The Devil's Excrement

Two spectacular species. On the left Cattleya (Cat.) Intermedia from Brazil, a very large sized one, one of the best I have, On the right a fairly rare Schomburkia thomsoniana which is originally from the Cayman Isalnds and Cuba. It comes in a bunch of 10-20 flowers which open gradually, the older ones dying as new ones bloom, this makes it last quite a while.

Pot. (Potinara) Hoku Gem Sun Spots                   Lc. (Leilocattleya) Gold Digger

I have shown pictures of earlier blooms of this Brazilian species Cat. (Cattleya) Walkeriana in its rarer alba (white) form. This is supposed to be the best alba form called “Pendentive”.  Most wild Walkerianas are pink to purple in color. This time the plant, which flowers as many as four times a year, bloomed two flowers. Perfect shape, thick texture, spactacular. Some people say it is a hybrid. I am not sure I really care one way or the other. I grow all Walkerianas in slabs of cork, they seem to love it. This one grows by now on both sides of the slab.

Cattleya Lueddemaniana Clin Mac Cade x Raga          Brassavola Nodosa

Cattleya Nobilior semi alba                                      Grammatophylum Scriptum flower (more than 70 in each spike)

Unknown Hybrid                                                     Spectacular Brassoleilocattleya Ronald Hauserman

People ask what my orchid room/greenhouse looks like. Well, since most readers are from the US or Canada, this will not help much in their growing. Caracas is  3000 feet above sea level. Temperatures year around go from 60 F to no more than 95 F. Humidity is not too high and is usually above 50%, but gets into the 30-40% level in the dry season (March-May). Thus my greenhouse is open air, no walls. I live in an apartment and the greenhouse is on  the terrace. You can see it in the picture below

You can see it’s very simple, a metallic structure holds a tempered glass roof that has chicken wire inside. I have curtains on two sides to prevent the sun from hitting the plants directly during the day, there is a wall on another side and is open air in the side where the sun goes up in the morning. (In the picture one curtain is up) I have plants on tables, hanging, as well as on the wall on the side, depending on the watering or shade conditions each plant prefers. In the forefront you can see two huge Grammatophyllums as well as my doberman “Chupeta”.

Two Beautiful Venezuelan species: On the left spectacular Oncidium or Psychopsis Papilio. Most Venezuelans don’t even know it can be found in their country. This is a variety with very large lip that came from a selfing by a local grower. On the right is beautiful (and somewhat stinky!) Cattleya Percivaliana Gabriela, another Venezuelan Cattleya.

Two from Brazil: Left: Cattleya Nobilior, does not have a great shape but I love it anyway. On the right Cattleya Walkeriana.

And now Asia: The long shoot of Dendrochilum Cobbianum. Perhaps an expert will confirm that this is indeed that species. Have had it for a long time but have no clue as where it came form, but it does look somewhat like this.

I have had lots of vistors in the last two days thanks to the mention in the Orchids magazine of my blog (Thanks Susan!). I thought there was not much new to photograph, but my orchid room is always full of surprises like those above. Just in time for all of you to see them. Hope all of you who regularly take pictures of your orchids consider starting a blog. It is easy, cheap (sometimes even free!!) and it is a wonderful way to see, learn and compare your orchids with those of others. (Would be glad to help anyone considering setting one up). Enjoy!

Cattleya Gaskelliana Blue Dragon x self             Other flowers on same plant. This plant is very generous, I bought a seedling a few years ago and now I have four or five huge plants that grow like weeds.

Cattleya Gaskelliana Blue Dragoin x self     C. Percivaliana near the roof of the orchid room

Old faithful Oncidium Gower Ramsey always provides bright colors

Phals, Phals, everywhere

Another Phal                                                   Guava collored Vanda

Sometimes, I like to take pictures of my flowers in the orchid room, just as they flower. It is not the best way to take pictures, the lighting is wrong, you get shadows, the contrasts are not very good. But despite all this problems, they look “right”, this is the way I see them daily. Above a variety of “natural but artificial” shots.

Cattleya Gaskelliana Blue Dragon x self             Other flowers on same plant. This plant is very generous, I bought a seedling a few years ago and now I have four or five huge plants that grow like weeds.

Cattleya Gaskelliana Blue Dragoin x self     C. Percivaliana near the roof of the orchid room

Old faithful Oncidium Gower Ramsey always provides bright colors

Phals, Phals, everywhere

Another Phal                                                   Guava collored Vanda

Sometimes, I like to take pictures of my flowers in the orchid room, just as they flower. It is not the best way to take pictures, the lighting is wrong, you get shadows, the contrasts are not very good. But despite all this problems, they look “right”, this is the way I see them daily. Above a variety of “natural but artificial” shots.

This week was the meeting of the Miranda Orchid Society, sadly the only exhibit held these days in Caracas every year. I took some pictures, but did not bring a tripod and lighting was quite variable, but here are some favorites: From top to bottom: Top left: C. Mossiae from the Merida Society which won first prize for Venezuelan species. Top Right: Stanhopea Tigrina Negriscensis. Bottom Left: Cirropetalum Elizabeth Ann and Bottom Right: Catasetum. Enjoy!

Three beautiful Brazilian species flowered this week: From the top left: Cattleya Walkeriana “Pendentive”, right: Cattleya Intermedia and Bottom: Cattelya Pumila Black Diamond

Spectacular Cattleya Loddigesi Tony Boss    Cattleya Jenmani Castro x Rose note the slight flaring