Orchids or snow, which would I rather have?

This is not very hospitable for orchid culture. Most of my collection spends the summer months just outside the building in the background. My Koi pond is covered in show and the fish are at the bottom just chillin'. I keep the water open with a trough heater. My pump circulates the water so it won't freeze up. My greenhouse is on the other side of the house but still covered with snow. Luckily when I built it many years ago I used a 6"steel I-beam down the center of the roof to support a heavy snow load on the rafters. This is the most snow in a single storm in the recorded history of storms in CT. We had over 2 feet in this one, first time I could not get out of my driveway with my 4x4 ever.

Well one thing you have to deal with when you try to grow orchids in Connecticut is cold weather for several months during the winter. Also, the sun is low in the sky and you get much less light. I have delt with those issues by heating and lighting my greenhouse. I use a propane heater that keeps the place nice and warm.  But, it also dries everything out quickly. Especially those that are hanging from the roof. Some plants I water every day, usually in the morning so they dry out before evening. I also have to watch out for those in the direct line of the hot air blowing from the heater. Too much hot air is just as bad as not enough. I set my thermostat at 60 degrees F. It gives me 3 zones of heat, warmer at the roof and cooler at the floor. Warm growers go to the top (vandas)  and cool growers on the floor (cymbidiums).

I have installed 2 high pressure sodium lights, 400 watts each, and an 8 bulb florescent grow light all on a timer. They are working in two ways to benifit my plants. One, they emit several degrees of heat that cuts down on the propane heater running. Two, the light from the HPS lamps helps the flowering cycle sort of a bloom booster. I have noticed many more flowerings than I ever had without them. My vandas really seem to like them. I get spikes about every 3 to 4 months. Before the lights once a year and never in the winter months.

So, I guess I appreciate the orchids more because of the snow. But it is amazing to see all that snow.

Ok, the following pictures are of some plants in flower today in my greenhouse.

Lc Stephen Oliver Fouraker Élmhurst' HCC/AOS

Aerangis biloba

Beallara Peggy Ruth Carpenter 'Morning Joy' HCC/AOS

Beallara Purple Haze 'Jimi Hendrix'

A new addition to the family.

Banfieldara Gilded Tower 'Mystic Maze' (AdaglossumSummit X Brassidium Gilded Urchin)

Just couldn't pass this one up. After I dug out from this weekend Nor' Easter snow storm. I went to my local garden center to spend some of my hard earned Christmas money. Ballek's Garden Center in Moodus, Connecticut is a wonderful place to visit in the winter time. Their greenhouse is always filled with lots of interesting plants. They have an orchid section and this one just kept saying, please take me home. I am always on the look out for Brassia crosses and this one is a wild one. 

I had never heard of Banfieldara before, but now after looking it up on the Internet, I know that it is a cross of Ada, Brassia, Odontoglossum and the kitchen sink. The plant was in flower when I bought it so I can't take credit for the horticulture that brought it to flower or the growing conditions. But it requires the type of intermediate growing conditions I have in my greenhouse so it should be happy in my house.  

I hope to grow it up some to get more spikes. Currently just one 16" nice one with 13 flowers. Each one about 3" across. As the spike reaches it's end the flowers get somewhat smaller. Looks like the plant was moved cause the spike is bent and the flowers are twisting in different directions. A common affliction easily remedied by not moving the plant as the spike is maturing in relation to the major light source. Spider orchids, so called because the petals and sepals are very spiked and look somewhat like spider legs, have opposing flowers that seem to march in unison down the spike. All lining up like soldiers on parade facing into the sun light.

The yellow lip, with reddish brown spots, is very full and ruffled which was a real eye catcher for me. In general the plant looks well balanced with the flowers mostly above the foliage. As the plant puts on more growth I'm sure it will have multiple spikes.

 I took these shots with my IPhone4. Reasonable for a 5 mega pixel phone, but I will get out my Canon 50D with the 180mm macro lens and get some better macro shots. All the jumble in the background of the shot takes away from the startling look of these flowers. So I will bring it inside and shoot it with a black background.

A big thank you to my favorite son and daughter in law for providing the Christmas cash.

Who cares if its cold and snowy outside when you can have a little of the tropics in your greenhouse.

 Want to see more of my collection go to www.flickr.com/photos/madfish1c/.

Baby it's cold outside!

