Never give up, never surrender

That is the slogan of Captain Peter Quincey Taggart, commander of the starship NSEA Protector. It nicely states my philosophy of backbulb propogation.

This is a Maxillaria picta, one of a group of 8 unsprouted backbulb pots from last year. There were about 40 to start with and most sprouted. The remaining 8 are starting to look as if they are about ready to give up the ghost.

But I was pleased to see that this one had sprouted. Peeking out of the corner is a new growth.

Why have 30 of the same plant? Because they are valuable. Just last weekend I traded one of the more developed plants for a nice species Cattleya. I have traded, sold and given away about half of them now.

Don't throw away the left-over pieces when you are done repotting. Tag them and grow them. Someone will be happy to have them.

Laelia sincorana

I spent most of the weekend doing this and that at the show and sale. I also had plenty of time to look at the sales area. I kept most of my money in my pocket but there was one plant that kept calling my name.

Laelia sincorana grows in Brazil on rocks and bushes in Sincorana mountain range at the 3000 to 5000 foot altitude range. It is cool to warm growing and does best mounted. Give it a completely dry winter rest.

I am going to take it out of the pot and mount it. There are 10 pseudobulbs so I may divide it. As with any orchid work, I have to see the roots before deciding anything.

Last Day of the Show

I had a great time at the SCOS Show and Sale and am ready to go back for more. The skill session I gave on backbulbs went well and there was a good crowd.

I met Dave who writes the blog Cattleyaphilia. I traded one of my Maxillaria picta backbulbs from last year, now with two new growths and off to a good start. I got a Cattleya forbesii, a small Cattleya from Brazil. Dave posted flower pictures.

I will do another skill session today at noon. Similar content, different backbulbs today.

Show day

Cattleya percivaliana grows in Venezuela and Colombia. Cool to warm growing, full sun.

This morning I am packing plants and material to take for my presentation at 1pm today at the Sonoma County Orchid Society show and sale. I hope you will come by.

Tolumnia - Still learning

The genus Tolumnia (Tolu) contains about 20 species growing throughout the Caribbean. They grow on twigs and even grass. They are very easy to over water.

I have had 4 plants of this genus, 3 of which are dead now. I got the Tolumnia velutina to bloom once.

The problem was over watering. I went for a long time thinking that you can't over water a mounted orchid. I had them high up in the brightest part of the greenhouse, but also in the misting area.

I got a tiny piece of Tolumnia sylvestris after the SCOS potting party two years ago. I didn't know what to do with it and ended up with it sitting on the cover of my thermostat. This is in the "splash zone" but there is no direct watering.

Tolumnia sylvestris grows in Cuba on clumps of grass. It is warm to hot growing, fragrant and needs bright light.

During spring cleaning last year I noticed it, and it had grown! I mounted it on cork with almost no sphagnum, just one thread between the fishing line and the rhizome. I moved it to the edge of the misting zone and it has done very well. I have a real hope that it will bloom this year.

Laelia Canariensis 'Golden Glow' HCC/AOS

The other day I got several nice plant and flower pictures. I already had a good photo of this flower but I liked the way the group looked so I re-shot. I turned out quite well and I see that the color has deepened as the flowers have matured.

Dendrobium lichenastrum

I have gone on before about photographing small white flowers. They are a real pain, but I have a goal of having a picture of both the plant and flower for each plant in my collection so I can't just skip it.

Dendrobium lichenastrum grows in north-eastern Australia at all elevations. It is fragrant and blooms in the fall. It is very small and forms a mat. I got it last September in bloom and it has continued to bloom.

I had the camera in the greenhouse today and decided to try again to take the flower picture. The mount is only 2 inches across so you can see that these are SMALL flowers. The photo session in September yielded no acceptable pictures. Today I did better, but I am still not satisfied. Maybe the next try will do it.