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!

Overview of Growing Orchids Indoors

For most gardening and flower enthusiasts, bloomed flowers are most fascinating to see, especially if they work hard and care for it, till it blossom. Among the most planted floras for gardens, orchids are one of the favorites.

Link:Overview of Growing Orchids Indoors

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Orchid Lights – The Correct Spectrum

What's a home horticulturist to do? The window sills are full and a greenhouse out back is not in the budget for years to come. Orchid lights can be a great enhancement to your growing or lighting needs.

Link:Orchid Lights – The Correct Spectrum

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Five tips for growing orchids

rchids are exotic plants that many gardeners insist are simple to grow.

Link:Five tips for growing orchids | Chattanooga Times Free Press

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Orchid tricks hoverflies: Eastern marsh helleborine mimics aphid alarm pheromones to attract pollinators

Eastern marsh helleborine (Epipactis veratrifolia), an orchid species, has successfully lured a hoverfly of the genus Ischiodon by mimicking alarm pheromones usually emitted by aphids. Credit: MPI Chemical Ecology, Johannes Stök

Orchid tricks hoverflies: Eastern marsh helleborine mimics aphid alarm pheromones to attract pollinators

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

Orchid Problems and Pests : Mealybugs and Brown Soft Scales

Here is a great article about mealybugs published by The McAllen International Orchid Society Journal.

Orchid Problems and Pests : Mealybugs and Brown Soft Scales

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

I like, you like?

Orchids - going, going gone!

Orchids - going, going gone! » Naples Daily News (User story from kitmaran)

URL: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/oct/08/orchids---going-going-gone-1565/?partner=yahoo_feeds

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

GARDENING: Orchids aren't as difficult to grow as one might think - ContraCostaTimes.com

"Orchids R Easy," asserted South Bay Orchid Society director Don Goss, in the title of his recent orchid workshop.
URL: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_16290387?source=most_emailed

GARDENING: Orchids aren't as difficult to grow as one might think - ContraCostaTimes.com

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

I support the American Orchid Society...

I am not a trustee of the American Orchid Society, heck I am not even a member (I have been thinking of becoming one and I encourage everyone else to do the same). But despite all the "troubles" over there, I think the American Orchid Society is great and if any issues come up with regard to data bases or donations, we as the orchid community should support the American Orchid Society, not condemn it or criticize it. I for one hope to become a member this year...


Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Stark Museum presents Orchids in Print - TheRecordLive.Com

ORANGE, Texas, September 29, 2010 - The Stark Museum of Art will feature a gallery spotlight Orchids in Print on Saturday, October 9, at 1:30 p.m. and repeated at 2:15 p.m. Betty Hyatt, a Stark Museum docent, will give a presentation focusing on the life and work of artists who created illustrations for three rare botanical publications depicting exotic orchids from the museum collection. The books are showcased in a highlight exhibit of the same name which will be on view at the Stark Museum of Art from October 2 through October 16, 2010. The gallery spotlight is free to the public.

URL: Stark Museum presents Orchids in Print

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

Has a virus imperiled local varieties? - Kuensel Online

Cymbidium Mosaic 1 October, 2010 - More than 500 species of orchids that grow in the wild in Bhutan are at risk of being infected by a virus called Cymbidium mosaic virus, if what a self taught and trained orchid grower has to say is true.

For the past five months, Khashapa Dukpa has been saying that the hybrid blooming orchids that came into the country for the SAARC summit have brought along one of the most prevalent orchid viruses, which, if not destroyed, could wipe out the country’s entire wild orchid species.
URL:

Has a virus imperiled local varieties? - Kuensel Online

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

CEO Passions: Orchid Cultivation

Civil engineer Chris Rehmann tends to some 1,200 orchids in his backyard greenhouse.

URL:
CEO Passions: Orchid Cultivation

Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com

Biotechnology needed for orchid industry - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VietNamNet

VietNamNet Bridge - More investment in the development of orchid breeding and application of advanced biotechnology could make orchids key to HCM City’s farming growth, given the flower brings a profit 20 times higher than rice.

Enjoy,
URL:

Biotechnology needed for orchid industry - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VietNamNet

Orchids are Always in Bloom in Elma

What started out as a few orchid seedlings on an indoor windowsill a few decades ago has grown into a full-time hobby for Joe DiDomenico of Elma. He now has over a thousand orchids of all varieties from all over the world.