Brassia Rex 'Sakata'

It's in the 20's right now outside way to cold for orchids out there. That's why I grow in a lighted and heated greenhouse. Got several Brassias and Brassia hybrids in bloom and in bud. I am very pleased with the flower show these guys put out several times per year. Relatively easy to grow, will tolerate a range of growing conditions. I have an intermediate to warm greenhouse temperature range with micro climes from the floor (cool) to the roof (warmer).
Above is a Brassia Rex hybrid called Sakata. It has a wonderful spicy fragrance with 12 flowers on this spike. Each flower is about 6" top to bottom. I like the way they seem to be marching down the spike. I can see why they are commonly called spider orchids. Nice spiked petals that look like spider legs.
This plant flowers for me at least twice a year on new growth. Usually summer/winter for my growing conditions.





Miltassia Kauai's Choice 'Tropical Fragrance'

The above plant is a cross between (Brassia arcuigera x Miltassia Astec). This one has been in flower since October. Had three spikes and this is the last to flower. I really like the extra maroon barring and spots on the petals. The plant had over 40 flowers on the three spikes. I grow it intermediate and keep it moist but not wet. Light levels are bright shade under my high intensity sodium lights. Night temps go to 55 and day up to 65 degrees F.

Odontobrassia Fangtastic Bob Henley

More inter generic crossing going on here. Kept the spider look of the Brassia but with more spotting and barring on the petals. 45 flowers on three spikes marching along. Very handsome plant in flower. Spikes are at least two feet and have 14 to 16 flowers. Has flowered twice a year for me, also on new growth. Re-potted it this spring and put it outside for the summer. It put on 3 new growths each putting up a flower spike. Some times the seudobulbs will have two spikes. If not they will some times put one out later in the spring. That may be due to the inter generic crossing messing with bloom times. All in all if you have the space and the cultural conditions a great plant to have.

Aliceara Memorial Jay Yamada 'Kauai'

Another inter generic cross with more color and wider sepals and petals. Aliceara is a cross between the following; Brassia/Miltonia/Oncidium. I have seen this called Degarmoarara. They keep changing the names to keep us on our toes.  So far for me not as many flowers per spike but this is a young plant. It might put out more flowers as it matures. Still retains the spikeyness of the flower. Grown the same as the above plants. Also re-potted this past spring.

 Brassia Rex 'Okika'

This one has much larger flowers (12") than Sakata and is generally a larger plant altogether. The flowers (7) on this spike are all jumbled and not their usual marching row because I moved the plant and the light direction was changed. My fault not the plant. Has a spicy fragrance during the day.

Well that is my set on Brassia and Brassia crosses that I have in flower today.

Rainy day in December

Well I can't really complain about having rain in December. It could have been all snow or ice. Well today is a beguine neglect day. Just enjoy the plants flowering and doing  a  little cleaning up. Its warm so I will do some outside stuff today.
Several of my Vandas are in flower and that is always a treat.

Bulbophyllum wendlandii in flower.

Bulbophyllum wendlandii in flower.

This is a favorite of mine it is a Bulbophyllum and comes from Malaysia. Andy's Orchids says "fantastic easy growing compact Bulbophyllum relative 1" bulbs each topped with a 3" thick leathery leaf; 4" spikes emerge from new growths each carrying 2 to 6 striking flowers, the 4" blooms have long tapering fused lateral sepals that are strongly striated red, short striped purple and yellow-orange dorsal sepal and petals are ornated with tiny violet tassels which set off the rocking red tongue-like lip." The picture here is of mine blooming the first week of December. If you are looking for unusual stick mounted orchids http://www.andysorchids.com/ is the place to check out. I have gotten many plants from them and they all have been well grown and many in spike or flowering.

This is the first time this one flowered for me since I got it from Andy's Orchids several months ago. It is growing on a 6" cut branch of wood. I water it almost every day. Put on a new growth while outside this summer and put out a flower spike this November. Flowers opened up just after Thanksgiving. Lasted a little over a week in my heated greenhouse. The spike had 4 flowers all about 1/2" wide and 5" long. Very nice color and red stripes. Really like all the fringe and hair like parts on the petals. Cant wait till it grows up to a specimen size plant with lot's of spikes.  

As a species fan this guy ranks high on my list. Does it's thing with out a lot of fussing or fighting. If you can provide the right growing conditions I would highly recommend adding this one to your collection.

The beginning of my effort to explain and discuss growing orchids in CT.

This is a first for me, imagine a blog writer. This is a topic I am pretty well versed in since I have been growing orchids since the early 1980's. I have been and are currently a member of the Connecticut Orchid Society and if you are at all interested in growing orchids here in the great state of Connecticut, it's a wonderful place to get lots of helpful information. Check it out at http://www.ctorchids.org/.

