Sunday, June 9, 2013

Summer Orchids

The summer-blooming orchids are starting! Some orchids have light and temperature requirements to bloom, and others have no such restrictions and will bloom whenever they feel the conditions are right.

Restrepia brachypus: This is a mini species. The flower is an inch and a half long, and so are the leaves. I keep this guy in a terrarium and always wet. Grown in sphagnum moss.

This plant was a division from a friend, and this is the first time it's bloomed for me. They bloom whenever: the time of year doesn't matter.




Ascofinetia Cherry Blossom 'Carmela': This hybrid is compact and adorable. It needs lots of light and can bloom any time of the year.



Maxillaria tenuifolia:This species is also called the Coconut Orchid. It smells like coconut sunblock. They're supposed to be easy growers, but I haven't had much luck with them. I think I finally figured out what these guys like. They bloom in the early summer.


Lastly there is Epilaelia Little Nuggets "Mendenhall". Although, there have been a few name changes, and I'm not really sure if that's its name anymore. It's just so cute, with small flowers, about an inch wide. And the name "Little Nuggets" makes me giggle.




Also in bloom: Cape Primrose "Inkblot," my AVs, and my everbloomers.