Sounds fun, Ursula. Polish up the buying boots! I'm aiming for the Venice show in a couple of weeks.

Looks like winter up there, Mj. BRRR!! We got down below 40 this morning, too. No breeze let the cold air settle, I guess. Driving to the airport there were some cars with frost on them.

What a shame to lose your big, beautiful palms, Jim! Lots of people having problems like that these days, sadly.

Today I am developing a healthy respect for people who grow orchids indoors! Never realized what a luxury it is to be able to spray down the 'chids without worrying about getting furniture and carpet all wet. I've got about 20 in the house for the next few days and it's taken me hours to move them all carefully to the kitchen sink for their watering, then place them in the living room for some good light. So far haven't knocked off any buds or blossoms but . . . it's nerve racking.

Elaine, that is the biggest reason why I can't let my 'little' collection much bigger! No room for a greenhouse…So, especially this time of year, and really, most all year round, they are in my living room. I can lightly mist them in place, but yep, they get schlepped to the kitchen for their waterings. It definitely takes dedication!

Right there with you, Tara. My collection has grown not only in number but the darned plants grew a lot last year, at least the ones that didn't have problems. So each plant is getting bigger as well. Even if I curb my enthusiasm and don't buy too many more, what I have will just get bigger and need more room too! Need more greenhouse shelf units, obviously.

When I think about that, I realize I must get choosy about what I buy, and maybe look for more orchids that stay small. Just wrassled that big catt into and out of the sink . . .

When I couldn't fit my Vanda David Gardner every night through the bathroom door ( hook over the bathtub, daily watering, dripped off, back into the sunroom window) we added a greenhouse!! Pretty much like that! That Vanda was the last straw so to speak, as my collection was busting out of its seams.That was in 2001!

Hi! i am still here, just read all the old posts, plenty of awesome orchid blooms everyone. My comp. is playing up and we need to take it in to get fixed but havent yet so havent been using it much.

Another pretty slipper from our friend Bree. We miss you when you take a long break!

Jim

Hi Bree, I was wondering what happened to you! Nice Paph!! Heh, better keep that computer humming!

I just posted a few pictures here - spent a few hours today at the North Jersey Orchid Society Show, had a very good time.
The thread "North Jersey Orchid Society Show Jan. 17. - 19. 2014" in Orchids forum

and here is my loot:
The thread "I just bought in 2014" in Orchids forum

Elaine, I'll make it unanimous on that NOID Catt.! Beautiful color!

Just found this NOID flowering in the greenhouse, has a spot on it though. I bought this years and years ago while it was flowering from a local nursery but it hasnt flowered again for me until now. weird!
it looks pink in photos but is actually a nicer dark purple with the orange throat. Smells like roses.
this is Lc. Fireball Flame 'jairak waxy' which reminds me of chocolate drop and has a really strong yummy sherbety smell, just want to eat it. hehe! and its really red in the photo but its not really more a maroon/deep purple colour.

I'm going to have to get my pump sprayer to water all the vandas in the garage. They're going to have to be in there at least a week based on the forecast. Luckily, there's nothing in the garage that will be harmed by getting a little wet.

Bree, that one does look like Chocolate Drop! I used to have one of those but I killed it. Well, black rot killed it, if I remember correctly, but I blame myself.

I looked up Fireball Flame on OrchidWiz and found out it's Fireball Fame not Flame and its one quarter Chocolate Drop. http://forum.theorchidsource.c...

I have one Paph which has never rebloomed for me. I look at them everytime I stop by EFG but I'm not buying anymore.

MJ, Paphs are hit and miss for me too. I would think it helps to know the local habitat of the involved species, and see if it matches our own conditions somewhat.

I certainly like the Fireball Fame, Bree!

Jim warned me early on in my orchid endeavors that he had not had success with Paphs. I tried a couple but now I'm resigned to just enjoy Bree's beautiful Paphs from a distance. I have two, one survivor I bought 3 years ago that struggles along but doesn't bloom, and the other was given to me as a gift last fall with 4 beautiful flowers that lasted a very long time. I'm doubtful it will ever bloom again, but hey, ya never know.

Maybe I'll try summering them indoors this year . . . that might help a lot. On the other hand, orchids indoors are such a pain!

Beautiful blooms, Bree. My good camera makes everything look much redder, too. Cell phone gets the purples nicely, but not as good a picture. <sigh> Can't win.

I tried my luck with paphs several decades ago and had absolutely no success with one re-blooming. Finally the 2-3 I had died. I was told them like cool temperatures and living on the Gulf coast, I might need to put AC in my greenhouse. I don't know whether that was the answer to my problems growing them, since it is just too costly to AC my greenhouse. I now grow varieties that do well in our hot summers.

Ken, that was my experience exactly.

Jim

Especially some of the Parvis need that chill….

My Gongora Pterodactyl, (picked up last June), has a bunch of spikes and here is an early spike opening. I love it!! The scent is cinnamony, with some cloves thrown in. I moved it to the front of the greenhouse to enjoy it better.


I come to the conclusion that the Schomburgkia superbiens really doesn't fotograph that well, but after many tries here are the 5 spikes open.Somehow it adds a lot more drame in real life.


The next Dendrochilum is opening a bunch of spikes, this is bicallosum. ( while glumaceum and tenellum take their sweet time.)


Here is a real cutie, I think - Cranichis muscosa bought exactly a year ago from Andy's. This is a very small plant and the individual blooms are in the mm range.


and a Cat mix

Holy smoley Ursula ! What a show ! How do you heat your greenhouse. It looks packed to the gills.

Ok, I have to get a fish tank! WOW! So nice and clean, inviting. You must be very organized and don't get things to cluttered. It seems the more room I have, the more I fill it. But really the fish tank idea is right up there with Elaine's wet towel trick. I just never thought of either one.