My wife said the fragrance changed to "soap". When I put my nose to it, sure enough, it smelled soapy. The brand of soap I could not tell you. Needless to say, it is an interesting fragrance now. The flower itself shows no decline yet. It is still gorgeous and sparkly.

ardesia said:Chris, you have done a terrific job with those orphan orchids; your care has been exceptional and it shows.
I am always impressed with your humidity/drip trays, do you keep a mosquito dunk or bits in there to prevent mosquitoes? I get larvae growing on any standing water here at my house. We even have to flush and run water in the unused guest room baths every day or so or we have skeeters.

Thanks Alice, I guess you could say I've put quite a bit of money into them. I've modified my humidity trays. I got rid of the aluminum pans and I'm using plastic dishpans now. They're not quite as large however it's a lot easier to empty them when necessary. I'm using mosquito bits in each of the pans. The little reverse osmosis system I bought came with a 2lb can of MSU and I'd just gotten a gallon in a couple of days before it got here so I've got plenty of that on hand. I'm still using a mix of RO water and Potassium Nitrate for misting a couple of times a day.

Today was our monthly orchid club meeting..and we had a fun time hosting a repotting clinic , helping others get their plants into better pots and media. There was also a great bloom table and I brought in 4 losers..


Jim had a cartful and came home with a ribbon!

One thing I forgot to mention that I add to my humidity tray water is algae preventative used in swimming pools. I also thought I'd post some of the individual photos.

They look like winners to me, Lindsey. Is the yellow one your "wanna be" Iwanagara Apple Blossom? Gorgeous.

I hadn't realized Jim's great looking orange Vanda was that tiny! What an amazing amount of bloom on a little plant!

I really need to go shopping, I've got nothing new blooming, no buds and a bunch that are just about over, as well. It's looking grim out there right now. Ahh, Patty and I get to go next Monday to our Orchid Club meeting. I wonder if there will be anything for sale? We're doing a re-potting clinic, too I think. (I say "we" as if I was a member don't I? Guess I need to join!)

Very nice looking plants.
What kind of portable RO unit did you get, Chris

Jim's Vanda does pack a punch but they always say good things come in small packages.

I thought Appleblossom when I saw that yellow one of Lindsey's also. My Appleblossom 'Woodlands' opens pink then turns yellow.

Lindsey! They most certainly look like winners to me!

Congrats Jim! What a beautiful little Vanda!

Chris, great job!

I'm real excited this afternoon, to be able to show off my V. Brighton's Ruby Jewel. In nearly full bloom. One more yet to open.

They all look like winners to me too.

Ted5310 said:Very nice looking plants.
What kind of portable RO unit did you get, Chris

Here's the one I got Ted. It's a little slow but I only fill about 15 jugs at a time and that's plenty to last me quite awhile - https://www.firstrays.com/cart...

Jim's plant is an Ascocentrum, one of the few vandaceous plants that got to keep the old name..although Jim says it depends on who you consult!
Alice and Elaine, that IS the Jfk. Apple blossom that I bought out of bloom last fall...assuming they ALL were pink! It's got 2 huge fully open spikes and another one on the way...I take back all the unkind things I said to it when it opened yellow! The pink ( Pot. Edith North 'Danny Adams') was a free range orchid for a couple of years when it was in Miami. This is the first time I've seen it bloom, although it looks like it bloomed for my sister last year.
Thanks all for your kind words.
Tara, love the color on your Vanda!
Chris..you need to repost one of your first group shots so we can do a side by side appreciation of how much your plants have improved!

Here are a few, the first from Dec of last year


Next from 11 Jan this year



And this one from yesterday. Note the one in the front row with only one tiny leaf was laid to rest this morning.

Wonderful progress! You're definitely doing something right!

night and day..!

I agree!

Tara, I love the V. Brighton's Ruby Jewel! Gorgeous color!

Jim, that was Ascocentrum ampullaceum, right? Congrats on the ribbon, beautiful plant and beautiful blooms!!

Ursula! And I must say I'm amazed at the size of the blooms. They're huge! Much larger than my V. Pachara Delight.

You have made great progress, Chris.

Thanks Tara, Lindsey, Ursula and Ken. In about 2 months it will be a year that I've had them and I've sure learned a lot from everyone on this forum. I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up a few more this June after Mothers Day but now I know exactly how to take care of them or at least I'm pretty close to knowing how.

I hope you will consider expanding your plant varieties, Chris. Believe me, there are many varieties far more easy to take care of than Phalaenopsis varieties. With the knowledge you have gained, there is little reason for you to have to bring back plants from the dead. Look at the Cattleya Alliance for a start. Their size, color, and fragrance will simply blow you away.