Backyard Finds

Though this post has nothing to do with orchids, I wanted to share with everyone some of the cool stuff that thrives in my backyard.  It's currently winter, so everything is either dead looking or overrun with clovers.  So during the spring, I'll take more pictures of our fruit trees, vines, and bushes.  This is just a preview.

A "misty blueberry" bush.  It's actually the name, and it's lived up to it.  California's Bay Area either has a wet season and a dry season.  My dad coined the term "wet Christmas" as a parody to the classic Christmas song "White Christmas".  Anyways, this is a beautiful picture of what frost does to the plants in my yard, and how the Bay Area's constant sunny skies does to the cycle of deciduous plants. BLUEBERRIES IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER!!! weird....

I'm not quite sure what bug it is on this grapevine, but it's pretty.  Most grapevines stop growing and start dropping their leaves during the winter...well, this one is still growing strong though it's December.  Hopefully we can get some grapes this summer....

IT'S A CRICKET!....I think.

December Bloomers 2012!

It's been a while since I've updating anything, sorry.  It's currently winter break and I can finally squeeze in a little time in between studying for finals, the SATs, and AP Physics, AND AP STATS!  Gah...it's a miracle that I haven't died from exhaustion.  Anyways, with December comes...orchid bloomers!

Oh FYI, these pictures are taken with a Nikon D90 with a Nikon AF-S Micro Nikkor 40mm lens.

 This is a NOID cymbidium that has been growing all summer long, and has finally given me two spikes with 6 buds each with two or three more spikes on the way. I still can't tell the difference between a new growth or a new spike on a cymbidum...they just look too similar....
Mom has been trying to tell me that the blooms this year are not as pretty as last year...which sinks my heart a little.  Sigh...they're pretty to me.

*I need to figure out how to put emoticons on blogger.....

My potinara hoku gem "freckles" is bloom for first time since I bought in July.  The colors just keep changing...When I first bought it was lava red.  Now it's turning orange, red, yellow, and magenta....So weird.

My oncidium twinkle "fragrance fantasy".  It has four spikes with tens of flowers.  It's rumored to be extremely fragrant, but I haven't gotten the chance to smell it because either the rain of the Bay Area's winter blocks out the sun or I leave too early in the morning for school for the sun to intensify the scent.  Hopefully the clouds will clear up soon so I can smell it.



 My epicattleya rene marques "flamethrower" is in bloom for the third time this year.  The thing is that the spikes takes FOREVER to grow.  The new growth from the plant began to grow at the end of spring this year, and I saw the spike emerging around September, and It only started to form buds at the end of November.  This plant can really test your patience...but it's all worth it once you see the flowers.

Hydroponics

Brr. Nelly Isler "swiss beauty"

I have finally experimented with hydroponics....and it is the greatest thing that the orchid gods could have created.  I absolutely love the system.  It saves me time and money.  The orchids, after established in the system, begin to grow like weeds with new roots.  I use clear tupperware containers with holes that I drill for the reservoir about an inch from the bottom.  This system saves water and saves watering time. The only drawback is that you have to be careful with the type of water you use and flushing out the salts from fertilizers.  It is best to use rainwater or distilled rainwater, because bad water can lead to root rot.  I learned that the hard way...

I only change my orchids into the system when it is actively growing where new roots and new growth are emerging.  I remove all of its old potting medium and then pot it up again with the clay pellets like any other orchids.  Then I put into a makeshift greenhouse which is basically a plastic fish tank with a white opaque garbage bag covering the top to keep the humidity in.  I keep it in the environment until I see some new roots growing, which is usually about two weeks.  Then viola...done!

I have tried this system on four of my orchids and am going to change most of my orchids into the system once I find the appropriate pots.  Oh yeah, you know the pain the butt I which I have called my miltoniopsis...yeah. It's growing new roots and new shoots ever since I changed it into hydroponics.  I guess I can only grow miltoniopsis in hydroponics for now.

Mommy Milt. Maui Mist "Golden Gate"

Maxillaria Tenuifolia

Milt. Maui Mist "Golden Gate"

Paph. Napa Valley "maudie"

Masdevallia in Bloom!

This masdie has finally given me a decent sized bloom since the time I bought it back in January.  This is a NOID Masdie that I got from my local Farmer's Market with thick leaves thus it can tolerate lower humidity and generally easier to grow than most masdies.

