With this cool late fall weather, this is the time of the year I am anxiously waiting for my "presents" to open and bloom....open, open, open

Schlumbergera hybrids buds slowly coming about:



Mini-cymbdium orchid flower buds plumping up:


My first attempt this year, Amaryllis Minerva slowly coming out:

I didn't have very good timing this year- I should'be chilled my Amaryllis- I gave one away already but most of the others have already bloomed.

Your cymbidium looks promising - I have yet to get an orchid to bloom, but I'm not giving up!

Orchids are really the temperamental ones I have some just giving out leaves right now, only this mini-cymbidium has been cooperative...but then again, I'll take any sign of growth than none at all

Yeah... well... if I were a little more consistent in my care taking, they might not be so tempermental... Just realized I hadn't watered them this week -groan- ....

So, is the Cymbidium a present for someone?

I think your orchids should be fine..I normally water them at times every 1.5 weeks during cold season time

Ah, the mini-cymbidiums are just my collection...comparing its growth pattern the last time, I realized this will be a longer wait still, it bloomed around Valentine's day...so pretty much this would follow similar waiting time

Good point, you've reminded me that I should slow down on them a bit.

I commend you on your patience! Buds for two months, shew.

Do you grow many types of orchids?

Not a lot, I am quite limited by space since I do not have a greenhouse. When the mini-cymbidium is not in bloom it stays outside, but once it sends a flower spike usually during Fall, I start to put it indoors. It will not survive the high winds here.

I have Dancing Lady Oncidium, Miltoniopsis, Doritaenopsis, Antelope Dendrobium, Dendrobium noid, Oncidium noid, Grammatophylum Scriptum 'Hihimanu', Brassia Rex, Phalaenopsis and the Mini-Cymbdium noid.

Some of them bloomed a few months during 2 consecutive years, then it seems they are resting right now, so only the mini-cymbidium is active. The Gram Scriptum, almost died, but so far has finally recovered, though I am down to one new pseudobulb, so keeping fingers crossed that it will really thrive And this mini-cymbidium also had some older back bulbs with no leaves, and have put them in a separate clay pot, trying to coax them to produce roots or leaves..so far it seems it is coming along, ever so slowly...a little too wrinkled, but those old backbulbs are alive!

I have a lot to learn, and keep my patience in check indeed

Oh wow, you do have a bunch.

Other than my terrestrials, outdoors, I have 3 - a Wilsonaria, a Beallara Marfitch 'Howard's Dream' and a Dendrobium NOID. I think part of the problem I might be having is the new windows I had installed - they have some shading to them and they're double paned, so they might not be getting enough sunshine despite the southern exposure they have.

How's the temperature and humidity in the room? My orchids are in a west facing side, and a canopy of city trees adds even more dappled shade to them. My windows are also new and double paned being a newer house..my Doritaenopsis loves this set-up..

One set is sitting near the sink, so they get more humidity there, with my electric water pot giving them some steamy moisture when it boils The other set is near our dining area, and since I know I am having poor humidity there, I have an indoor water fountain running, hopefully help give some moisture and some have stones with water under the pot..

Sometimes our little micro-climates gives a curve ball in our plants life

Oh btw, my Amaryllis Minerva started to open yesterday! I feel happy my first attempt is doing just fine!
I got very excited taking pictures! Waiting for it to bloom just a little more!

LOL, that's great. Once it opens, if you keep it in a fairly cool room it will stay in bloom longer. Will you keep it for next year or plant it outside?

Well.... they were getting a blast of humidity per day in my kitchen, but I moved them into DH's office, where they appeared to be getting a darker green than is recommended (at least for the Beallara). Now they're in the living room where I have a pot of water on the wood-burning stove, but that probably isn't enough, come to think of it. Time to pull out the ol' spritzer bottle.

I plan to keep the amaryllis bulb Just keeping it in pots, and then will try a rebloom next time..now that is the challenge I have moved the plant now to the living room area, it is cooler there..so excited to see the rest of this plant to fully bloom!

I read if the orchid leaves are turning darker green, means it needs more light.

tarev said:I read if the orchid leaves are turning darker green, means it needs more light.

Exactly - so now they're in the southern window of the living room. We'll see if that helps.

It really isn't a problem to get it to bloom again, just like this time. You can keep it in water if you like until Sept. or so, then take it out and put it some place dark for 8 weeks - pull it out, start all over again. If you plant it in dirt you can do the same thing, just withhold water until the leaves yellow (or cut them off if you prefer) and stick it in a dark place... same thing. No problem.

I've seen them planted around here - I never thought they'd be hardy here, but evidently you just need to plant them quite deep (8"). I thought I'd sacrifice one bulb as an experiment (not like I don't have enough, lol...) I probably should have planted it earlier in the year, oh well.

oh Sheryl
you planted your bulbs to early? so sorry i have been told both i had many people ask about the amaryllis and its hard due to house temps im in florida and some grew so fast 3 weeks to bloom then i left in refrigerator and planted and it got cool out side and grow so slow 3 weeks 4 in tall?? I have to keep out side due to growing 30-50 at a time for resale and the buyers say I WANT IT BLOOMING? i say what part of the amaryllis is the anticipation of the growing and soon as the flowers die you got green leaves til next year i plant all mine outside for my self and mothernature blooms them around march.


i was sugestion people plant every4-5 days 6 weeks before you want blooms if you have the hose about 72 and night 68

mike

LOL, Mike - I'm just too blonde (and busy!) to actually stagger my blooms like that. I get a good pinch once a while and remember to start another bulb, lol...

My mini-cymbidium orchid seems to say Peek-a-Boo

Wow, you're not watching it, are you?

C'mon, baby - BLOOM!

Okay Sheryl...my mini-c says this time...can you see me a little better now?




My Schlumbergera is in full bloom, well at least one of its buds :



Amaryllis blooms fully open! Looks like 4 trumpets


Happy Day to all!

Mmm - your 4 trumpets reminds me of a quilting pattern. Pretty strange, seeing as I'm not a quilter, lol.

Mini-c is getting cuter! And the cactus is full-blown beautiful. They are just amazing when in bloom.

Ah the flowers evoke the inner artist in all of us

It's true, who wouldn't those ephemeral beauty to last and be our own?