Orchid of the day: Paphiopedilum dianthum

Paphiopedilum dianthum

This orchid began flowering sooner than expected! I felt I had only recently posted about it but when I looked back, the post was dated July 28, 2014. It had been five months but it would appear that this orchid is happy and decided to flower quite so soon. Just a brief refresher for those interested, Paphiopedilum dianthum is native to Southwestern China and Northern Vietnam, where the forest is semi-deciduous, evergreen with mossy wet areas.

A) Due to the unexpected speed of growth, by December 14th, the flower stem had three buds. 

B) The three buds up close.

C) By January 18th, the buds had almost fully developed.

D) A more detailed photo of the three flowers on January 18th, 2015.

E) A side-by-side comparison of the flowers, Jan 18th (left) and Jan 25th (right). Notice that all of the side petals are fully spiral in shape (right).

F) The full status of our Paphiopedilum dianthun today. All blooms are fully opened on January 25th, 2015.

G) Arne wanted me to mention that the horizontal spread, i.e. the length from the left side of the flower to the right side is 15 cm.

H) I thought it would be interesting to see the contrast before the flowers bloom on Dec. 14th, 2014 (left) and the final product today (right).

I hope you enjoyed the photos and my post today. Again I must say, this is one of my favorite orchids. The unique shape and hue makes it very exotic.

Orchid of the day: Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket

Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket

I posted about Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket on August 11, 2014. These flowers developed sooner than expected. The orchid appears to be doing well and this could be the reason for the early flowers.

A) Nov 19th, we noticed one flower stem developing with two flower buds.

B) A close up of the flower buds.

C) By Jan 19th, almost 2 months later, the flowers were completely opened.

D) A close up of one of the flower.

E) Side profile of the flowers.

F) It never ceases to amaze me how these orchids can thrive on a single piece of bark.

From my post August 11th, 2014, I introduced Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket as a primary hybrid. A cross between Rhycholaelia digbyana (syn. Brassavola digbyana) and Brassavola nodosa (Lady of the Night). We actually have a Brassavola nodosa, which we thought would NEVER flower. 

G) Notice how green and lush the entire orchid looks. Pity, only one flower this time.

Arne called the Brassavola nodosa 'vegetative' and wanted to throw it away because he had it for three years without any flowers. But I convinced him to keep the orchid because it is so healthy. Well, it finally flowered, well, only one flower! A beautiful single flower.

H) A close up of the Brassavola nodosa flower. I hope Arne keeps it...I think it is pretty.