Art and Alfalfa: Dendrobiums

Friday, February 12, 2016

I have waited for almost a year.

And now they are beginning to open.

A few weeks ago we talked about how to get orchids to re bloom.
http://ginaceramics.blogspot.com/2016/01/orchids-like-bath-now-and-then.html

First I noticed the new spikes. These orchids have been waiting patiently in a quiet corner by an east facing window.

All they needed was a weekly watering and a lot of light
(not direct sun).

I never know what color they will be (I should label them).
Sometimes you can tell by the new buds.

All of the buds will open and will bloom for at least another

6 months or more.

In another corner, these orchids have been blooming for more than
5 months. Soon they will fade and the blossoms will drop one at a time.

Over the years I have had some very colorful orchids.

I love them all.

This corner, in my dining room, faces south and west.
Conditions are just right and often I will be rewarded with secondary spikes.

After blooming, these Dendrobiums like to be placed outside where they will be watered with the rest of the plants.

They need a light frost to set their spikes. That is in October in our area.

Often I place several orchids into one decorative planter. They don't mind as long as you water them at least twice a week.

Miltonia orchids come in many sensational colors and have a very haunting scent.

Their blooms only last a couple of weeks and it is difficult to make them bloom again.

That is why I like Phalaenopsis orchids. It may take a while but they will reward you with many blooms.

You can tell how healthy your orchid is by the length of the spike they throw.

When all the blooms have fallen off look for the buds at the end of the spike to grow and thicken. Often you will notice an additional 5 or 6 new blooms forming.