oh Patty

And just what are you laughing at, Lindsey? The stupid phone or the 4 of the same orchids?? I think they're both worth laughing at, glad I could share a smile!!!

one from column A....and 2 from column B

I have had numerous seed-pods on my plicata and several of my plants are starting to inflo. I don't do anything with the seed-pods. If the plant(s) sell with pods, I just leave them on the plant. If not, I cut the seed-pod off and dispose of it.

Had to employ the resident computer geek to fix the phone/computer silliness, but now I have 3 days worth of pictures. Here's a cockeyed shot of the bud cluster on my Whotheheck???Treat. Hope I'll be able to ID it when it opens. Also have a Den.superbum that I exiled out to the garden for the winter, and have now re-patriated to orchid central. Does anyone really think this guy's still alive? Well, lo and behold it does have buds starting on some of the stems.



I also must put up an apology to Lindsey about the red foliage a while back - Ursula, of course, was right and these Brassie types put on reddish purple color on their new growths. I am completely sure none of my orchids have any Magnesium deficiency, as I've been showering them with it plus rain water/potassium nitrate mixture all winter.
On the "anticipation" side, if all this new growth precedes blooms, I should have quite a nice show coming along.



It's still a good idea to add some Epsom Salts to your spray fert regimen especially in the fall/early winter, though.

I agree. Good looking stuff, Elaine! They all look nice and healthy!

Elaine does your phone talk to your computer wirelessly? My old phone used to transfer the pictures all by itself. Have to use a USB cable to transfer pictures with my new phone.

I'm using a cable too, Alice. If I leave my phone in wireless mode the battery runs down in no time. It's a busy thing, wish I knew what it was doing . . .

Elaine, that's great news for me, regarding the epsom salts and burgundy color on the plants..I have been treating every week and some of my plants are responding...others that weren't burgundy now are...some of the plants it's just the leaves and others...just the pbulbs...In NC...I fed ( literally) twice a year. and had non stop spectacle of blooms. I am now putting something on every week..either fert/ epsom salts...bayer 3 in 1... daconil or some miracle potion that one of our orchid club members sells..it allegedly promotes root growth and other amazing results.

All sounds good, Lindsey except beware of those magic potions! For years people were spending a fortune on SuperThrive, remember? Turned out it had nothing in it that plants could use except a rooting/growth hormone that is banned in 46 states. Lotta hype, smoke and mirrors, little or no substance.

This is sold by Laura Newson ( sp?) she's an AOS judge...and maybe Jim can say more of what is in the bottle.
It's marketed as 'Plant Potion #9' she is the orchid whisperer...

Yes, Laura Newton sells it and I like it. I add it to my spray once a week. I'm not sure what all it has in it but Laura knows her orchids and I trust her.

Jim

It bloomed for the first time last year and I'm so happy to see this!

Wow, looking good, Betsy. New roots are always a good sign, and the little new stem is fat and sassy, too.

That's good to know, Elaine. I'm pretty new to orchids, so its so exciting to see that it is growing.

Betsy, is this a Dendrobium?

This is one of my "Nancy Pelosi" plants. I have to wait for the buds to open to put a name to it. I know it is one of 4 varieties, just don't know which one. I hope it is either the Emerald Isle or Summer Cloud, since both of these have gorgeous flowers. The sheath is 5" tall and the plant is 16" tall from the media level.

Wow! Lots to look forward to here!

Now, are these buds?



This is really my favorite Catt, it has new buds again. I have 3 more spikes getting ready to open from my 2 other Catts. So this has been blooming since December.

Oh yeah, Gigi! Lots of nice buds although those ones deep down near the leaves might need some extra water. I always water more generously when my plants are putting up flower stalks. It's also been really warm and windy lately which dries the orchids out so quickly.

Yep, buds they are, Lindsey.