Welcome to August. We'd love to see what's blooming at your place!
We came from The thread "What's in Bloom? July 2011" in Orchids forum

Cattleya Luna.


I thought Maxillaria cucullata was all done blooming but it has 2 new blooms!


This Maxillaria uncata was also a surprise! First time blooming for me. It might belong in miniatures.


Bletilla ochracea is still blooming away.


A third bloom on Mexipedium xerophyticum.


One of the Hong Kong Phals is still in bloom.

pretty!

Nice start to the month, Kathy. I am especially fond of Bletilla ochracea and of course Cattleya Luna.

I've been away from the computer for a few days and will try to catch up. I'm a year older since my last post and there have been lots of activities including visitors and a garden club party. I am moving orchids into their new home little by little as I am still concerned about the heat buildup. The contractor has agreed to swap out the vent fan for a bigger one. The vandas seem very happy but I am concerned about a few others. Summer camp in the bushes cost me about half of my phals and my only Miltonia due to heavy rain in the bushes. I would say I lost about 15 orchids during this construction period.

Back on subject, I found Potinara Hoku Gem ' Freckles' blooming when I brought her back to her new home.

Jim

Stanhopea wardii has put out a second spike and filled the new lanai with a great fragrance.

Jim

Rhynochostylis retusa has put out two spikes, one now in bloom and one in bud.

Jim

This is Slc Firelighter X Pot. Matt Saftenberg.

Jim

This is Phal. Candy Hope X Oxford.

Jim

This is not bad for a NOID Dendrobium.

Jim

L. tenebrosa X Blc Chinese Bronce 'Marco Polo' is still blooming nicely.

Jim

Brassavola David Sander has put on more blooms and more buds are developing. This is a must have orchid.

Jim

Finally, a last look at this NOID Catt. I wonder if I look hard enough in the bushes I could find the tag?

Jim

Great show Jim. I love every one!!!!

My you have a lot to show us. I've been waiting for a report on the heat. When we did our due diligence on our sun room we saw a structure somewhat like ours without airconditioning over a pool. They added a wall unit but it didn't help. Between the water vapor and the heat they simply shut that room down during the summer. They didn't have double glass either. Another place also had a sun room with lots of glass which was a waste during the summer months. These were 6 inch foam roofs but the heat got in through the glass walls. We learned a little from what we saw. The FL sun is a thing to behold.

Ive only got the same Paph family...
Look at the hairs on my Paph Villosum, like a snarling dog
and my Cymbidium one tree hill 'mt beenak' with only one spike now as my friend wanted the other.

What a great friend you are, Bree!

Fred, I still have hope that the picture is not as bleak as you paint it. Most of my orchids are in place and seem happy. I'm just waiting for a bigger fan.

Jim

Jim, when the outside temp is 95 no fan will bring it down to 80 . It has to be hotter inside then outside, no matter the air movement. I doubt if any fan can keep the temps inside at outside measurements.

I just can't understand how they have greenhouses at Selby's, for example, and have orchids growing nicely inside. I never really wondered about that until I got my own hothouse. Now I'm really curious as to how they do it. I think they have air moistening systems to keep things cool. Next time I go there, I'll do some serious investigation.

Fred
PS How is the temp difference between in and out now?

I've been growing orchids for years in the pool cage and the temps are the same inside and out. All I am after is the same inside and out with the addition of good air movement. With the screen I had some reduction in the sun and with the polycarbonate I have the same plus no UV rays. I just don't want heat buildup under the roof and I should be able to clear that out with a good exhaust fan. Most of my orchids are warm growers and it gets hot in their native habitat as well.

Jim

Great start to the month Kathy. Ohhhhh the pastel color of Cattleya Luna and Maxillaria uncata looks like it could hide quite easily. Those phals do go on and on, I guess that's what makes them so popular.

Jim, you have a tremendous show on the go (hard to imaging all the things you have harvested out of the weeds). I am not surprised that they are up-sizing your fan. Most greenhouses around here with equivalent size to your lanai would probably have a couple 30 inch fans to move the hot air out. I love the 'Freckles' and fox tail of your Rhynochostylis as well as the red of Slc Firelighter X Pot. Matt Saftenberg.

Very nice looking Paphs bree. I have heard that Cymbidium make a great cut flower and will last for quite a while. Have you done this before

Roof air vents and shade cloth are used in ghs here. I know Dr. Don used to grow masdies in So. CA and used swamp coolers and AC.