Growth update

     Just a general growth update: Pseudobulbs are growing like crazy!

     L.C. MSxMRS  has put out a tiny new p/b in the back, and one in the front that has sprouted out from nothing to the current size (above) in about 2 days!  The dark, emerald foliage of the cattleya has also become more of a grassy-lime green ever since I installed my makeshift lighting.

     Phal. "Ikea" has also decided to push another leaf from a basal keiki. Nothing too special. The mother plant, which I believe is terminal, is slowly losing its lowermost leaf.

     Finally, D. aggregatum has surprised me with two p/b's, too. The nubbs are both a very dark purple, almost black looking, even though they are well shaded by the older growth. There are many new roots accompanying the p/b's.

Phal Ikea suffering from unknown leaf spotting.

     Recently, Phal Ikea and an older leaf (that I have since cut off) on Phal Mommie have developed these mysterious white spots on the underside of the leaves. I am 95% sure it is not scale, since I have dealt with scale before and scale is easily scraped off. These spots are well attached to the leaf. I did try to scrape one off and it removed some of the leaf flesh. It has also not spread to any of my other orchids, making it even less likely to be scale.

     It is possible that the spots are scarring but I have absolutely no idea. Would scarring cause see-through spots on the top-side of the leaves?  I have been googling like crazy and nothing yet has caught my eye as similar.

     For now, the phal is quarantined in my closet until further notice.

Random growth updates.

BL Yellow Bird

    BL Yellow Bird has actually become more yellow, and the second bud has finally opened. The purple splotches are still very prominent but this is very attractive to me.

Repotted Phal NoID "Ikea"

Trimmed roots of Phal NoID "Ikea"

     Phal "Ikea" finally dropped its booms. Both spikes were still very healthy, green and looked like they were going to bud again, but I would rather the plant focused on growing the two leaves it started. I heavily trimmed the roots, actually. They were very broken and unmanageable.  Ikea seems to man-handle their plants. :P

Phal NoID "Miker with 2 new buds

      Phal "Mikur dropped all its blooms after 2 months. Two more have developed and one is on the verge of opening.

Oncidium Heaven Scent 'redolence'

     Onc. Heaven Scent is growing another P/B. Not much more to say. :)

Phal "Ikea" in full bloom.

Close up of Phal. NoID "Ikea".

   
     These poor cellphone photos do no justice to how richly colored the blossoms are! Imagine a bright, buttery crayon-yellow with deep wine-colored spots. Its surprising how washed out the color is in the photos.

     It has taken about 1 month for all the buds to open, totaling 5 blooms. This isn't bad considering that in the span of purchase to bud, the phal was repotted twice and exposed to undesirable cold during Hurricane Sandy. The two new leafs continue to grow, but look like they are growing long and thin - a classic sign that it lacks sufficient light. I have been looking online for plant racks that I can place infront of my window, but I think I will hold off on my decision until September.

Full view of the phal and a wrinkly bed sheet.

I will be moving my plants with me to my new college in september, and plan on buying either a rack or a terrarium to house them. It will be much easier to heat, light and keep adequate humidity in a terrarium, but for all i know, I may only have enough room for a small rack by the window.

Possibly elongated leaves. Lack of light?

Surprise! I have blooms!

     I wasn't planning on introducing this phal. just yet, but the fact that it bloomed makes me very excited!

     This is phal. hybrid I named "Ikea", after the store it was purchased in the fall. It is also my most recently purchased (still living) specimen.

Right after purchase, fall 2012, in bloom - Excuse the mess :)

     It was in bloom when purchased and I immediately replanted it into a larger container with bark because the roots looked like they had no desire to be in that moss. The leaves were covered in leaf shine which I removed using baby shampoo.

     I initially thought this was 3 plants in one container, but I soon did a few google searches and realized it was one plant with 2 basal keikis! I do believe the mom might be terminal - While the 2 keikis have spikes, and are recently producing roots and new leaves, the mom sits slumped with limp leaves and shows no activity.

A crown-shot. A new leaf on each keiki, mom to the right.

      Finally, I am excited for this phal. to bloom because of its bright yellow flowers (my favorite color)! I wasn't expecting it to open just yet but it surprised me in the morning when I was misting. Im a bit worried, too, because my humidity had been fluctuating like crazy. The last thing I want is bud blast.

New bloom up close. 

Blooming orchid amongst friends.

     I will update again when in full bloom.