Orchid of the day: Paphiopedilum dianthum

Paphiopedilum dianthum

This orchid is definitely growing well in our hands. The last time it flowered was January 25th (see post in January of 2015). Now it flowered again with three flowers. I have a few orchids to feature in the next coming weeks but for now but let me share the photos from our Paphiopedilum dianthum.

A) July 5th, three flower buds were already developing.

B) The buds up close.

C) July 19th, one bud is still waiting to open up.

D) Another close up of the flower. This beautiful slipper orchid with the spiraling petals.

E) July 26th. All three flowers are in full bloom

F) The entire plant from the front

G) The flowers from the back

Orchid of the day: Schoenorchis fragrans

Anthony with Schoenorchis fragrans

A) Schoenorchis fragrans zoomed in July 19th, 2015.

Well, for today's tiny yet beautiful orchid, I let Arne write about the Schoenorchis fragrans. Enjoy the photos and our very sweet model, Anthony. Always assisting with giving the size perspective of our many orchids. He, as always, is very willing.

B) June 18th. Very small flower buds were observed. It is tiny!

B) In the palm of Arne's hand.

C) Well, almost in the 'palm'of Anthony's paw.

"Schoenorchis fragrans is the smallest orchid I have.  I had seen pictures of it and it seemed to be one of those utterly small orchids that still put on a marvelous show of colors when it bloomed.  One day I found a good vendor of orchid species in Montana that offered this orchid so I bought one from them.   In short, this is one of my newest additions to my collection.  It is so new that I don’t even want to take credit for its blossoms because it arrived with two tiny developing flower stems.  I wouldn’t even have seen them if the vendor hadn’t pointed it out.

In the March edition of this year’s AOS orchid bulletin, Thomas Mirenda gives a good introduction to Schoenorchis and the variety within the genus.  In fact, I bought the plant because of his article.  While all of the species within the genus have quite tiny flowers, some are quite large plants with pendulous leaves; others are very small plants with extremely small flowers.  According to me, Schoenorchis fragrans belongs to the cutest group characterized by a miniature fan of fleshy leaves and bunches of flowers that are very colorful and considerably large for the plant.  The name implies fragrance.  I’m still trying to feel the fragrance but it must be very subtle.  Well, no one is perfect! Schoenorchis needs a lot of light and not too much water.  This plant should be in every orchid collection." By Arne.

D) Notice the buds right in the center? About twelve at this time.

E) By July 5th, the flowers were turning light purple in color.

F) At this angle there may even be fourteen flowers.

G) July 19th, all flowers are opened with a mild fragrance.

Simply beautiful miniature orchid blooms with a tinge of bright yellow in the center of each flower.

Orchid of the day: Cattleya Snow Blind 'Kenny'

Cattleya Snow Blind 'Kenny'

It's that time of the year when many of our orchids are resting and slowly developing more buds. I've saved this orchid to post later because we had many orchids flowering at the same time between April, May and June this year. This orchid, which I posted on  May 11th, 2014, was then called Cattleya walkeriana 'Kenny'. But Arne was doubtful already then with what he bought! Upon further reading and research, we are calling it Cattleya Snow Blind 'Kenny'. It's a true hybrid which happens to be a clone called 'Kenny', that received an FCC in the past. Below is a paragraph from Arne expressing his frustration with this particular orchid. He is debating whether or not to keep it or not. In any case, let me share you the beautiful flowers which comes with a faint scent as they bloom.

B) April 26th, 2015. Arne added Spanish moss, Tillandsia usneoides, to the bark and it gave the orchid a more 'dramatic look'.

"I feel tricked right now.  In 2014 I wrote about Cattleya walkeriana ‘Kenny' as being a mystery orchid of unknown origin.  At the time I was convinced it wasn’t a real C. walkeriana for many reasons mainly because of its lack of the typical epiphytic anchorage to a slab of bark.  Now I believe it is all sorted out based on genetic analysis.  In summary, C. Snow Blind is a hybrid between Cattleya Angelwalker and C. walkeriana.  C. Angelwalker is hybrid between C. Little Angel and C. walkeriana and C. Little Angel is a cross between C. loddigesii and C. O'Brieniana.  C. O'Brieniana was supposedly a natural hybrid between C. dolosa and C. loddigessii, first registered in 1890. The species I mentioned last year when I wrote about this orchid are still involved but what I didn’t know was that C. Snow Blind was a result of a series of crosses that started by Jones and Scully in 1959. I like simple orchid species and primary hybrids (between two species only).  I will take good care of C. Snow Blind for now but I may pass it along to an orchid lover that does not mind any hybrids whatever the background might be." by Arne.

B) April 26th, 2015.

C) May 31st, 2015. The flowers lasted a long time.