Gigi, you are getting really good at this orchid growing. You may have to change your name to gigi plumeria/orchids.

I think visiting here and learning new tricks really help. I appreciate our experts sharing their orchid growing secrets.

Elaine, thanks, I will water Those little ones more. I was afraid to water thinking it would cause bud blast.

Gigi, is that one of your cattleyas that is mounted in the tree? If it is, it would be really difficult to over-water it. Especially since it's been more than 10 days since we've had any rain (although we might get a little bit later today, thankfully).

Buds can blast from either too much or too little water, of course.

Yes Elaine, these are attached to the oak tree.
Good to know!

I can't wait to see what this one looks like...I think I posted it once already, but it's getting so close to opening! It;s a first bloom for me...I got the orchid from Fred Clark.

Your Den. has been registered and has a new name: Dendrobium [Den.] Elegant Heart (Den. Peewee x Den. speciosum). Here is what it should look like:


Jim

That is so pretty! I love it! I hope mine looks like that!

Not sure you could see the whole tag in this picture, Jim...it's not quite as simple as merely Peewee x speciosum...



Is it still what you said? THANKS!

No, I didn't see the rest of the tag. The variation name on the Den. speciosum makes no difference but the Peewee is crossed with an unregistered orchid (I looked for it) and that makes a big difference. Sorry but I can't help you further. You are stuck with the name on the tag.

Jim

Thanks anyway, Jim!

Fred Clark does lots of interesting crosses, but most don't get registered. I guess it has to be in high demand before he spends that kind of money, like his black ones.

Patty,

Anticipation is fun. Even more when you have no idea what it will look like. I'm glad Jim doesn't know after all. I was thinking 'spoiler alert, spoiler alert...'

I have a couple that I am (im)patiently awaiting flowers. I think they are my favorites.

Daisy

Amen to that! Anticipation IS fun!

This is an Oncidium that was "rescued" from Lowe's in Dec. 2013, and finally... I'm having fun!


I have no idea of the ID, or what it will look like! But that's ok by me, I love it anyway!

Very nice Tara! Be sure to share when it opens!

Truth be told, I AM having much fun & excitement waiting for that den. to open for the first time!

Isn't anticipation sometimes just as exciting as seeing the first bloom? I love this thread.

good luck Patty and Tara! Hmmm I have 3 Oncidiums but they don't seem to want to bloom.

Anticipating is my favorite hobby!
This is a plant that went to my sisters house in Miami for a few years and came back without her tag..I spent some time with my old journal trying to narrow the choices! It seems to have bloomed last year..but she must have missed it.
And another Miami NOID, that has a dried sheath on the last growth and a brand new sheath.it appears to have flowered on the growth before that.




I'm tapping my fingers in anticipation!

After failing 10 or so orchids, this one has decided to bloom for me! I'm no Quitter, and this is why. When i got the plant the flower spike was at least 18" tall. This is just 6". Why?
Also had my Nuns orchid for 4 years without a boom. Almost lost it one winter. This year it did great. Any secrets to getting it to bloom? Food?

Cheryl, did the buds higher up on that spike all shrivel up and fall off or what? It could have been a lot of reasons: low humidity, too much or too little water, mealy bugs or thrips can make buds blast (just to name a few). You need a magnifier to see thrips but mealy bugs are usually visible down in the leaf axils and in the 'elbows' of the buds.

On the nun's orchids, yes, you need to fertilize them through the summer to produce more growths, and I use about a tablespoon of Dynamite on mine after the blooms are finished. They also like some water in the dry part of the winter if the leaves stay green. Did you have a fairly warm winter like we did? That also may have been a factor - we had some nights down into the 40's in January, but also a lot of rain so that helped. Usually I have to cover them for at least a few nights below 40. Not this year!

I fertilize mine with Dynamite 4 times a year.

Dynamite? I'm surprised you found enough pieces to fertilize a second time let alone a third and fourth.

In case I'm missing something: What's Dynamite 4?