I am a retired Art teacher and avid gardener, not just orchids, and have two chocolate labs and a greenwing macaw. Keeps me busy in retirement. I also am a sculptor working in metal mostly.

Well today was watering and fertilizing day in my greenhouse. I built a 20' x 8' attached to the outside wall of my garage, greenhouse in the 70's. Originally to grow tomatos and start other veggies for my garden. More on that later. I will explain how I did it and it's evolution to what it is today.

I grow many different types of orchids but currently I have gotten into species orchids. Bulbophyllums are some of my favorites along with Angraecums and Aerangis. I currently also have several hybrid Vandas. Just give you an idea of the type of orchids I grow. I currently have over 200 different types. It has taken me many years and much trial and error to get to where I am today in my ability to grow these guys, here in not so tropical Connecticut. I will try to explain and discuss how and why I do what I do so you too can grow these strange and wonderful plants.

Most orchids require very specific growing conditions which are not found here in CT year round. I will say from the start that, that should not put you off growing orchids. Because many can grow on a window sill with moderate care that almost anyone can do. When I finally figured out what was required it was off to the races for me.
As I posted earlier today was watering and fertilizing day. I water some plants in my greenhouse every day and others weekly. Orchids require watering based on several factors due to their natural habitat.
Most come from tropical areas of the world and like to be kept moist but not wet all the time. Others like a wet and then dry style.
Think of summertime here in CT it rains in buckets during a summer thunderstorms and then dries out with lots of heat. I put my plants out during the summer just for that. Lots of them are found growing in or on trees. So they get real wet and then dry out. Modern orchid growers try to match this by growing their plants in or on some kind of bark mix. More on that later.
I will say this many times but if you practice beguine neglect, meaning don't over do it with watering or fertilizing you will have better success than if you try to do to much. Orchids in their natural habitat are very successful and grow like weeds. I have found that if I can get close to that they will grow well here in CT.
As with all things do your research and now there are lots of great places on line to get info and plants. Also don't forget about the CT Orchid Society web site they have lots of info and contact people to help you out. Please don't let that wonderful flowering plant wither and die because you were afraid to ask for help.
I fertilize weakly weekly for most of my plants. What that means is 1/4 strength of  what ever fertilizer you use "weakly" every week. When the plants are in active growth they can use more so I do regulate my fertilizing schedule based on growth cycles. Winter usually requires less fertilizer and water because most of the plants will slow down their growth cycle as light levels and temperatures drop. Some finesse is needed here and you do need to know what your plant requires, research this and try to keep to the schedule. 
Right now I have several plants in flower and some others in bud spike that will bloom in the near future. Orchid plants are not the sexiest or prettiest plants out there but we grow them for the flowers anyway.
Water first get the root system wet and then fertilize. I use a 5 liter sprayer to get the job done.  Be careful to not over fertilize you don't want to burn the root tips. This requires measuring and doing the math to get the right mixture. Read the label carefully first.  If in doubt it is better to not water or fertilize than to over do it, research, ask some one who knows, keep a schedule and watch carefully to see what your plant is doing. Early detection of a problem can save a plant that can quickly expire do to neglect or miss treatment.
I have lights in my greenhouse now so my plants will grow and flower better. They really made a difference for my high light plants like Vandas. I could grow them but they would not flower until they got the light they needed. Now I have to artificially time sun rise and sun set which is way cool.
I use high pressure sodium lights and they have been working great for a year now. My electric bill did reflect the extra juice needed but the flowering has been much better all around. They also make taking pictures interesting in that everything has a yellow orange tint. I have to filter it out when I use the photos. All of my cameras don't seem to like it.
Every morning is a trip to the tropical wonderland of my greenhouse. Soon there will be snow here and very cold temps that would be the death of all my plants. So my greenhouse is heated. I have an old but goodie propane gas over head heater. I set the thermostat for 58 degrees. Which keeps it running most nights now. Today, with the lights on, it hasn't come on yet. The lights do put out a good bit of heat so my propane bill has gone down. Little victory there for me. I do locate my plants in the greenhouse based on heat. The upper level is alys warmer so the warm growing guys go up there I hang them from the roof on two metal pipes that run the length of my greenhouse. Intermediate growers on tables in the middle zone and cool ones on the floor.
These micro climes seem to help meet the needs of my plants and they are happier and flower better. Well that's it for now. I an going to try to figure out how to post pics on here so you can see my set up.  I also post my pics to Flickr so you can find me there. Also some shots on Facebook. Look for madfish1c on Flickr.