Since I bought it, I've gotten more than ten bud blasts and three miniscule orange blooms.  Ever since I moved it into a 60-70% environment, fine bark mix, and bright morning sun...I've gotten much better results.

There's two more spikes growing and another miniscule spike popping out between the sheaths of the leaves.  There's also plenty of new leaf growth and little roots growing. Soo excited!!!! 

Pacific Orchid Expo!!!

 Something to put on your calendars everybody!!! The Pacific Orchid Expo is a must see/go to event for all those orchid lovers or beauty lovers out there.  There's going to be spectacular displays of art, orchids, and colors.  I'm already saving up money and space for the orchids that I'm going to buy there.

For more information on vendors and time got to: http://www.orchidsanfrancisco.org/poe.html

October Bloomers!!!!

 Taking a fifteen minute break from doing AP Statistics homework...here are a couple of pics that are currently in bloom.
Also, it is to test the lens of a new camera of a Panasonic DMC-SZ7...so far not very impressive even though it has a LEICA lens.  Oh well...back to the drawing board I guess.

Anyways, the white flower is a Aerangis Luteo Alba var Rhodosticta.  It is one of my new favorites.  I got this from the Orchids in the Park show from Golden Gate Orchids run by Tom Perlite.  The plant is growing in a half an inch pot sitting in a one inch pot.  The spike is about three of or four inches long coming out of a plant with a leaf span of 1 1/2 inch.  It is so cute!

The orchid originally had 12 flowers growing on it, but because of the change in environment and a week-long heat wave....it lost four buds to bud blast.  :( I almost wanted to cry.  But the rest of the flowers were able to bloom and give me this wonderful display. 

 Here is an yellow NOID oncidium.  My best friend, Yuming, got it for me for my birthday in January.  After the summer, the plant is filling up its ginormous five inch pot with 6-7 pseudobulbs that are climbing out of the pot.  Three new pseudobulbs had matured and each one has a 1 1/2 feet long spike with more than twenty yellow flowers growing from each of them.  I am very proud of its display.  I'll have to divide it next summer, otherwise I'll have no more room for the orchids that I'm going to buy at the Pacific Orchid Expo in February.  So excited!

Orchids in the Park 2012

  I have come out of the dark and cold cave that I call my room. 
SATs are now over...at least until I get my scores....and well, I finally have some free time out of studying for my three AP classes and two honors classes. 
So...Orchids in Park hosted by the San Francisco Society every year just went by on the weekend of Sept 15.  It was amazing!  I saw some pretty neat orchids and talked to some orchid-crazy people. Also, I'M AN SAN FRANCISCO ORCHID SOCIETY MEMBER!!! I can't wait to get some free time on the first Tuesday night of the month to attend one of the meetings.  Here are some of the highlights at the show:

*sorry...my dad took most of the pictures and I forgot to tell him to also take pictures of the tags...So i have no idea what the species/hybrids these orchids are.  There are a few that I know what they are...otherwise they're just guesses. But enjoy the pictures!

Dendrobium species

Sophronitis

Cattleya

Really cool orchid...

Aerangis Luteo-Alba

A cattleya hybrid???

I took a pictures of this one...:D Paph roebelenii x sanderianum

Dendrobium????

Encyclia???? Or just cool orchid.

Encyclia or just a unidentified orchid

Miltoniopsis hybrid or Oncidium hybrid

Maxilaria species???

Cool orchid

Dendrobium species

Maxilaria or Cymbidium

CYMBIDIUM!! I know this one...but a hybrid

Weird Orchid

Ondontoglossum hybrid

Ondontoglossum hybrid

Ondontoglossum hybrid

Cool orchid

Interesting orchid

I know this one A potinara variation

THE Headache

My miltoniopsis maui mist "golden gate" is a pain in the butt to grow.  After it finished blooming, I discovered that only the top layer of roots was alive while the bottom  mass of roots in the pot had dessicated and died. I sheared off all of the dead roots, potted it in bark, placed it in a warm and humid place, and prayed to the orchid gods for it to grow new roots. 
.....a month later.....

the remaining bottom roots died, but the very top roots started to grow little five centimeter roots and the new growth had a spike. yay! Still...there's barely any roots and I have to water it 2 times a week which I don't have the time for.  So I have put it in semi-hydroponics to help it remain constantly moist and put it in a clear plastic pot so the morning sun can create a greenhouse environment for the roots to grow better.  Also, I noticed a new growth peeking out through one of the older pseudo-bulbs.  I think I might have to cut the beautiful spike for the plant to focus more on root growth.  Sigh....Wish me luck!

