Orchid Addiction

I have recently come to the realization that I am completely addicted to orchids, much to Randy's dismay. LOL... I started off with only two orchids in February and just since then, my collection has now increased to a total of eleven 'chids! Here are some photos below and a little information behind each one. Enjoy!





This beauty above is referred to as a NOID phalaenopsis. Phalaenopsis is the species to which she belongs, but the NOID refers to "no identification". I would love to find her name, but there are so very many hybrid varieties of orchids, that it is quite impossible at times to name a NOID. Her bloom spike is an amazing three feet tall! And here is the bloom up close for you to see:





The next orchid I would like to share with you is a phaius tankervilleae which is known as a terrestrial orchid. Most orchids are epiphytic meaning that they use other plants, commonly trees in their natural habitats, to grow on while gathering their sources of water and nutrients on their own. This beauty, as I said, is terrestrial which basically means "of the earth". She can be planted outside in your garden in the right temperate zones or grown indoors in a container in your generalized, garden variety potting mix.





I have not repotted this little lady just yet, so she is still in the container from the garden center. I measured her off with a yard stick the other night and from rootball to top bloom spike, she stands at three and a half feet tall. She is also commonly referred to as the Nun's Orchid. Here is a close up photo of her blooms.





What I find most interesting about the phaius, is that the front of the petals on the blooms are brown and the backside of the petals are white. Check it out! Pretty cool, huh?





The next beauty in my collection that I'd like to share with you is called a reed-stemmed epidendrum. These particular orchids are quite hardy and very tolerant plants and can even be seen growing outdoors in climate zones in and around California and the southern parts of Florida.





Here we have a close up view of one of her bloom spikes. This particular variety that I have is called the epidendrum ibaguense "pink variant" and she can produce up to forty blooms on one spike! She is also an ever-bloomer, which means she really doesn't stop blooming if kept in the right conditions. How exciting!





The next little jewel I'd like to share with you is actually a rescue mission. LOL... Randy told me that this is HIS orchid, but I am to provide care for it. How about that, huh? LOL... We bought it at Lowe's in one of those netted bags and it was severely dehydrated. I have been nursing it back to health for quite a while now. She doesn't look like much now, but I can't wait for her to grow up! She is doing very well, despite her neglect and when she blooms, it will be something spectacular, because she is a tri-hybrid cattleya orchid.





Next on the agenda is a species of orchid called a dendrobium and unfortunately, she is a NOID as well. I have no clue who she is or what her blooms will look like, because when I bought her, she had finished blooming and was marked down at Home Depot. I thought, why not? She is doing rather well in her new home here and I can see new roots growing inside the pot, so we'll see how she does!





I have two other dendrobiums and this little lady here is called Pegasus Pink. She is in full bloom right now and is even putting out new growth!








I have one other dendrobium to share with you and it makes the third dendrobium species in my collection! It is a hybrid variety which was produced from the two dendrobiums Burana 'Green Star' and 'Pramot'.





She has finished her blooming cycle within the last week, but I am considering putting her on a mount, which would simply be a piece of wood to which she will be harnessed, letting her roots grow aerial. We'll see how adventurous I get and whether or not she'll like her new placement!





Here we have three more NOID phalaenopsis beauties for your enjoyment. Again, I say it's a shame to have them nameless, but I am glad to enjoy their blooms nonetheless!





Her bloom up close:





I had this NOID phalaenopsis sitting on the piano for a while:





And again, here is a close up shot of this one in bloom:





And finally, my last NOID phalaenopsis for you:





This one just finished its first blooming cycle and I trimmed away the old spike. However, she is putting out a second spike, so who knows what may happen? More blooms? She's still kind of young, but she could rebloom!





Now, here we have Miss Nettie Valentine. She is a hybrid variety of the oncidiinae and odontoglossum species of orchids and she is a beauty to behold when in bloom!





She's spent for now, but I am very, very excited! Look at the following pictures and see if you can tell why I'm so excited? Notice anything in particular?





Okay, okay... Here's why I'm excited. She is producing a new pseudobulb which means she's growing! AND she is enjoying her home...





Perhaps, if I am really, really good, the orchid fairy will visit me again. LOL... I came home one evening and found five of these in my collectin in the kitchen windowsill. Randy told me that the orchid fairy must have visited. He said our economy was in such a slump that the toothy fairy had taken a second job as the orchid fairy! He had me cracking up!


I hope you've enjoyed the photos of my growing collection of orchids. I have many now, but I would love to continue learning more about orchids, their habits, habitats and eventually have a small greenhouse or sunroom filled with these beauties!