My Orchids Journal

I have been growing orchids since my early teens and I am still a devoted disciple of this magical group of plants. This blog borne out of a desire to share some of this magic.

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Embreea rodigasiana

Huge flowers, mysterious heavy scent reminiscent of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, dramatic color and structure of the blooms and a very close relative of stanhopea’s - this is embreea rodigasiana. Until 1980’s it was part of stanhopea’s range and then been re-classified in the specie of it’s own. This one is not an easy orchid to bring to flower - it demands huge amount of water during it’s growing cycle and strongly dislike change of temperature, making it really difficult during our winter time to look after it properly. If it’s growing requirements not met completely  it just refusing to flower - a lot to do with it’s natural habitat of hot, misty, clouded forests of  Colombia and Ecuador. I am forever learning with this one, trying to find the best conditions for it’s growing and blooming cycle, don’t mind the challenge because the rewards are huge - seeing this dramatic looking orchid in bloom and smelling it’s mysterious scent I can more appreciate Nature for creating such beauty.

Essence of Stanhopea

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Sharing about the genus Stanhopea, by a serious Stanhopea enthusiast in Sydney, Australia - my friend and fellow orchid grower and collector.

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Cattleya’s in flower - NOID

Finally, after long hot, humid and dry summer some of my cattleya orchids started flowering. These one’s been given to me by friends when they stopped blooming, so I have no idea of they’re names. They turned out beautiful orchids with colorful, special blooms and so welcome in my ever expanding collection.

My Orchids Journal

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Dendrobium orchid Yellow Star 

Our weather here been very hot and humid for a while now and most of my orchids in a kind of in-between flowering stage. Most of my time take up with general maintenance and trying to keep water to the one’s that need it. This beautiful orchid decided to flower now, a bit earlier than expected, and it flowers with these special colorful blooms.  It's very easy to grow and I love seeing it's blooms every season.

My Orchids Journal

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SIGMUND FREUD QUOTE

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Oscar Wilde quotes

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Happy New Year!

May all of your dreams come through!

My Orchids Journal

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Zygopetalum “Blue Caribou”

This beautiful zygo in flower at the moment, nice colours and heavenly scent. 

My Orchids Journal

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Notes - Orchids Glass Paperweights

Glass paperweights according to some art historians were first made in Europe, probably in Venice in late 15th century. Some of the earlier examples were made in France in about 1750’s and in England in early 1800’s. The period from 1840 to 1860 is often referred to as the Classical Period of paperweight production. This was the time when the great French glassworks at Clichy, Baccarat, and St. Louis led the world with the quality and creativity of their paperweights. Other countries followed their lead, and in the USA two major paperweight manufacturers were the New England Glass Company and the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company.

Another important technique of making paperweights is by creating flowers, fish, animals, insects, etc. using lampworking techniques, and encasing these miniature items in a globe of glass, so creating a little artificial world trapped in a ball of glass. Today's contemporary paperweight makers are producing some truly stunning creations, rivalling anything ever produced in the world. There are miniature botanical fantasy worlds made by master glassmakers and studios .

Me, being partial to orchids always on lookout for special glass creations that showcasing orchids and their beauty. Here some stunning images of orchids paperweights - 

My Orchids Journal

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Sarcochilus orchids

These little beauties native to Australia and New Caledonia and really like hot, humid weather. They have short steams, only a few leaves and plenty of flowers on short inflorescences. There are currently about 15 species and all of them doing really well on our hot summer with colours of white, pinks, yellow and red. There are also many hybrids currently been developed by Australian breeders. They don’t like full sun or direct sunlight and prefer hot, humid position with good air movement. In nature most of them grow in the rocks and form clumps, showing masses of tiny, beautifully formed blooms. All of my sarcochilus orchids grow outside in the shade, exposed to all elements and being Australian native’s they don’t need any special care,  just occasional shower or watering.

 In cooler climate they can grow in the windowsill and would appreciate frequent misting to increase humidity. They are beautiful, easy orchids to grow that reward with masses of special blooms.

My Orchids Journal

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Dendrobium Sweetie (nobile)

This orchid flowering at the moment - masses of flowers and very nice sweet scent. Blooms last a long time, showcasing this beauty in full.

My Orchids Journal

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Docktrillia orchids - known as “pencil orchids”

My doctrillia’s orchids flowering now, they are fascinating species native to eastern Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. They grow in in rain forests in the situations where they can get bright light and high humidity.

They have long, pendulous leaves and thin stems and very popular in cultivation because they very easy to grow, displaying masses of beautifully sculptured perfumed flowers. There are about 30 species in this genus with 18 of them found in Australia, with plenty of colour variations to suit any taste.

They are very easy to grow and once established not fussy, flowering almost continually from our early spring until late summer. Mine are growing outside exposed to all elements.

My Orchids Journal

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Pink Rock Orchid - Thelychiton kingianus (formerly Dendrobium kingianum)

Some of my dendrobium orchids started it’s seasonal flowering and the first one is always  Pink Rock Orchid. It’s one of the easiest orchids to grow and always rewards with small, fragrant colourful blooms. It’s Australian native and very hardy, can withstand extreme temperatures and adapted to various weather conditions. Pink Rock Orchid occurs from the coast to nearby ranges between the Hunter River in NSW and Rockhampton in QLD  where it usually grows on rock in forest and woodland. It likes bright light, plenty of water during growing time, good ventilation and very occasional feeding  - other than that it’s not fussy and producing brilliantly coloured flowers year after year. In nature it grows on branches of trees or on rocks but can easily grow on windowsill with plenty of light.

My Orchids Journal

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Notes - Orchid Mantis - Master of Disguise

In the fascinated world of orchids many interesting things and one of them is Orchid Mantis. This insect is native to tropical rain forests of Malaysia and it’s one of the world’s unusual and selective hunters. “Bug Lab: Little Bugs, Super Powers” was an recent exhibition in Melbourne  and Orchid Mantis was one of the insects it’s featured. What Australian scientists learned about these surprisingly uncommon creatures is that instead of hiding within petals, ambushing bees and flies, they have become finely adapted for camouflage, mimicking parts of the orchid flower in an extraordinary display of predatory behaviour. In fact it’s killer moves are now described as “pure ninja stealth” and scientists believe the insect is even better at catching pollinators than orchids themselves. The Orchid Mantis is highlighted in the exhibition because of its deceptive imitation of the texture and colour of the orchid’s petals.It remains completely still as it camouflages itself, only rotating its head to suss its surroundings. Scientists call it an “aggressive mimicry”. What an interesting creation of Nature to ensure pollination of orchids in the tropical rain forests of  Southeast Asia. Here is the video showing this Master of Disguise in action

My Orchids Journal

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Some of my flowering phal’s

Most of my Phalaenopsis orchids in bloom at the moment, showing their many colors and textures and some with scents. They will flower for a few months and it’s nice to welcome their new flowering season.

My Orchids Journal

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Oscar Wilde quotes...

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