Name Change

I decided to rename my blog "Orchidholics Anonymous".  My best friend Robert came up with the name when I first told him I wanted to get a blog just for orchids.  And I LOVED IT! It explains the feverish desire to posses and grow orchids. Also, it explains the need to go to intervention to kick the "bad" habit just like "alcoholics anonymous".  Unfortunately, I had little tech experience and I didn't know that you had to wait 24 hours before a blog appears on the internet.  I had to go through seven blog names before I came to this conclusion.  Eventually, I gave up and decided on "Orchids, Je t'aime".  Now, I'm changing it back.  Thank you for your understanding.  

Repotting Time!!!

Orchids need re-potting every 1 to 2 years.  This is because either there are too many roots in the pot and/or the medium that the orchid is growing in is breaking down.  When the orchid medium breaks down, the orchid's root will suffocate from the lack of oxygen and will be saturated in water thus leading to root rot.  root rot = dead orchid.  So, here is how to repot a common phalaenopsis orchid, one of the easiest orchids too repot because of its thick roots.  

This is the Phalaenopsis orchid that needs repotting.The best time to repot an orchid is either after flowering or when you see new roots growing. This is usually in the spring or fall.  I don't recommend repotting an orchid when it is in flower, unless it is a phalaenopsis. I've caused many orchids to go tease with death from the stress repotting causes. Anyways, the reason I'm repotting this orchid is because it is growing in a sphagnum moss medium that does not fit with my watering schedule, I don't like sphagnum moss, and it just finished flowering.  Like I said in a previous post, sphagnum moss scares me....it holds tooo much water.

 Here are my supplies.  I need newspaper to help contain the mess.  70% rubbing alcohol to disinfect my tools.  A plastic pot.  And a fine fir bark mix with perlite that can be easily found in a Lowes or Home Depot.  

 I cut the plastic wrapping that is the orchid's pot and remove the orchid.  Since the orchid is growing in a plastic container, it is easier to remove and comes out in a solid mass of sphagnum and roots.  In clay pots, you might have to even break the pot to remove the orchid roots safely.  Then remove the sphagnum moss from the the root ball.

 

Then, using your sterilized scissors, trim off any dead roots.  For phalaenopsis orchids, the roots should be nice and firm.  They should not be hollow or squishy, so any hollow or squishy roots must be removed to prevent bacteria from causing any future damage. Once the trimming is done, you should dip the orchid roots in water to make it more flexible which makes it easier to place it into a pot. Also, this helps remove any leftover sphagnum moss from the roots. 

  Once the olive colored roots have turned into a grassy green, you can remove the orchid from the water and start finding a right pot for it.  The orchid pot should be just large enough to hold the orchid's root.  Any bigger pot might lead to root rot because of the extra water surrounding it.  My rule of thumb is to find a pot that all the roots can touch all the sides of the pot, which is the safest for me.   You can also add packing peanuts to make the large pot smaller, but the same rule applies: the roots should touch the bottom and the sides. 

Once a tight fitting pot is found.  You should place a thin layer of bark at the bottom of the pot.  Just enough to cover the bottom.  Place the orchid in the pot and squeeze any aerial roots into the pot.  It is normal if you accidentally break any roots, the orchid will grow new roots.  Finally add the orchid bark into the pot.  With each scoop of orchid bark, shake the pot or tap it on the table to let the bark get in between the roots.  You are done when the orchid bark has reached the top of the pot. The last step is the simplest. 

     Place your orchid in a bucket.  Then water the orchid until the water reaches the brim of the pot, and let the orchid stay in the water for five minutes so that the medium can settle around the roots and the bark can retain water.  Then YOU'RE DONE!!! YAY!!!! 

After repotting care:  If the orchid has a healthy root system I just place it back to where it was originally growing. If the orchid is not in active growth and/or has sustained a lot of root loss, place the orchid in a warm, shady location with lots of humidity.  This help the orchid grow roots faster and regain it's strength for future flowering.  

Precautions: Sterilize everything with bleach or alcohol or fire.  This helps prevents virus or fungus or bacteria or unwanted pests from traveling from one orchid to another.   Also, if you're repotting several orchids at once, wear gloves in between each orchid to prevent viruses from spreading by your hands.  Repot in the morning so any water still between the leaves can evaporate by nightfall.