Orchid of the day: Angraecum sesquipedale

Angraecum sesquipedale

Once again, our orchid which is twelve years old, flowered in late December and early January, nicknamed the 'Star of Bethlehem'. This is the first time our orchid produced seven flowers. One inflourescence produced four and the other three. My first post of this orchid was in January 27, 2014. Then it only had one inflourescence with two flowers. I was impressed then, but look at it now!

(A) Only four flowers were fully opened here. You can see one bud in the upper left, between the two flowers. 

(B) A close up of one flower. Endemic orchid to Madagascar.

(C) Arne proudly showing off his twelve years old Angraecum sesquipedale. Amazing spurs!

Below is a series of pictures taken over time to show how the flowers developed from buds to flowers under the light in our basement. Sadly I could catcha picture with all seven flowers fully opened at the same time.

I hope when the opportunity arises, we can take our Angraecum sesquipedale for judging at the American Orchid Society, in Washington D.C. Timing is very important!

Until next time, have a great day everyone!

Khairul Bariah

Orchid of the day: Eurychone rothschildiana

Eurychone rothschildiana

Our Eurychone rothschildiana to share today, for my much delayed post. It has been a very busy period for me and I hope I will be more consistent with posting our orchids in bloom again. Please enjoy this African beauty.

(A) I love the apple green hue of each flower. Here only one flower is fully opened.

(B) This time around the flowers are creeping from the base of the plant.

(C) Arne had repotted this orchid and this may explained why the flowers appear to be low to the base of the orchid. The roots are creeping outwards, always a good indication!

Until my next post. Have a great day!

Khairul Bariah

Orchid of the day: Phalaenopsis lindenii

Phalaenopsis lindenii

 

Our Phalaenopsis lindenii is almost ten years old now. This native of the island of Luzon in the Philippines, is in the endangered list due to deforestation. Arne has been very satisfied with how this orchid has grown under his care. This is my 6th post about our Phalaenopsis lindenii.

In my two earlier posts, September 8, 2014, and September 20, 2015, there is a healthy looking fern that had attached itself to the top of the cork bark. I thought it looked lovely but Arne didn't think this was such a good idea. You see, the spores from this fern would spread and will settle on our other orchids. It may look lovely, but we don't want it to be a parasitic infestation. Arne had worked really hard over the last couple of years, and he had succeeded in removing the fern from this bark.

(A) In 2016 with fern still attached to the cork bark.

(B) A closer view of our Phalaenopsis lindenii in August 2020.

(C) Six opened flowers and seven buds.

(D) A delicate flower with yellow ochre speckles in the center of the lip. 

(E) Although the flowers are always appreciated, I find the varigated pattern on the leaves very beautiful.

(F) As of January 5, 2021, the stem has carried 21 flowers since August this year including the very last flower.

Amazingly, this orchid still has that very last flower!

Until my next post, please take care.

Khairul Bariah

Orchid of the day: Tuberolabium kotoense var. alba

Tuberolabium kotoense var. alba

This orchid is a native of Taiwan and grows well mounted with sufficient humidity. In our case, it is mounted on a piece of cork, draped in live Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), which creates a humid microclimate around the orchid. Arne bought this orchid from a well established orchid culturist in 2018. The flower stem holds numerous small pleasantly fragrant flowers which are surprisingly pure white and this would suggest that we have the alba form of this species.

(A) Staying humid, craddled in a nest of Spanish moss.

I checked the internet for images of Tuberlabium kotoense flowers, and sure enough, almost all flowers were white with purple color in the center on the lips. To confirm whether this is indeed an alba form, Arne reached out to the company and it was a pleasant surprise for them! We were lucky enough to obtain a rare alba variety of their Tuberlabium kotoense! 

(B) Bright and white flowers.

(C) A closer look.

(D) Although this orchid is doing well in our care, this is not an easy orchid to culture. New orchid enthusiasts, you have been warned.

Until my next post, to a brighter 2021 and stay safe.

Khairul Bariah

Orchid of the day: Angraecum didieri

Angraecum didieri

Angraecum didieri is a small epiphyte from Madagascar with disproportionately large white starry flowers. It has a pronounced stem with short leathery leaves and the single flowers are produced from the leaf axils. Because this is a slow growing plant and only one flower is produced at a time, it will take some years before a plant will bloom with more than one flower.

This species is easy to grow as long as the roots are allowed to breath properly, which is easiest achieved if the plants are mounted. Even so, the plants seem to prefer to be on the drier side. The plant has silvery warty roots which grow fast when the plant is healthy.

(A) The flower was blooming for a little more than four weeks, from November through early December.

(B) The silvery roots 'dangling' in the air, as the orchid is mounted on the cork.

(C) The spur, which is about 15 cm, is quite long. This is the twirly white structure behind the flower.

(D) A view of the extended spur from above.

(E) A beautiful white flower.

Until my next post, I hope you enjoyed our Angraceum didieri.

Khairul Bariah

Orchid of the day: Vanda Stephen Scott Young

Vanda Stephen Scott Young

(A) Individual flower with its clear purple lip.

This primary hybrid betwee V. tessellata and V. testacea, was recently registered as late as 2015, and named after the artist Stephen Scott Young.

(B) The orchid including the extended aerial roots.

(C) In contrast to the photo above (B), this was it looked like in 2017.

(C) Nine beautiful flowers this year.

(D) Enjoying the late Summer sun in August. There are no more flowers left today. Hopefully the same next year.

I'll be back with my next post shortly.

Khairul Bariah

Orchid of the day: Schoenorchis fragrans

Schoenorchis fragrans

Schoenorchis fragrans, also called The Fragrant Schoenorchis, is distributed in subtropical areas such as northeastern India, and southeast Asia such as Thailand, is the smallest vandaceous orchid. It grows in semi-evergreen forests at an altitude of 600-1200 meters. I've shared our Schoenorchis fragrans afew times before as far back as July 2015. Then it was quite small, about the size of a quarter and had about fifteen flowers. Today we believe we have around one hundred flowers! 

(A) The flowers have arranged themselves to give the appearance of a heart.

(B) Our Anthony, quietly posing with our orchid.

(C) Arne attached this orchid to a much large cork so it could grow and spread happily. Clearly doing well by blessing us with many flowers this year.

(D) Anthony with our Schoenorchis fragrans in 2015. The orchid was just as big as his nose then.

(E) A brief moment in our garden, next to our Spanish moss.

(F) A final look of our miniature vandaceous orchid. Until next year.

Another post coming soon. I hope you enjoyed our tiny Schoenorchis fragrans.

Khairul Bariah