Orchid of the day: Aerangis fastuosa

Aerangis fastuosa

This miniature angraecoid is a native of Madagascar. A regular bloomer in our care over the last five years (post from March 25,  2018). This year, our orchid produced 2 flowers stem with a total of eight flowers. The flowers are still blooming today. Although the orchid is more floriferous this year, it was harder for individual flowers to fully open and exhibit their beauty.

A) Briefly enjoying the April weather, out on our front porch for this photo shoot.

B) At this time only six flowers were fully opened.

Arne went to the Maryland Orchid Society on Thursday, April 25th and placed this orchid on the show table. I noticed before he left, this orchid emitted a very strong scent, which is a very known characteristic of Aerangis fastuosa. We thought, it might have been triggered by the darkness as we placed it in a box before putting it in the car. This is one of the orchids of Madagascar, that requires a particular species of moth to pollinate it in the night. Once you smell the fragrance, you will understand!

C) On the orchid show table, April 25th, 2019.

We are happy to announce that our Aerangis fastuosa won first prize among miniature orchid that evening. It was very nice and hopefully this will be a good incentive for Arne to take this orchid for judging at the national level when he gets the opportunity.

Orchid of the day: Leptotes bicolor 'Khairul Bariah'

Leptotes bicolor 'Khairul Bariah'

Leptotes bicolor is Arne's oldest and very first orchid in the US. He acquired the plant within a week after he arrived in Baton Rouge from Sweden in September 2000. Based on his previous experience with this species back in Sweden, he decided to mount it on a piece of bark immediately after it arrived. It didn’t have much time to adjust to the conditions in Louisiana before we had to move to Baltimore, eight months later. 

Upon arriving to Baltimore, this little orchid had to adjust to a few more moves between different apartments and finally in 2007, to our permanent home. We dragged the little Leptotes with us all the time and maybe, if we had settled earlier,  it could have grown into specimen size quicker.

The plant grew dramatically during 2014 and produced a cascade of 56 flowers in spring of 2015 when it received a Certificate of Cultural Merit (CCM). Arne gave it the clonal name after me.  This year I believe it has about 75 flowers. Leptotes bicolor grows in bright light but does not tolerate direct sunlight during summer.

From June till the end of September Arne has it hanging outdoors where it gets water every day. It spends the rest of the year in an east facing window and can be kept drier with watering every two-three days from November until the flower buds emerge in February – March

A) March 16, 2019

B) Profile on March 16, 2019

C) March 21, 2019

Today April 21st, the last flower has dropped. Until my next post, Happy Easter everyone!