For you to be updated. They have been doing there thing all winter, and cheering us up through the cold and snow. Here it is spring again and they are still growing and making the most of their otherwise insignificant lives. I for one am glad they are a part of our lives and our home. They bring so much peace and joy to our little home environment, that I can't just ignore them and not shine the spotlight on them once in a while.
The last time I updated you, four of my Phalaenopsis Orchids were blooming strong while another was pushing up a nice bloom spike. While some of those are starting to head the other way, dropping a flower or two, one of them is just starting to open flower buds.
I forgot how pretty this Orchid was. It's mainly purple, but the purple color is splotchy like it was watercolor painted or something like that. The dots of purple along the outer edge are random and uniquely different from flower to flower. If you take a look at the buds (see above and below) they are sort of telling of the fact that these were going to look like this. The buds are light green and spotted with a dark, rich burgundy color. Now it is no surprise, but I was surprised because I could not remember this little hint.
The dabs of yellow along the center of the flower is a cool touch too!
The time has come to say goodbye to the three pretty Dendrobium flowers we enjoyed for the last several months. Everything has a beginning and everything has an end. Sad to say that the end is near for these beauties. I noticed a few days ago that they were starting to wilt. I knew then that it was only a matter of time before I would find them lying on the counter.
They haven't dropped off just yet.. But it is only a matter of time. Once these girls decide to start wilting and fading, they drop off pretty quickly. It will be a good wait now for new flowers. Although some Dendrobiums may bloom all year round, this one will only bloom about twice per year. We were told this by the Orchid expert from who we purchased the plant.
If you take a closer look at the plant above and below, you will notice something. You will notice that some of the stalks have leaves, while others do not. After the stalk is done producing leaves, and they drop off, only then will a flower spike appear at the tip of that stalk. Each stalk will produce only one flower spike, containing approximately two to four flowers. After the spike is done blooming, that stalk will not bloom again. They remain leafless and green for some time, then eventually die back themselves and the cycle is complete.
There where five more Phal Orchids still left to repot. I just didn't have any of those fancy glass pots to use. I hunted around for what seemed like forever, then eventually found exactly five pots for sale on eBay. The seller packaged them up nicely and sent them off to us here in New Jersey, clear from the sunny state of California. With free shipping, I picked them up for $5.50 USD each. Not a bad price in my opinion.
My wife and I went to the local hardware store and bought two large bags of reddish-black lava rock. When you open the bag and dump it all out, it is quite dirty. It takes a few minutes to wash and tumble it, but the step is well worth it.
Below is the empty bag in case you are wondering what brand I use. A bag runs roughly $8.00 USD and fills three pots (6"x6").
We like the way the rocks look in the clear glass pots.. And they hold and release water beautifully. As you can see below the roots are nice and green, the humidity is elevated at a micro level, and the roots are NOT submerged in water which promotes rot and can harm the plant.
My wife pretty much repotted them all herself while I was working on cleaning rocks and messing with other plants. About an hour later all five Orchids had a new pot. It's been a few weeks since we finished the project, and the plants are loving there new glass homes. The slightly wilted plants have even perked up and look healthy again.
BEFORE
AFTER
Pepper's Sympathy Orchid is just now beginning to show signs of wilting and dropping those gorgeous blooms. The first buds opened around December 28th, 2021 .. OVER FOUR MONTHS AGO!!! How wonderful was that?! We had these blooms for a long, long time. What a show!
Two bloom stems as well, so this poor girl needs a rest and some pampering after all that blooming. And that is what she'll get.
“She is a fantasy
Her soul roar like a lion
Her mind blooms like a flower
Her heart is fierce like a tiger
She is a magic that happens in a cruel world.”
― sophieya
A place for people who Love Orchids!
