Ursula, I potted it the same as my other Cyms., all organic matter. About 30% bark, 30% composted manure and 30% potting soil mix. I sometimes go as high as 50% manure. I fill the bottom of the pot with three or four inches of dried leaves instead of crocking or foam. The big difference with this Cym. is it prefers lower light than most so I have it inside and in an east exposure. Because of the lower light and soil based medium I feed it less often than other Cyms using regular Miracle Gro with an occasional dose of higher nitrogen orchid fert. I thought there were going to be two spikes, but every week a new one or two appeared.

Have a safe and healthy holiday everyone.
Laurel

Laurel, thanks so much!! What really sticks out here is the composted manure. Interesting! I will try that!

I'm using this mix and fert. program with Catasetums and Cycnoches too. They seem to be loving it. Now if you will tell me how to get Dendrobium javierii to cooperate, I'd appreciate it. I got it last April from Andy and it has put out a ton of new growth. Safe to say it's almost doubled. The newest growth still has that slight yellow-green cast that is typical, and they are starting to darken, but no signs of blooms yet. I'm hoping that the Fall transfer to a new basket didn't interrupt the bloom cycle. I got a Max. sanguinea at the same time that I repotted but it has not broken stride and is getting ready to pop flowers. Some of the flowers I've seen out there look spectacular and some rather not. I hope it's a good one.

Laurel

Sounds good! I have never considered using manure for Orchids.
Laurel, are you talking about Dendrobium anosmum? I get some blooms on mine but it is not blooming as well as it could....
I have it in full sun right now under the ceiling and despite daily watering it is dropping leaves ( good). The plant is drying quickly in that spot.
Good luck on the Max!

Great info Laurel!! Thanks so much. My Max sanguinea has stopped blooming for a few years. Actually only a few of my Maxes bloom. How do you grow them?

OMG, brain burp. I'm talking Dendrochillum . lol

Kathy, you're probably not going to want to hear my advice on Maxes. I grow them in sphag, and very loose at that, but in a baskets. They love sphag. Maxes will do well in a variety of media just that they don't like anything old. It's been years since I've grown them, but they are in the group that gets repotted every year.
Laurel

Oh, Dendrochilum javieri.
I have it in a clay pot with a bit of shredded Coconut fiber wrapped around the roots. I find my Dendrochilums don't object to that at all. Light conditions are similar to Phals, daily watering for me.
Now the spikes would emerge together with the new growth, they come up in the center of the rolled up new leaf. Maybe yours is spiking, have you looked inside the new growth?

I had a nice surprise here, my little Slc Patricia Taaffee 'Neptune' is blooming again from a small new growth. This time I managed to get the color fairly accurate. ( by adjusting the White Balance from "Auto" to "bright sunlight") But, one needs to add some sparkles....

Yah. The spagnum wouldn't work here but I'll look into new medium....
Ursula, what cheerful colors on that Slc! It reminds me of zinnias. I had no trouble picturing sparkles.
My daughter has arrived. It must be Christmas!

got a few new Vandas from ebay. Love them..and really large plants also..

Very nice, Bree. What is the name of the light colored one with freckles?

Jim

I like that one too! and is that a teeny tiny vanda down in front..very dark purple? It's cute!

This is the second time this Ctna Maui Maid X Mcp Brysiana has bloomed for me. Once again the spikes are more than a meter long perhaps reflecting the schomburgkia in its lineage.

Jim

I am glad you have the vertical space to bloom this beauty! Very pretty!

Thanks, Ursula, it's growing on me. Now if I could get my Schomburgkia undulata to open. It has had a meter long spike on it for months. Perhaps I need to move it to more direct sun. That will be tuff however as I will have to move everything back into the garage on Sunday. They are calling for overnight temps in the low 30s for the first few days of next week.

Jim

Sorry to hear that Jim! Is there a sunny indoor space for the schom? Love the Ctna Maui Maid X Mcp Brysiana and all those great vandas, Bree! Is the spotty a mokara?
Ursula gave me a Schom. superbiens in bud and I can see the buds now. Can't wait.

Lost all the buds for the second year on the Aerangis distincta. What's the deal?? I spray it often.

My office smells spicy!!!!! I love it!

It is very colorful too!

My Angraecum sesquipedale ( common name Star of Bethlehem) managed to open the very first and most timely bloom of its season!



Merry Christmas!

Ursula, that's just beautiful! Mine hasn't bloomed yet and now I can't wait.

Jim

Wow Kathy,
I'de come to your office just to gawk like a tourist!
Jim, the Ctna Maui Maid X Mcp Brysiana is really beautiful..what does the rest of the plant look like?
Ursula, Slc Patricia Taaffee 'Neptune' has spectacular color...and I can see a hint of sparkle on your picture. Nice!

Lindsey, here is a picture of the plant from last year and yes, that is a yard stick so you can get some idea as to the spike length.

Jim