Since we have a new community for orchid maniacs I think it is a good time to show some of my favourite ones that I own.
For a good start.
I think it is worth mentioning that I have been growing them more intentionally for about 5 or 6 years and one of those you will see is this old too.
Before that I had a few plants, but I had no idea what I am doing, to the point that I cut down all cakes of one of my Dendrobiums after it lost it's leaves thinking it is dead. Now I know it is a stage and those canes will bloom the following season. :p
Only later I started to look online and reading about different types, their requirements and their care. A very helpful was one YouTube channel that I have been following for years and I would like to recommend you -> https://www.youtube.com/c/MissOrchidGirl. Dani has a huge collection and huge knowledge about the plants. Really worth checking (If would be so glorious if she would want to join Hive :p).
Now she is just teasing me with all the plants. Bad bad girl..
Of course I will showcase just the flowers, as this is the most interesting part (most of the time) of the plants. The whole plant I usually show in a post dedicated to a specific one. When that time eventually comes :)
- Dendrobium Kingianum var silcockii
If I had to run away and could grab just 3 orchids with me - this would be one of those :) Small plant that will forgive me if I forget to water it. And it will bloom anyway. Few times a year.
Small flowers with honey fragrance.
- Dendrobium Nobile Spring Dream
This is my oldest orchid and it is 6 years with me if I am not mistaken. And it is a freaking Giant! I have no idea what to do with anymore. I divided it, put in bigger pot and it grows like a weed. The flowers are amazing and smell like spring flowers. On a good season it can open over a 100 blooms in one go. It looks like a giant bouquet :)
- Dendrobium Phal Purple Happiness
It was supposed to be one of the easiest Dendrobiums to grow, but for some reason it doesn't grow well for me. It blooms, but just doesn't look happy and I know she can bloom better.
It is still alive though, so that's good ;)
- Dendrobium stardust chiyomi
This one is currently in bloom. Just like every year in spring. No fragrance, but the yellow flowers in large quantity make smile every time I look at them. It is also a dendobium type that will grow canes, but much slimmer than the regular Nobile type.
Spider mites love this one too unfortunately.
- Epidendrum ibaguense
The only Epidendrum I have and it will stay like this. This weed is as tall as me (I am regular height I would say) now and doesn't want to bloom :P
This was the only time I saw the flowers and just because of the intensive colour and shape I keep this orchid hoping it will bloom again.
- Oncidium Sharry Baby
The famous Sharry Baby that is supposed to smell like chocolate. To me it smells like sweet vanilla cookies. Much better than chocolate! And it is so intensive that it fills the room. It is another one of those that grow fast and big and I am slowly running out pots that will fit the whole plant. I am considering splitting it into two.
- Phalaenopsis Sogo Twilight Rainbow
Only one Phalaenopsis in the post? Yep :)
I have more of them, but with those large flowers. This one is different and my favourite of them all. The flowers are small and the shape is closer to a specie shape. Usually it also has more flowers than the large types and the flower spikes branches. The blooms last for weeks!
- Procatavola Golden Peacock
The only one of that type I have. Such an easy to grow one that can bloom even twice a year. Or as soon as the new cane matures. Not a large orchid with very nice green leaves.
- Cattleya Little Lemon Drops x Cattleytonia Why Not
I have only two Cattleyas (though the one above is pretty close to it too) and this is the only that bloomed for me. The other one is one of the young ones that takes it's time.
Beautiful, beautiful flowers!! Not very big, but that's ok. The plant itself is not very large too. Cattleyas can can be very big and very messy and I don't have space for that.
Having those two I know that this is the perfect orchid for my climate.
What you see here is not all the orchids. There is more... much more. Some are still too young to blooms, as I got them as seedlings. Some I received in poor state and they are still recovering. And some just do not want to bloom, and no matter what I try, we just don't understand each other.
Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.
