm threw it from my yard to my neighbors yard.

Noid Oncidium has new growth but I am not sure if it is a root or a spike at any rate this was a rescue orchid from a neighbor and I can't wait until it is healthy enough to bloom again.

I have several Phalaenopsis Bellina that are growing new leaves.

Vanda Luzonica has new growth which I am thinking may be a root but I guess we will wait and see.

Attention Fellow Orchid Bloggers

2012-02-07T10:04:00.002-06:00

I have read on several sites that Google Friend Connect is going away March first for non Google platforms. Others are turning to a new tool called Linky Followers so I figured I would try it out, and so far I really like it. I feel alone though as I'm the only orchid blogger on there. What are you waiting for? Follow me below this post and get a Linky Follower Tool for your blog also. Happy Growing. Amy :)

Follow Me On Linky Followers

Peloric or Neglected?

2012-02-05T06:11:00.000-06:00

I have been reading about bloom problems in orchids as my Phal. Melody Blush only had one normal bloom the rest only opened partially or not at all. While reading I came across Peloric Orchids and it seems the definition is, an unusual and often beautiful (sometimes grotesque) condition where all three petals (instead of just one) attempt to fashion themselves into lip colors and/or shapes. Pe*lo"ric, a. (Bot.) Abnormally regular or symmetrical - - Darwin. I am trying to figure out if my Phal. Blush Melody has bloomed peloric or if it is just a symptom of neglect as I have been very sick for the last week and the orchids did not receive normal care.

New Growth On Phalaenopsis Gigantea

2012-02-03T10:40:00.000-06:00

My little Phalaenopsis Gigantea is growing a new leaf and several new roots. I read an article from Big Leaf Orchids that said they do better when grown on their side to prevent crown rot. It looks as if this is true as this little orchid only had two leaves and two tiny roots when I bought it.

Upcoming Local Meetings

2012-01-23T05:58:00.001-06:00

GNTOS Meeting (Dallas)
When
Sunday, Feb 5, 2012
Where
7700 Northaven Rd Dallas, TX 75230
Description
Meeting Starts at 2.30pm with Orchids 101, then Regular Program.

Fort Worth OS Monthly Meeting
When
Monday, Feb 6, 2012
Where
3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, TX
Description
Meeting Starts at 7:00pm

Phal. Melody Blush

2012-01-20T05:42:00.001-06:00

I enjoy this little Phal. so much it blooms every year like clockwork.

60th Annual Pacific Orchid Exposition

2012-01-18T05:59:00.004-06:00

How fun would this be?

60th Annual Pacific Orchid Exposition Presents "A Salute to the Golden Gate"

Location: Fort Mason, Festival Pavilion
Date/Time:
Thurs, February 23 (Gala Benefit) - 6:30pm - 10:00pm
Fri, February 24 - 10am - 6pm
Sat, February 25 - 9am - 6pm
Sun, February 26 - 10am - 5pm

For More Information Visit The San Francisco Orchid Society Website

Orchids and Broccoli

2012-01-15T08:40:00.000-06:00

I Love this time of year when the Phals start spiking and budding.

Phal Orchid Spiking

Phal Orchid Budding

I also have several tiny Phal and Catt Orchids growing. How cute are they?

We had a very hot summer in Dallas and my entire garden died. I threw a Broccoli Plant into a corner of the yard and it has started growing again. :)

My First Wholesale Order

2011-12-25T18:13:00.000-06:00

I figured I would start the new year off with my first wholesale order. I hope to be able to have a small plant sale sometime next year so I ordered a few plants I knew I could make bloom.

Cattleya aurantiaca v. aurea x self

Phalaenopsis tetraspis

Cattleya lueddemannianan 'Stanley's' x self

Phalaenopsis bellina

The Roses are blooming, the Orchids are spiking, and I'm smiling!

2011-12-07T12:30:00.000-06:00

Even though the weather is a chilly 30 degrees in Dallas my Roses are still in bloom which makes me smile.

I also have several Orchids that are in spike and will post pictures of them once they are in full flower.

