Thursday, November 19, 2009

Orchid Bloom! 1 of 4...

I've taken the challenge of getting half of my 8 orchids to bloom this year and I am now 1/4 of the way there!

The Neolauchea Pulchella Orchid is one of my favorites because it looks like a weed that has been strapped onto a piece of wood with some moss... well actually, that is what it is. But it's very unique and I keep it hanging on my avocado plant in the windowsill.

Right after I posted my orchid challenge I noticed the tiny bulbous parts of the plant were getting more bulbous and breaking through their papery coverings. I looked closer and realized a little sprout had also come out with a pink bud.

A few of them have bloomed and I think there will be about 8 by the time it's done. I can't explain how tiny they are so look a the picture below...yes, that is the tip of a pencil. How freaking adorable is that?!!




Tuesday, November 3, 2009

My Orchid Challange

Hello again! It's been a long while. I do apologize for neglecting you like a cactus.

As you may know by now, I have reluctantly become some what of an orchid person. As cataloged by these past orchid posts:
Tolumnia Orchid
Den Jenkinsii Orchid
Neolauchea Pulchella Orchid
Orchid Window
Den Aussie Chip Orchid
Yuri Orchid
Iono Orchid
Another Orchid - Rescued
Space Ship Orchid - Holy Crap It Bloomed!

I am not only accepting my orchid person title but I am setting myself up for a challenge. I hope to get half of my orchids to bloom this season. You heard right. Half! So, I currently have 8of them so I'm aiming to bloom at least 4 of them.

I know they tend to bloom after they have been stressed and I've heard somewhere (probably the orchid show), that if you put them outside every night for a week when it starts getting cold - they bloom!

Tonight is their first outside night and it's supposed to be 45 degrees. I think that should be cold enough.

I'll keep you posted!

And by the way, I have to admit I have had one orchid failure. The Iono Orchid just dried up and died. I watered it the same as the other orchid, but for some reason it just keep getting thinner and drier. There, now you know.