Orchids and bromeliads not blooming? Friends have the answer.

I tucked apple wedges between Vriesea bromeliads so the rotting fruit would produce ethylene gas, which makes most plants sprout flower stalks.

Orchids and bromeliads not blooming? Friends have the answer. - CSMonitor.com

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids

We have a lot to be thankful for...

Despite any challenges we may be facing, we still have a lot to be thankful for... Let's finish the year focusing on the good things happening in our life, not the bad.  And if you really think about it... it's all good.  This post gives me an excuse to post photos of orange orchids, the color of the season.  Enjoy!

Orchid Plant Adventures to Exotic Destinations

I need a holiday. A trip to Guatemala even sounds good. I don't mean to be facetious but there is a lot of violence in Guatemala. Well, I am not afraid of spiders... probably because I don't think of spiders. So, I think if I focus on the beauty of things and places I will only experience the beauty. That's simple right? Just focus on greatness and you will experience greatness. Well, what does this motivational stuff have to do with a holiday? I have heard great things about Guatemala from an experienced horticulturalist. According to him, Guatemala has more flora (the plant life in a region) than any of the other regions like Costa Rica, Peru, Belize or Honduras. He described Guatemala as a floral paradise. But he also said, "Hay mucha violencia" which in Spanish means there is a lot of violence. That means I will need to go to Guatemala myself. Someday. And marvel at the beauty of Guatemala's flora and forget about mine and Guatemala's problems.

Anyone planning a trip to Guatemala to see its flora can contact (I am not affiliated with this organization):

Plant Adventures to Exotic Destinations

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids

Vanilla beans + vodka = homemade extract

"vanilla extract...can be made... from home with just two ingredients... making vanilla extract requires very little time and maintenance...

URL: http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2010/10/19/vanilla-beans-vodka-homemade-extract/

Steve
1888Orchids

Encore!

It also comes in this size (large) :) we're testing the imager.. is that even a word? imager? hey, i invented a new word which means resizing an image on Blogger... yeah, that's it.  Well, it's the same photo as the other post today but a little bigger.  The orchid is so beautiful I figured you wouldn't mind seeing it again anyway...

Two new Orchid Species have been discovered and registered in Machu Picchu

Two new Orchid Species have been discovered and registered in Machu Picchu,  Peru by Dr. Carlyle A. Luer: Brachionidium carmeniae Luer, sp. nov. and  Brachionidium inkaterrense Luer & C.Soto, sp. nov. with the collaboration of  Inkaterra Asociación (ITA), an NGO created by the Joe and Denise Koechlin to
study and protect flora and fauna in the Machu Picchu National Sanctuary. * Brachionidium inkaterrense Luer & C.Soto, sp. nov. is a 10 cm tall  epiphyte growing on sphagnum moss at 3000 - 3200 meters, blooming in
October. Flowers last for 2 or 3 days.  * Brachionidium carmeniae Luer, sp. nov., named after Carmen Soto,
Coordinator of ecological programs at Inkaterra, is 10 cm tall epiphyte  growing on sphagnum moss blooming in October at 3000 - 3200 meters. Flowers  last for 2 or 3 days.

Both species seem to be endemic to Machu Picchu.

See the pictures at: http://bit.ly/bcdQwD
Orchid Conservation and Biodiversity Conference in Machu Picchu (February
2011): http://www.mapibio.com/

 

Brachionidium carmeniae Luer, sp. nov.

Brachionidium inkaterrense Luer & C.Soto, sp. nov.

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

Happy Autumn!

Miniature Moth Orchids

Today is election day... woohoo! (unless you're reading this after election day) Democracy does work.  I hope everyone got out and voted.  What a historic time for our country.  It is a historic time for just about every sector, don't you agree? - politics, agriculture, space, biology.., you name it, something is being etched in the history of this great country.  Something great is happening everywhere these days...
History is also being made in agriculture - especially with orchid plants.  That's right, orchid breeding, especially phalaenopsis orchid breeding is reaching a climax with the latest trend being miniature moth orchids in 3" (7.6 centimeters) growing pots.  Here is a sampling of these little beauties - the hottest trend in blooming orchid plant offerings - the miniature moth orchid in small pots.

Miniature orchids add color to dish gardens or you can combine up to six miniature moth orchids and create a miniature moth orchid garden.  Woohoo!