New Orchid :)

2011-10-16T12:49:00.000-05:00

I fell in love with the color of this one!

Blc. Sharon King 'Yuki'

Orchid Closet

2011-10-09T08:42:00.000-05:00

While I love my Orchids, they drive my husband up the wall as they take over the house in the winter months. If he would build me a greenhouse life would be much simpler "hint, hint." At any rate he has decided that the shelf I usually winter them on in the dining room is not allowed this year. I have seen many people use a closet for a home office but I don't need an office, I need orchid space thus I have made an Orchid Closet!

Prepping the closet was the easiest part "it was already clutter free."

The shelf however did not corporate and had to be disassembled and reassembled in the closet."Thanks honey for doing that for me!"

Then the lighting was an issue as I usually hang it above the shelf but have decided to prop it next to the shelf since I didn't want to ask the hubs to do anything else.

I am happy with the finished Orchid Closet and I know the family will be as well because they can now use the dining room free of Orchids for the Holidays. :)

Three New Orchids

2011-09-30T11:37:00.000-05:00

It's fall in Dallas and I once again have the Orchid Bug. The first is one I have wanted for a long time and I'm so excited to add it to my shelf.

VANDA Luzonica

The second I bought because I love the color.

RHYNCHOSTYLIS Gigantea (red form)

And last but not least I bought the third one for two reasons I love the color and I love the fact that it is so large. You know what they say in Texas "Go big or go home" :)

PHALAENOPSIS Gigantea

New Growth Paph. Magic Cherry x Hsinying Web

2011-09-14T12:34:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite orchids. It took a beating with the last small Tornado that came through Dallas. So I was very surprised to see new growth on the little guy.

Lc Bonanza Queen x Bl Richard Mueller

2011-08-27T18:43:00.000-05:00

I have enjoyed this orchid so much! It was a rescue and has two blooms as of today. :)

Finally Something Is Blooming

2011-08-24T05:53:00.000-05:00

Lc Bonanza Queen x Bl Richard Mueller

Droopy Den. And The Giant Leopard Moth

2011-08-18T15:05:00.000-05:00

I suspect my poor Den. has succumbed to the heat. The roots are still good and it doesn't have yellow leaves it is just droopy and rather sad looking.

I also spotted this Giant Leopard Moth visiting the Orchids today I wonder if he pollinates?

Cattleya Orchid In Spike

2011-08-14T08:19:00.000-05:00

This plant was a rescue and has never bloomed so I am very excited. The tag is very faded but seems to read Lc Bonanza Queen x Bl Richard Mueller.

Dividing, Repotting, and Spiking

2011-08-07T08:09:00.000-05:00

I finally got around to dividing and repotting a few orchids this week. With school just around the corner I figured I had better get it all done now. My Odbrs. Fangtastic Bob Henley had been in the same pot for about three years and has developed several new growths enough in fact to divide it into three plants.

This Noid Catt has been in the same pot for two years and was divided into two plants.

I love this Epi Randii even though it has never bloomed as it was a near death rescue plant. It had enough new growth to divide into two plants.

This Den. Wainae Profusion is one of my favorite plants and has bloomed year after year but was growing out of its small pot I have divided it into two plants.

While repotting I spotted a small Catt. in spike despite of the heat wave that we are going through in Dallas. Keep your fingers crossed that it will result in a bloom or two. :)

Hot Plants

2011-08-02T18:19:00.000-05:00

With no end in sight to the heat wave in Dallas I was planning to move all my plants indoors until they started calling for rolling blackouts. It seems to heat up faster indoors so for now most of the plants are hanging out in the gazebo with misters running from noon till dark. I hope my Orchids make it through this heat wave as I would hate to loose any of them.

Books: Orchids Of Texas

2011-07-28T05:14:00.005-05:00

Field Guide to the Wild Orchids of Texas is an interesting book complete with histories and photographs of orchids native to Texas.

Wild Orchids of Texas is a wonderfully written book covering wild orchids in Texas.

Rare Plants of Texas: A Field Guide of endangered or declining plants and their habitats.