Episode 173 - Purple Cattleya - The Flower Is Out

The flower is out.

A 3-petal flower in normal size.

The photos above recorded the blossoming process of the orchid.

Episode 172 - Purple Cattleya - In Bud

I further divided the purple cattleya into two pots last year. This is one of them (using the old flower pot).

The flower shoot has only one (but large) bud this time. It will blossom in the next few days. I will post the full flowering position.

The cattleya appears to have settled down well after the partition. I now have 3 pots of purple cattleyas - all develop from the mother plant I purchased in 2004.

Episode 157 - Close-Up of the New Flowers

Another photo of the Purple Cattleya, taken earlier today.

Both flowers are larger in size than those last year.

Episode 156 - Flowering Season

Once again, the purple cattleya is the first plant to blossom this year.

This is the mother part of the old plant.

Last year, I let the mother part develop in the same flower pot without further dividing it. The result is larger and more colourful flowers.

The flowers are 3 petalled and, this time, came out from a flower sheath.

Episode 114 - Cattleya : Some Observations

1. Planting Materials: Local flower farmers like to use charcoal, wood and rocks as planting materials for the Orchids. Orchids do not like normal soil and need to be planted in materials which are moisture but non-sticky, leaving rooms for the roots to breath. Charcoal, wood and rocks give the roots enough fresh air. However, these material easily turn dry. The flower farmers therefore water their orchids quite often, using automatic sprayer. As an amateur, I find these planting materials not satisfactory, as I can only water my plants in the morning and in the evening. I replaced all these materials with moss only. My orchids are obviously happy with the moss.

2. Water: The gardening knowledge of the local orchid sellers are not always reliable. Many sellers advised me not to water the orchids at home - "Leave the orchids dry. Water them thoroughly once a week is enough," said the orchid sellers. I once followed this method and became the killer of many poor orchids. I eventually discover that cattleyas are happy with water so long as you are using the correct planting materials. I spray the orchids in the morning and in the evening until the moss is wet. In addition, I put the whole pot into water occasionally for full absortion of water.

3. Sunshine: Cattleyas do not like direct sunshine, I only expose them to sunlight for about an hour occasionally .

4. Air-conditioning: Cattleyas do not like the cool air transmitted from air-conditioners. The orchids are happy with fresh air, however.

5. Fertilizer: I use solid orchid fertilizer. I once used diluted liquid fertilizer but found that some of the orchids do not like it . It is easy to burn the leaves of the orchids if liquid fertilizer is not used appropriately.

6. Flowers: Cut out the flowers as soon as their petals become thin. The flowers take away most of the reserve of the orchid. If you do not cut out the flowers and let it dry up normally in the plant, the orchid will need a longer period of time to recover - it may not be able to bear flowers in the next year.

Episode 113 - Full Flowering Position

Episode 112 - Purple Cattleya: First Flower

The orchid starts flowering this morning.

Like the mother plant, the flower of this pot of orchid is also 3 petalled. The size of the flower is smaller, however. There are altogether 4 flower buds. The other 3 flowers will blossom in the next few days - photos of the full blossoming orchid will follow.

I am thinking of further divide this pot of cattleya into two. I will have 3 pots then!

I also plan to cross pollinate the purple cattleya with the white cattleya next year. It should be fun!

Episode 111 - New Flowering Orchid

The next plant to blossom should be the yellow cattleya instead of the Ascocenda.

This cattleya has been in my home for about 3 years. The last time it flowered was in the summer of 2005 (see photo). The orchid has 2 leaves per shoot and the size of the flower is smaller than those one leaf orchids. As you can see from the photo, the flowers of this variety are very colourful.

Last year, I divided the orchid into 2 pots. It appears that the plants were not happy with the division and have not been flowered since then.

I just note that one pot of the yellow orchids is developing flowers. There are, just as last time, 3 flower buds in one shot.

Another pot of summer orchid.

Episode 110 - Cattleya: new developments

photo updated 19/5

The flower buds of the cattleya have burst through their flower sheaths. There are 2 flower shoots so I will probably have four flowers this time.

This pot of cattleya does not flower at the right season, but I am happy with this. The plants in my home keep on blossoming, one after the other, from the beginning of the year.

The next flowering orchid in my home will probably be the Ascocenda, which is developing well with a lot of white roots extending from the plant.

Episode 106 - Cattleya: summer flowers

As you may recall, I divided my purple cattleya into two pots. The mother portion flowered earlier this year.

The cattleya in the photo is the new plant. Unlike the mother plant, The new plant bears flower sheaths. There are 2 flower shoots this time. The buds are still within the sheaths but they can be identified if the plant is placed against a light source. The buds will grow bigger and burst through the sheath.

I anticipate that the orchid will flower in 2 to 3 weeks' time.

The unusual weather has affected the flowering seasons of the orchid. According to the book, this variey of orchid flowers in Spring. I will have summer orchid this year.

I will post another photo of the plant when it flowers.

