I tried the same stem sprouting method, Gigi. Same result, got sprouts, then they just died. Going to try something a bit different this time, and keep them in the house, drier cooler conditions, maybe . . . will let you know if it works.

I will keep you posted if mine works as well.

This might make it to popular photo!

This is a beauty too love this color of red, and hmmm probably smells good!

My Phaius really multiplied in the pots, I believe each plant could be divided easily into two or three. I too had no luck in the past trying to propagate them from the stems and this year the dying flowers and stems have a black fungus or something on them, I went to give one plant to a friend the other day and before I gave it to her I found mealies! So rarely do I find insects, the birds usually take care of them for me but those mealies were hiding under the flower sheaths.

Eek, mealies? I haven't seen any but I guess I'd better look carefully.

It sure seems to have paid off to have re-potted mine last fall, finally. They'd been largely neglected since before the pandemic - I was away the whole spring of 2020, and sort of 'lost' a lot of things including the Phaius pots in the resulting jungle of weeds and overgrown things.

My garden helper brought me a division of some more Phaius from one of her other clients' gardens and I'm so happy to see it has a spike so I'll know what it is.

They were under the little sheath around the bud that usually falls off after the flower has been open for a few days.

I have been good and have avoided mealies for a long time. Then I bought an orchid, didn't realize it had mealies and I started seeing them on my plants. They seem to go away when I spray them with alcohol as soon as I see them.

Another beauty.

I hate Mealies!!! I always have a bottle of Neem handy, but it seems after a while those bugs start slurping that stuff for breakfast!

In the meanwhile - our OCE shared some interesting and pretty pictures -

We were just talking about these and look what shows up at the Ann Arbor Show! This is Ophrys tenthredinifera. It's name is bigger than the plant.
This one is found from Portugal to Morocco to Turkey.


and this beauty, bad placement within its exhibit against a wall. This is Zygonisia Cynosure (Aganisia cyanea x Zygopetalum Skippy Ku)

Thanks Bill!

Joyce, pretty!

Joyce that is pretty!

The last purple orchids is a beauty

GigiPlumeria said: This might make it to popular photo!

• Slipper Orchid (Paphiopedilum Red Dragon)
• Uploaded by csandt

/

My prediction came true, this is now today's popular photo!

The Orchids are looking good on the front page!! 👍💕

All the buds are open on this Phal now.

Nicely bloomed!!

TK, based on your zone, I am amazed of all the tropicals you grow. Hope you can bring them with you when you move!

GigiPlumeria said: Hope you can bring them with you when you move!

Gigi, I was thinking the same. We, in Canada, don't seem to be able to import plants with soil on the roots from the USA so I am thinking it also goes same for States not wanting foreign soil coming in.
How could one bring their plants with them? It would not be feasible to knock all the soil off, maybe even then the plants will not be allowed across the border????

Little very old Pleurothallis busting out. First of I think 10 spikes to open

Gina, it looks like a very nice Pleurothallis grobyi, cute miniature! ! Happy plant!
I have a small one just starting to bloom too.

so dainty looking!