mini and it's big sister...

Nice Colour Lori.......

The mini Phals are great value, as they seem to flower endlessly without needing any real care!! Best of all, they'll branch out freely giving a lovely crown of blooms.

Thanks Milky! You are so right, Meanie! I try to buy one when I see them on offer. I give them as gifts... and everyone I've given one to seems to think they are terribly difficult to keep! they're shocked when I tell them how easy they are and become converts right away...

Lori:

Very beautiful orchid! The roots look very healthy crawling out of the pot.

thank you D1. I would like to try some other varieties of orchids ...but that's in the future. (when I get my solarium!)

Lori:

I'm going to get some pups from friends and try a few more varieties also.

I did purchase an Oncidium Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' yesterday at the market for $13.00. It's an orchid which smells like milk chocolate...which I've been wanting for a long time.

ah...terminal envy! and only 13$....

Lori:

LOL! I though it was a deal...I had seen this chocolate orchid for sale many times for 20 - 25 dollars...and never purchased it. The Oncidium Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' I purchased is 3 feet/ 1 meter tall including the flower spike.

"thank you D1. I would like to try some other varieties of orchids ...but that's in the future. (when I get my solarium!)"

Why not give Dendrobium a go. They are quite easy to care for & bloom for quite a while.
Cut & paste to your browser to take a peek.

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/129294-dendrobium-winter-beauty/member/meanie
Easier to find as Den. Berry Oda.

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/128381-dendrobium/member/meanie

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/128126-dendrobium/member/meanie

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/124289-orchid-dendrobium/member/meanie

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/123894-dendrobium/member/meanie

Meanie:

I agree with you Dendrobium, Epidendrum, Phalaenopsis and Cattleyas are some the easiest orchids to grow outside under trees or in semi-shade. I've seen large clumps of these orchids growing here in San Diego.

On the advice of another goY friend, the last two summers, I've had a "shade porch" (just a lattice covered deck in a shady spot) where I've put my epi's, and the Phals... they love it and do well thro the winter as a result. it's the cooler night temps...they look so robust and full of health...then I have to bring the poor things indoors to this dry centrally heated house for about eight months... I was pondering the possibility of getting a vanilla orchid plant... have you seen any of those on offer anywhere, D1 or Meanie?

I'm going to give these a go this summer, in a pot though to save having to lift them for the winter.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/plants1/product/p82158/1.html

Found one vanilla orchid (cutting) for $80usd!!!!

http://www.flora.mu/vanilla_orchid.asp

Good luck!!

p.s. sent private message ref. Masdevalias.

I was just doing some reading on vanilla orchid culture! Yikes! there is a special bee that pollenates the flowers... and a special mycorhyza that enables germination... It's an interesting story how the three different common vars. that produce "vanillin" spread over the globe! and $80. for a cutting isn't surprising, really... no wonder vanilla beans go for crazy prices per lb.... I'm orchid obsessed!

Lori, Meanie:

I haven't seen too many vanilla orchids available here.

My father had one when he moved back to Hawaii. He said it was the easiest orchid to grow. (of course, in Hawaii's tropical climate all orchids are very easy to grow) I think he hand pollinated his plant. It did produce the very long seed pod called vanilla...however, not sure what species or variety he had though.

D1 and Meanie:
I took a quick look at Wikipedia... and was surprised at the number of plants in the vanilla genus. (over 100) Due to cultivation they exist in a band around the equator...China, India, New Guinea,Sri Lanka, Sumatra, back to their place of origin in Mexico, Honduras, South Florida, and the Caribbean...as well as Brazil, Argentina, Suriname and Peru~ ...the most cultivated is V. planifolia and pompona...as well as inodora (Mexico) Vanilloidae are a subfamily of the Orchidacae...the genus is vanilla... and you're right D1 as we call them vanilla beans in error...they are not a bean...just an elogated seed pod. I was surprised to find V.phalaenopsis (found in the Seychelles)... Orchids are just fascinating. And the true vanilla scent and flavour is my absolute favourite... interesting that both Chocolate and Vanilla originated in the Americas...!

Lori:

Vanilla is actually very tiny seeds as far I can remember. It's pretty much the same with Coffee. It's called a "coffee bean"...and it's actually the seeds in the coffee cherry.

I've been growing coffee for years...my tree is 7 feet / 2.5 meters tall and every year is full of coffee cherries which I eat, when ripe. However, I've never roasted the "coffee beans" usually they fall to the ground and germinate...which they're doing now. None never survive the snails/slugs though. LOL. I just removed several seedling from the ground a couple of days ago for the first time. I have so many friends and family always asking for seedlings every year.

Lori,
I think that this is going to be the first species orchid that I'll try.
http://www.orchids.se/habenaria_medusa.htm
Probably way out of my depth with this, but what the heck! It's really stunning.

Delonix,
I never realised that the fruits of the coffee were edible, although thinking about it I fear that they may taste like an olive!!!! What do they actually taste like?

Habenaria medusa! Wow...I can see why you'd be ga-ga over that one! it is very exotic. and almost frothy looking! Check out Masdevallia leucantha...I'd love to find one of those!
I prefer my coffee roasted and brewed...but I've never had the opportunity to try the berries... would they be high in cafeine, D1?

Meanie:

Coffee cherries are very sweet...almost like a real cherry. You're probably thinking of the coffee taste. Coffee seeds have to be dried, treated, and roasted to have a coffee taste. Also, the seeds are not eaten. LOL! : > )