The new leaf looks nice and big and shiny. Very healthy. If the little leaves at the bottom are turning yellow and getting ready to shed, that would be natural, too.

I'm just a wee bit concerned that some of the other leaves are crinkled a bit. This is a sign of not quite enough water. I'd give it a good soak, maybe set it in a sinkful of barely-warm water for an hour and let it take up lots of water, then let it drain. Those nice silvery roots sticking out should turn green when they've had enough water. Each time you water that should happen, so if it's not, you're keeping it a bit dry. Keep a spray bottle of water handy and mist those roots when you water the plant, so they're sure to get good and wet.

Don't get worried, it surely takes a while to establish how to care for a new plant in your particular conditions. IF you can sit it on a 'humidity tray' i.e. a dish with some pebbles and water in it, that will help keep some extra humidity around the plant in case the humidity in your house is too low for it.

Thanks Elaine! I'll do it right now.

Thanks Elaine!

Oh my goodness!! They are already turning green!!!

Those roots are 'designed' to absorb water from the air, so when it rains or is very humid they get water for the plant that way. The outer surface absorbs water and turns green.

Here are a couple of pictures of some of mine - slightly green even though I haven't watered them in days. But the humidity is SO high here that unless they're out in the sun they don't dry out and turn back to silver/gray very often.

But my Vandas just got sprayed thoroughly with the hose 15 minutes ago, and their roots were all green, but have dried out because they're out in the blazing hot sun. There are still some that are greenish, down low in the shade of the plants.

So don't be surprised if the roots turn back to gray pretty fast if the humidity is low in your house.

My daughter in Utah - desert conditions - grows her mini-Phals in little glass globes with the leaves hanging out the openings. Hmm, let's see if I can find a picture of one. This helps keep the roots more moist for those poor little orchids growing in a climate that really isn't suited to them. She's had these growing and blooming for several years now.

Oh wow! Your daughter's mini-Phals are beautiful and so healthy looking. you must've passed a talent on to her!

I don't want to steal her thunder, as she came up with the globe idea, but she grows them with benign neglect and I'm there 3 times a year to 'rescue' them, water thoroughly, fertilize and refresh the growing medium in the globes. And I leave the spray bottle of water on the shelf beside them, but I don't think it gets much action. But it seems to be just enough good care for them to keep on growing and blooming.

Then the mini-Phals must be very grateful to you.

Another 100+ day by noon. But the 'chids are misted and watered PLENTY. Here are some blooms open now.

C. Hawaiian Wedding Song 'Virgin"


C. Princesse Clémentine 'SVO' AMAOS x C. Mark Jones 'SVO' HCCAOS



Aerangis_mystacidii



Pot. Denis Roessiger (Pot. Angel Eyes 'SVO' HCCAOS x Pot. Golden Circle 'OPRL')


Cat. Intermedia v alba


Sc. Crystelle Smith


Epicyclia Mabel Kanda X Enc. Cashen's Brown Sugar

Ohh, so pretty to look at!! Ted, really nice show!

This shows just how resilient orchids really are…. Great growing Ted!

All these bloomed under the pergola. So I agree, resilient is a good word

Survivors! That is another word that seems to fit.

Update on the Trichoglottis atropurpurea, while it is raining cats and dogs today -




It is now almost fully open. I tried to include a pic of the whole/very long plant. And way on the bottom grew a keiki
And Asctm christensonianum is blooming again

Ascocentrum christensonianum is a wonderfully gorgeous "little" species. But with your plant Ursula, there is nothing little about it! It is a well grown plant!
But I was first introduced to this species by the late Dr. David Grove in NYC back when I was a student judge in the late 90's. Kind of a compact little plant, beautiful amethyst pinkish flower yet with a beautiful arrangement.
Yours seems much larger, happier and it is blooming again! Elegant to say the least. Each little blossom is perfectly positioned on the inflorescence, darker splash at the center with a dark purple anther cap.
Just pure JOY to see it!!!

Great blooms, Ursula. Really want to get a Trichoglottis atropurpurea. Just gorgeous.

Ted, the Trichoglottis should do well for you, it likes it warm and sunny!

Bill, thanks for the

Welcome!
I just love that species!

I wish I could grow my Trichoglottis better
It only seems to grow a couple of new leaves each year and so only gives me a couple of buds each season on that new growth. Some growers here in Florida post very tall plants with hundreds of flowers and they are spectacular! I'm assuming that they ( like Vanda) only bloom once on each leaf node?
Adorable little christensonianum, Ursula!