Janice, I feed mine weekly with BetterGro 20-14-13 (3/4 tsp per gal.) except for the cool/dry period. Once the sheaths start to swell and watering picks up I give it BetterGro bloom booster 11-35-15 once a month. Saw Ursula's post on the size of her's. My tallest leaf tip is barely six inches. Then again, Ursula grows atomic orchids.

Thanks, Laurel. Great info.
Ursula, I enjoy watching the growing process sometimes more than the actual flower. Crazy, huh? Fascinating to learn the time it takes for each plant to do this and that. I have always been interested in the "process" out in the garden......

You get to "know" their habits well and then you start to collect different ones to see what THEY will like and do.

So true..it goes on and on.

Loved your video! A little more practice and we'll have to nominate you for the acadamy awards!

Ha!! I was fine when I did it, fine when I made it a movie. But posting it unnerved me. We are each our own worst critic!

Any Australians that like orchids check out the forum Australian orchid growers forum.

I took a photo of this at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. It is Cypripedium kentuckiense, just thought you may be interested.
We have a wild one that is very rare and that is Cypripedium calceolus. It was rarely if ever seen in the UK as it was decimated by the Victorian plant hunters and orchid collectors. It was thought to be extinct in the wild until one was found and is closely guarded. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, and indeed others have some.
Regards from England.
Neil.

Thanks, Neil! Aren't they beautiful!!? Here is a pic of the calceolus for those interested. http://www.rhodoniagara.org/BP...

I grow several types of Cypripediums in my garden. Some are species (none are kentuckiense though) and some are hybrids. They are usually open in mid June so keep watching the Terrestrial Orchid thread (in the Orchids with Special Characteristics forum) at that time!

I have been lucky enough to see our native one in the wild, it is stunning!
Here is another photo from Chelsea.
Regards.
Neil.

Thanks again, Neil!!

Plus this one!
Regards.
Neil.

Is that from the Chelsea show, too? Hmmm. If you have more, maybe you could post them on the Shows thread! http://cubits.org/orchids/thre...

Holy smokes!!
Wonderful Cyps too!

I'm feeling a bit smug right now. I finally added Royal Orchid Club to Dave's Garden Watchdog list and then proceeded to blast them for that piece of rubbish vanda they sent me last year. I paid $26 for something I would not have given a dollar for on the orphan table at HD. If any of you have had experience with these thieves, I encourage you to go over to Dave's and get it off your chest. I feel better already.

Jim

Jim ,
I know what you mean..they sent me a replacement plant that looked just as good as this one!
Both plants are stable, but who knows if I'll ever get them to bloom

OMG!! That's awful. I think I bought once from them and stopped forever.
Can you both repost here? http://cubits.org/orchids/thre...

Can anyone identify this beauty for me? I killed it several years ago, but would like to replace it. Maybe I can do better next time. It took me three tries before I got the tankervillaes to live but they are doing well now.

Jean

Brassia or probably Brassia x, I think. http://www.sborchid.com/sboe_o...

Kathy, what a great video on your outdoor watering. They are impressive!!
Janice