Elaine, my David Sander blooms in early Summer, so there is still plenty time to bud?

Lol, I'm just griping about David Sander - will be glad to see it whenever it chooses to bloom.

I had different brassavolas in bloom most of the time last year, so as you say, lots of time.

My David Sander seems to bloom whenever it feels like it. I have a bloom on now, a couple in January, some last fall and some in the spring.

Jim

Just some waiting game updates:

Wils Hilda Plumtree 'Purple Wings' shows marked improvement on the buds, after I moved it to the growcamp...it wants sun and more sun aside from increased watering:


Noid orchid also showed marked improvement as warmer weather starts to set in..



Noid Phal rebloomer has started her bloom show in mid Feb..new blooms now opening up every week

I'm looking forward to seeing those Wilsonia blooms.

Jim

Me too! How's this for "any minute" anticipation? Iwanagara Apple Blossom, first of two spikes!

It looks like an apple blossum. Great name.

Jim

Looking nice, both of you!
Love the Apple Blossom!

Lovely Apple Blossom in waiting Elaine!

After two years of my mounted tolumnia not growing flowers, I decided to try a new growing environment for it. While I was away the past five days, I had placed the mount inside a terrarium to keep it moist. It did the trick, as i have a hard time keeping the sphag moist even with daily watering. So, I decided to give the tiny plant its own mason jar terrarium. Time will tell if it likes it.

I'm sure many of us are interested in your findings, Sarah. Keep us informed.

Jim

Hm, I thought Tols liked to dry out between waterings. Keep an eagle eye on it!

Mine were stimulated to bloom by the increasing day length - more light!!

wont the tolumnia rot in the damp jar?

Oh oh. While this maybe helped on a real short term, I would not think it to be a more permanent solution. A Tolumnia wants a lot of sun and LOTs of air movement around the roots. Think epiphyte! These Orchids are not ground-dwellers.

Thanks for the advice! I had the tolumnia mounted for 2 years and while it grew, it never bloomed. I also noticed that it started dropping leaves over the past couple months, perhaps due to not enough water (they would turn yellow and fall off). I had it grow directly under a T5 for a long time, which did nothing to encourage blooms.

Interesting, I have a gastrochilus that grows better with less light that is recommended, which is what prompted me to consider less light for the tolumnia. I think I will take the lid off and see how it goes over the next week or so. I've read about tolumnia lighted potted in tiny clay pots.

It seems that you all are going to have a wonderful blooming season !! I'll be waiting for your photos.

Sarah, don't you have a window you could put the plant by? I would think it would do fine in direct light from any window at this time of year.
Here are a couple of mine, in their tiny clay pots each with a spike, one getting ready to open. They're getting direct sun in the morning - here in Florida!

Okay, after research I decided to take the tolumnia out of the terrarium and remount it. However, it is now hanging outside of the (indoor) greenhouse.

Elaine--Not exactly, for two reasons. Yes, I have windows. But, I live in Syracuse. During winter we have more grey days than sunshine. So, growing plants in windows, but not provide enough light (at least not for plants that need lots of light--phals do okay in window areas). The other reason is I have two kittens (10 months old), who LOVE to eat my plants. With the exception of pines trees and a basil plant, all of my other plants have to be in a greenhouse or terrarium (or moved to my office). Elaine, also notice that my tolumnia is 10x smaller than yours.

So, currently outside the greenhouse might work, because it will still get some light and it is hard for the kittens to get to it (so far). My newest orchid (a large oncidium) is in a room that I usually keep closed, which prevents me from gazing at it as often, but kitten-proof.

Ooo, kittens! Such fun and such mischief, huh?

You're right, the leaves on my Tols are about twice the size of yours, and darker green, too. Have you been fertilizing them?

I mist mine daily, and use very weak fert solution every second day in winter, every day in summer. All my orchids get this treatment.

Wils. Hilda Plumtree 'Purple Wings' getting quite plump..anytime now...