Another one of our Apopka treasures, Jim. I might get to drop by First Orchids this weekend if they're open. We are visiting friends who live up in The Villages, and I'd like to stop by Apopka "on the way" home if possible.

Maybe there will be new goodies to show by Monday . . .

Those darned thrips! But that gorgeous color still shines through!

New goodies by Monday? Have fun shopping!

Lindsey, your orchid is beautiful too.

Elaine, how long did it take for your Apopka Vanda to bloom? My Lowe's one has no signs of bloom.

Ursula, is their a thread for orchid propagation? I was going to start one for dendrobium propagation for beginners....like me 🎃

Tomorrow will be "up-potting" day. While watering this morning I saw that I have an awful lot of seedlings, growing in 2" mesh-pots, that have roots growing out of every orifice. They need re-potting into 3" mesh-pots, and that's on my schedule for tomorrow. If I don't re-pot in a timely manner, the roots are very difficult to tease out of those mesh-pots. Heck, I have several that have roots growing into the adjacent mesh-pots. "The grass is greener", I guess. That really gets interesting, teasing those roots from adjacent pots and then from their own pots. Anyway, I have my day determined beforehand.

WOW you guys, you all have some fantastic stuff blooming (I just read this whole thread to 'catch-up' and I'm in awe at all the beautiful flowers ya'll have!

I still have most of my orchids on the porch to keep them out of the rain, and have been fertilizing weekly.

My Stanhopea has bloomed on 3 inflo's and 2 more are peaking their little heads out, so I guess waiting over 3 years for it to bloom has been worth it! I think it's amazing, and what a fragrance...just like warm cinnamon buns! What I find evry interesting is that on each info so far the flowers have been slightly different (anyone know why or how that happens??)
Here are the first three inflo blooms:
first opened July 26th: Second opened Aug 9th Third opened Aug. 21st


The third inflo bloom does not have the 2 dark spots that the first two did:


A friend pointed out that from the back these little blooms look like a little girl with (orange bobbed hair) with a dress on and her elbows pointing out!


Here are the next two, just starting out!


Some more stuff blooming right now:




A little noid cat...first time it's bloomed for me:


another noid dend...I love the dusky purple color:


This one is mounted on a piece of wood, noid, and it has sparkles on the white part like diamond dust!


And of course my Purple Splash is blooming, just like everyone else's! lol


I was at a friend's over the weekend, and she had a few in bloom too:




All this talk of Apopka and I can't wait to go for the first time (don't forget me Elaine!)...I'm even saving up all my pennies! Elaine, are you coming to this months' Sarasota Orchid Society meeting? I have to check and see it it's actually ON Labor Day or not...

Patty, beautiful blooms! with your friend's observation about the little girl.

I think I have similar no ID den the one that is mounted on a piece of wood.

Thanks Gigi!

Does yours sparkle too? I LOVE the sparkles!!!

Beautiful, Patty! I wouldn't forget you, on the Apopka run. I don't know if I'll have the energy to make the Orchid Society meeting if it's on Labor Day. We will be out on the water both Saturday and Sunday doing a regatta at the Sailing Squadron. Will let you know some time Monday if I've recovered.

Gigi, those little gold Vandas have been growing and growing for nearly 3 years I think. There are two the same, hanging together there. Finally, a couple of months ago one put up its first bloom spike and this is the second on the same plant. The other plant shows no signs of doing anything exciting.

But I am watering them more and feeding them better now so hopefully they will bloom like crazy on all that new growth they've made in the last 3 years.

Patty, I have to take a closer look. I'm getting multiple spikes and several buds are opening now.

Elaine, I learned my lesson not to divide my Catts again. I didn't realize that it needs at least 3 to 5 babies before you can really divide them. I will try to feed them a little bit better too. Mine usually blooms late fall to early winter. In time for my yearly calendar giveaways to my co workers and family.

Gigi, we don't have a separate thread on Orchid propagation, so go ahead if you like and start your thread.

Patty, beautiful blooms!! And those of your friend are gorgeous too!
I keep looking at your Stanhopeas and I can't help the feeling that you have perhaps two different Stanhopeas in that basket? Would you know if they have the identical scent? Stanhopeas have such powerful scents that this might be a way of telling if they are the same or not.

Ursula, I don't think it's two Stan's...when I bought it it was very overgrown in it's pot....I worked for a few hours to cut the pot off of it so I could re-pot it. It sure seemed like one plant, but if it is two they are so entwined you can't tell...

I just went out and took these, maybe they'll help:


I know Jim seemed a little confused by the tag, but I don't remember why (something about capital letters I think):


As far as fragrance, so far they have all smelled deliciously alike...warm cinnamon buns fresh out of the oven!

Ursula said:Gigi, we don't have a separate thread on Orchid propagation, so go ahead if you like and start your thread

Ursula, I will do a little digging and research then I will start a thread.

I'm thinking of saving my seedpods this time too (if I get any this year).

Are you going to grow orchids from seed, Gigi?

I saw something in you tube that you can... But who knows if it is true. I get seedpods every year but I never collect them.

My immediate trial though will be propagation of Dendrobium's from canes. I have big canes that I know will neve re-bloom but are fat and healthy enough to be used for experiments.

Gigi, I fell asleep over the Dendrobium section in my new book last night.

Those big canes actually might re-bloom depending upon what kind of Den you have.

Patty, your tag says that you have Stanhopea saccata AND Stanhopea wardii! It does look to me like they are in the same basket! They just intertwined and grew into each other.
Also, Stanhopea wardii doesn't have any Cinnamon or Cinnamon related scent btw. I am very familiar with the scent of Stanhopea wardii, having flowered it many many times.
For whatever it is worth, they are both gorgeous and you are doing a wonderful job growing them.

Ursula, I have two plants with a tag like that, and they have a great big X at the right hand end. Thinking maybe Patty's does too - see the picture above the one with just the tag? So wouldn't that be a cross between Saccata and wardii?

Here are mine:

Wow! Lots going on today!
Patty you have so much in bloom right now, it's hard to know where to start!
Love both the Cat's and your Stanhopea...DOES look like a little blond haired mop top..
Elaine, from where I'm sitting , your flowers are fantastic...great colors all around!
Jim, I would love to come and visit and have a glass of wine...maybe not early in the day though

Elaine, you know I just thought the same thing. I never saw the x!!
Now on second thought, is it possible that someone planted the mix of babies from this hybridization into the same basket? That would explain the difference in blooms? and the lovely Cinnamon scent.
Thanks do much Elaine!

Beautiful Blooms, Patty! You'll have to get on the Stanhopea lecture circuit!

For those who are not on the SVO mailing list, here is some info on growing Catasetums and some great pictures: https://col131.mail.live.com/?...

Jim