URL:http://www.eastaurorany.com/articles/2010/10/04/news/doc4ca408fea9ab0584441774.txt

Steve
1888Orchids.com

Encore! Our facebook Like button again... If you like 1888Orchids.com click Like :)

It's hot in California and so are the orchids

Today was another hot day in California - at least by California standards... I know in Arizona 80 degree weather is cool.  I thought summer was over, it's hot!

The warm temperature means it's also hot in the greenhouse which also means there's a lot of orchids in bloom, waiting to be admired.  Check out some of the blooming orchids in the greenhouse!

phalaenopsis taisuco egret

cymbidium chen's ruby

cymbidium tracyanum v. alba (sold out, available as a mature plant)

dtps. jiaho kitty face

dtps. taisuco gold x taisuco glory

tea cup orchid in 3" orchid pot

standard purple phalaenopsis

blc. hwa yuan grace king cat c. moscombe x blc memoria helen brown 

dtps. taida fortune

phalaenopsis timothy christopher golden stripe leaf

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta

Variety of orchids available at auction

URL: http://tritown.gmnews.com/news/2010-09-30/Front_Page/Variety_of_orchids_available_at_auction.html

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta

Getting Your Orchids Ready for Fall

URL:
Getting Your Orchids Ready for Fall - Orchids

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta

Our new Like button for facebook - Go ahead, click Like to Like 1888Orchids.com :)

A new species of orchid was discovered recently on Mount Kinabalu and the Crocker Range

This species, Dendrobium datinconnieae, has been named in honour of Datin Connie Wong Mui Yun, a Director of Kota Kinabalu-based Natural History Publications, which has been responsible for many authoritative books on the biodiversity of Sabah and the Malesian region.

URL: New Mt Kinabalu find | Daily Express Newspaper Online, Sabah, Malaysia.

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com

Laelia Purpurata is the state flower of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Laela purpurata

There is a great article written about this magnificent orchid here: http://www.chadwickorchids.com/laelia_purpurata

Enjoy,
Steve Peralta

Sub-zero seed preserves bid to save orchids

Sub-zero seed preserves bid to save orchids - Yahoo! News

Cymbidium tracyanum v. alba and Cymbdium tracyanum

The albino version of the ever popular Cymbidium tracyanum - comes Cymbidium tracyanum v. alba.  The shape of the flower is undeniably a species flower shape with pointed petals and a "crouching dragon" flower shape.  The flower spike should be allowed to cascade, creating a pendant of blooms that will captivate you when you take a closer look. 

Cymbidium tracyanum v. alba

Cymbidium tracyanum

I love the changing of the seasons - even in California where the seasons change subtly, I can still feel the coming of autumn with slightly cooler nights and a bit of dampness in the air. The air is still and you can smell the vegetation. It's not cold by any means, just cooler. You can say its a perfect time of the year - weatherwise... not too hot, just right.
Well, the topic of this post is about our new OrchidGram! subscribe forms which you can see below. Sorry to change the subject of this post so abruptly (I know you love reading what I write) but my creative juices said "do it this way." :)

Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!!!
Enjoy and oh yeah, don't forget to subscribe to my orchid newsletter.
Steve

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What I Saw in the Orchid Greenhouse Today :)

Did you notice it was cooler last night than other summer nights? I noticed it and I'm sure many other north San Diego County residents noticed it too.  That means Fall is just around the corner! Woohoo!  It's ok to prune peach trees with the leaves still on them! Ha, that's the workings of an over anxious gardener.   

Orchid plants that were moved into our orchid packing facility will no longer remain there overnight, since it's getting cooler, they will need to be moved into the orchid greenhouse where the temperature can be maintained.  Here are the orchids I saw while they were being moved. 
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta

Oncidium Sharry Baby "Sweet Fragrance" AM/AOS

Oncidium Sharry Baby "Sweet Fragrance" AM/AOS

Oncidium Sharry Baby "Sweet Fragrance" AM/AOS

Miniature White Phalaenopsis with Red Heart

Purple Phalaenopsis with Red Heart

Dtps. Taida Salu Alisan

Dtps. Chian Xen Queen

Dtps. Fuller's Sunset

Phalaenopsis Sogo Lit Sunny

Dtps. Unimax Kate - (Hsinying Mount - Tinny Ace) U403