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

Orchid of the day: Paphiopedilum dianthum

Paphiopedilum dianthum

Paphiopedilum dianthum can be found in Vietnam, China, and Central Laos. Aside from being known as Slipper Orchids, Paph. dianthum is also called “The Double Flowered Paphiopedilum” as it often has two flowers open concurrently. Mature plants can have up to 5 flowers on a single spike, and in our case, we had three flowers on a single spike. We have had this orchid since 2002, which makes it eighteen years old!

(A) In addition to the three flowers on the first spike, our orchid  produced a second flower spike with a single flower. 

(B) Anthony posed politely next to our Paph. dianthum one sunny afternoon in the Fall.

(C) All four flowers were in full bloom in this photo.

(D) A closer look of a single flower.

(D) I love the shiny 'helmet' shaped lip of this slipper orchid.

(E) With its clear white sepal, its long and twisted lateral petals with hairy warts, the flower's shape is very unique and beautiful.

This is the first time, our Paph. dianthum produced two flower spikes and a total of four flowers. I'll keep any eye on this and hopefully as this orchid continues to grow, we will get more flowers next time.

Khairul Bariah

Orchid of the day: Laelia gouldiana

Laelia gouldiana

Laelia gouldiana, a true Laelia from Mexico. My first post with this orchid was in November 16, 2016. Then it only had a single flower stem, and now there are three. This orchid is a rather easy grower. It needs a lot of water, light and fertilizing from April/May, until the end of September/October. This treatment decreases and seizes when the flowers begin to open. The plant is kept almost dry until the season starts again.

 

(A) Ten flowers blooming now. A brief moment outdoors. 

(B) A closer view of the purple flowers.

(C) In the center, you will see the bright yellow color with red veins of the back of the lip.

(D) Each of the flower stems are about 2 feet high.

(E) Each flower would last for about four weeks before wilting.

I'm still enjoying these beautiful flowers in our basement.

Until my next post, stay safe.

Khairul Bariah Abd Majid

Orchid of the day: Cychnoches warscewiczii

Cychnoches warscewiczii

This is my third post about our Cychnoches warscewiczii, my first post was on December 3, 2017, and the second was on November 21, 2019. This particular upside down (non-resupinate) orchid has three male flowers right now. I find these flowers totally interesting. This orchid is a native of Columbia, which loves lots of water and sun during its growing season. These scented flowers have been blooming for three weeks now.

(A) Out in the sunlight.

B) The column is long, curved, and thin. It bears the pollinia prominently at the tip. That is the reason why this orchid is also called the 'swan orchid'.

C) View from the top of the upside down lip.

(D) Circled in red are secretion of sweet nectar between the nodes on the flower stem.

(E) Each flower has a natural spread of more than 4 inches.

I sincerely hope you enjoyed these flowers as I have. Today, the flowers are showing signs of wilting. Until my next post, take care!

Khairul Bariah

Orchid of the day: Tolumnia Popoki 'Mitzi'

Tolumnia Popoki 'Mitzi'

I haven't been very active these few months but I am back to share some of our orchids now. This is our dependable Tolumnia Popoki 'Mitzi'. These photos were taken in July and two weeks ago Arne divided this orchid into three. I hope you will enjoy the pictures. 

A) The flowers fade in color over time and don't bloom at the same time.

B) Our 'Dancing Ladies', still blooming today.

C) This orchid has done well over the past 10 years. We have had this orchid since 2009.

D) Here you can see the flowers are already faded in comparison the the picture in (B).

Until my next post, which should be soon, again, have a great week.

Orchid of the day: Vanda cristata

Vanda cristata

Arne acquired this plant in February 2018 as a seedling and I posted about it on June 30th, 2019. This compact Vanda comes from the mountainous regions of India and China. It prefers temperate to cool temperatures and so far, in our care, this orchid seems like a very fast growing plant.  In its second year now, and this time with five flowers.  Despite already reaching about 20 cm in height (8 inch) the plant is only about 10 - 15 cm across (4-6 inches) and appears quite compact. Vanda cristata does not like hot temperatures and Arne has kept it indoors during the hot Baltimore summer.

A) Five flowers in June.

B) Orchid roots wrapping the wooden frame.

C) A closer look at the root structure.

D) Dark purple 'batik-like' design on the lips.

Until my next post, be safe and stay sane 😏.

Khairul Bariah

Orchid of the day: Cattleya alaorii

Cattleya alaorii

Cattleya alaorii, commonly known as Laelia alaorii, is a miniature-sized orchid, endemic to an isolated mountain chain near Itabuna, Bahia state, in Brazil. They are found on trees up to 40 metres (130 ft), among the branches with a fair amount of sunlight. This orchid was named after Mr. Alaor Oliveira, who worked at the University of Sao Paulo at Piracicaba. He first collected this species in a field excursion in the late 1960s.

Each growth or pseudo-bulb, produces a single attractive flower which normally remains more or less cup-shaped rather than opens flat. C alaorii is a relatively warm growing species without any rest period and can bloom several times during the year. Arne acquired this plant in March of this year and this is its very first bloom in his care.

A) A single flower this first time.

B) Another orchid that Arne culture on a piece of bark. He does this well.

C) A closer look at the purple stained lip against the surrounding white petals.

Until my next post, please have a safe and pleasant week.

Khairul Bariah