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The thread "September 2011 Orchids" in Orchids forum

Starting off the new month with a cute first bloom of the season on Coelogyne fimbriata 'Mini'


Bulbophyllum echinolabium is still blooming on this Summer's spike and is spiking freshly on the other side of the basket. Hurray for sunny days when the fan starts up....This is one Orchid I will never bring into the living room.


The C. mossiae x labiata ( probably) shows a first single bloom and is ready to pop a few sheaths. The scent is heavenly!


And Encyclia bracteata has been throwing out a single flower from the same spike every so often.


Two blooms now on my cute Bl Tiny Kiss -

Thanks for the start Ursula! Love that one!! I'll hafta look at mine to see if it's thinking about blooming. Just like always, I'm a bit behind you! Right now everything is under those great tarps once again. My efforts are paying off though. I don't think they would be able to make it through all this never ending rain without getting the dreaded rot without my tarps.

I'm trying to decide whether to start bringing them in this weekend. I'll get quite wet doing it I'm sure. But the rooms are cleaned and it would be nice to bring them in slowly for a change. I hate to block the back door with shelving because it means "winter." I also have a million other things to do.

This year, I have hung a big grow light (we called it Chernobyl in my old house cause you could see it glowing from outside) up high in the cool room which only has north light. I plan on a 2 hour a day schedule. This will be for the cyms, lycastes which have yet to bloom, and the rupicolous laelias. I will hafta block light to the masdies, etc. Wish me luck!

Kathy, thanks.
I think the grow light is an excellent idea, but I am puzzled about the grow-light hours? I would have thought of following the hours of daylight outside? And why block anything? Can the amount of light regulated simply by the distance to the light source?

Trying to save money since there is daylight too. The light is actually supplemental. And this is a giant bulb and surely expensive to run. I'll block the light by putting orchids mentioned on the top shelf and masdies underneath. I'll take pics when they all are in in Nov.

Ahh, makes sense.
I use a 150 W Grow lamp right now in the sunroom, that translates to ca. 21 cents a day. ( at 14 cents/ kWh) Run a bunch of those, that adds up...

yep!

Wonderful start, Ursula, and of course I love the Bulbo. We had a cool front come through last night and lowered the temps a little and the humidity a lot. It was actually pleasant to be outside today so I hit it big time. The garden was attacked by wild vines this summer so it has been man against vines all day. I'm really tired but you should see the vines. I just ran over the big piles with the lawn tractor so they are now compost.

Jim

Man one, vines zero.

I was looking at my borders and I can only shake my head. How do the weeds always run away like that on me. Oh, they are WEEDS!!

Ursula, how cute that 'tiny kiss' is!
Onc. Sweet Ears ‘Pacific Gold’ has bloomed..this has been in spike for ever.


I am procrastinating about going out and attacking my borders, I'm afraid the
score would be
Vines 1
Lindsey 0

I know what you mean, Lindsey. Yesterday was brutal. I worked from daybreak until 2:30 without stopping and was so tired my arms were trembling.

Ascda Sunsamran Spot X V. Doctor Anek is maturing nicely. This is a first time bloomer for me and I really like it.

Jim

This is Phal Candy Hope X Phal Oxford.

Jim

Great early October blooms everyone!

Ursula: I love that Bulbophyllum ... what a cool looking flower that is ... and I'm in love with that Bl Tiny Kiss!

Lindsey: Love, Love, Love the vivid colors of that Oncidium, very pretty!

Jim: Wow! That Ascda. is sooo pretty! I really like that one! It sounds like you've been busy battling vines! I know all about that chore here in Florida. A couple of years ago I spent every day, all day for about three weeks clearing a large area of the backyard that was being taken over by Cape Honeysuckle and Southern Sword Fern ... it's all growing back again. I just cannot keep up with the wild stuff here in Florida anymore. I'm getting too old for all that work so I think the vines have won!

Well ... orchids bloom sporadically for me at best. A few days ago I noticed a spike on a plant with chewed up leaves (thanks to the squirrels.) The label is missing but I think it might be Onc. 'Gower Ramsey' ... won't know for sure though until the blooms open. I moved it into the screened area so the squirrels can't get to it anymore. I have one orchid with a single bloom right now, the first photo showing the plant/bud was taken 9/24/11 and close up of the little bloom today.

Ctna. Jamaica Gem 'Marble Branch x C. Pradit Spot 'Black Prince' AM/AOS

That's a beauty!!!!
Love your Ascda, Jim. Spots + red = Yum!
The wind knocked over a bunch of plants on the barn "porch" last night. Everyone but the bloomers are under tarps again. Will it ever stop raining? Today I'm starting my floor and shelf set up to bring the vandaceous plants in before Wed night (36F). Waiting for the rain to take a break so I can move some.....busy busy!

Wow Kathy ... it's getting COLD up your way! 36ºF already?? Is that normal for this time of year? We got a little bit of a cool down here today, very pleasant at 80º and low humidity. I wish it could stay like this year round! I think our low tonight is supposed to be very nice @ 57º which is wonderful. Unfortunately I doubt the low humidity will last long but it is Florida *sigh*.

Jim, I adore the Ascda x (You got a for it )
Regarding the garden clean-up - that's why you are in great shape? Good exercise?

Lindsay, very nice Oncidium!

Lin, pretty Ctna x and you must keep the critters from munching your stuff!! Aren't Squirrels most annoying?

Ursula: Yes the squirrels are very annoying. I had a major problem with squirrels destroying plants a few years ago and yet moved plants back outside again this year just to have them mangled and half eaten or dug up by those critters again! I have one hoya and a fern hanging in a tree right now that are almost totally wrecked ... the squirrels bury peanuts in the soil and tear the foliage up as they dig. It's my own fault because I have so many bird feeders around the yard and I put peanuts out for the jays (and squirrels). You'd think those critters would be thankful and leave my plants alone.

Yes they are, Ursula. I found one of my almost ripe persimmons half eaten still hanging from the tree.

Jim

Oh that would be war! I love persimmons!

Only when they are very very ripe. Then they are delicious.