Episode 83 - White Cattleya: Blossoms

I took this photo of the White Cattleya this morning.

The petals of the flowers are still extending and the flowers will become larger in the next few days. The flowers have started emitting fragrance. The smell is similar to that of the narcissus. However, the cattleya fragrance is not so strong and appears to be fresher.

Episode 81 - White Cattleya: Flowering

The White Cattleya started flowering earlier today.

Here are some of the photos. The petals of the first flower have not yet extended. The diameter of this flower may probably be over 16 cm. It will take more than one week's time for the flower to reach its full size. It's breath taking to watch the blooming process of the orchid.

I just note that a flower shoot is growing out from my Clivia. I shall post some photos of it shortly.

Episode 79 - White Cattleya : Huge Flower Buds

The flower buds of the White Cattleya are still developing.

The length of a bud is over 5 cm now!

The buds are heavy and one of them has dropped down a bit. Usually I will set up a stick next to the flower stem to support it. I need not do so this time as the bud rests safely on a leaf.

It is not difficult to keep a cattleya and make it blossom. What is required is to stick to some basic rules. However, the information as provided by local flower sellers on keeping orchids is usually insufficient and misleading. Some orchids die within a month after the purchase due to incorrect treatments.

I will share my experience on keeping cattleya in future posts.

Episode 77 - White Orchid in bud

The White Cattleya will be flowering in the next few days.

Regrettably, the flower bud in the first flower shoot eventually dried up as the 2nd flower shoot (see photo above) took away all the food.

To my surprise, the orchid will be blooming with 2 flowers in one shoot this time!

Episode 70 - Second Flower

Episode 69 - First Flower

My blooming cattleya!

The first flower is 3 petalled and colourful. The petals of the flower are still extending so the flower will become bigger in the next few days. The other flower bud is already matured and will probably open in the weekend. I will post another photo when it does so.

The flower size is much bigger than those in the past years. When I first purchased this orchid, it was a two petalled plant. The position remained unchanged up to January last year.

As you may recall, I separated the old plant into 2 pots in mid last year. It took me quite some efforts to maintain the well being of the plants. This flowering orchid definitely repays my time in full!

Episode 67 - In Bud

The flowers are now in bud!

I believe that the orchid will blossom within one to two weeks.

As there are still 25 days before the Chinese New Year, and the flowers for this variety can last for around 2 weeks only, I am not sure if the flowers can last until the New Year. Let's see my luck this time.

The position of the White Cattleya is a little bit uncertain. The 2nd flower bud of the orchid is coming out from the shoot but the first flower bud has stopped growing. I am afraid that the 2nd bud will take away all the food and the first bud will dry up soon. As mentioned previously, it is not easy, if not impossible, to have 2 blossoming flowers in one pot for this variety.

There is no sign of a flower bud yet for the Clivia.

Episode 61 - Good Progress

The Purple Cattleya is growing well. The shoot has two flower buds (the other one is hidding behind and can not been seen in the photo) and are developing. I think it will flower before the Chinese New Year. Hopefully, the flowers will still be in good form in the New Year days.
The White Cattleya is bearing flowers as well. There are 2 flower shoots at the moment. The spotted stem is an indication that the shoot is bearing flower. You can see flower buds growing out from the shoot on the right side of the photo. Although there are at least 2 buds in the shoot, I believe that the plant will, as it did previously, end up with one flower only. This variety of cattleya will give all the food to one flower bud such that it can develop into a large flower. The remaining flower bud(s) will dry up eventually for lack of food. The other spotted stem may not be able to generate flower bud before the first flower is cut down.

Episode 60 - Flower for the New Year

One of my Cattleyas is blooming again.

As you can see from the photo (click on the picture to see larger photo), the shoot in the middle is bearing a new flower bud!

In the previous occasions, each flower shoot would have a flower sheath. The flower buds were invisiable until they grew out of their sheaths. It is strange that the shoot does not have a flower sheath this time.

This is the mother part of the old plant. I separated the plant into 2 pots earlier this year. The other pot is growing well too.

The White Cattleya appears to be bearing a new flower bud as well. I will let you know if my observation is correct.

Episode 37 - The Butterfly Orchid

The Phalaenopsis or "Butterfly Orchid" is popular here.

This variety of orchid may blossom twice in one flowering season. If you purchase a flowering Butterfly Orchid from the flower market in the Chinese New Year, the flowers will last for around 2 weeks. Don't dispose of the plant after the first round of flowers as you may be able to get another round of flowers in April. The following method appears to be useful in getting the second round of flowers:

1. Cut out 3/4 or more of the the flower stem after the first round of flowers;
2. Water and fertilze the orchid as usual;
3. move it outdoor for a short period everyday so that it can receive sufficient sunshine and fresh air;
4. A new flower shoot may grow out from the side of the old flower stem in one month or so.

You will not be able to get a new flower shoot if your orchid has already blossomed the second round of flowers.

The photo shows a Butterfly Orchid blossoming the second round of flowers. The flowers are smaller in size than those in the first round.