First bloom, clean lines

A first bloom for this seedling, clean white petals with yellow concentric markings.

Second blooming

Both the Paraphalaenopsis denevei and the Bulbophyllum agastor are reblooming into the year end...   quite a few of the others are blooming as well thanks to the cooler weather these couple of weeks.

We are online !

Finally got the system up and running after some modification..... Basic network up and running. divided into 4 watering zones. The orchid zones come on at 5.00am and 5.15 am respectively with each watering lasting 12 minutes. The plant zones come on at 5.30 am and 5.45am also for 12 minutes. The afternoon session comes on at 4.45pm and 5.00 pm for orchids and 5.15 pm, 5.30pm for plants each runs for 10 minutes.   The next step will be to check and fill in the blind spots.


The wires connect to the rain sensors which works perfrctly and cuts off watering whenever it rains.  I put in a vaccum breaker to prevent backflow, pressure reducer to bring the water pressure down to a constant 25psi so the drippers and misters don't get forces out of the tubings. You also see some adapters as the various parts come in 1/2" and 3/4" sizes.

I use 1/2" tubings for the main lines and 4mm tubings for the feeder lines.

Daddel's fat boy

More blooms for the fat boy... still looking a bit juvenile but nice nontheless.

Phalaenopsis violacea indigo

Reblooming again.... colour is looks a bit more intense.

Plastic strings for tying orchids

I ran out of plastic strings and had to restock.  I use these because they are elastic and easy to manage + they don't disintegrate when exposed to the elements. These two bundles will last for quite a while. I got them from Lee Bee Enterprise at Jurong West.

Watering system

After much thought and procrastination i am finally going to set up a watering system. The first parts of the puzzle have started to arrive. These were mostly ordered from Dripdepot. The other stuffs like connectors, pressure regulators, hoses, misters and drippers should be arriving very soon.

Amorphophallus Titanum

This is my Amorphophallus Titanum about to start its hybernation. About 2.5m tall now this will take a few more years before it flowers. Friends always joke that if all 3 flower at the same time, neighbours will be calling the poilce for sure !   I should start looking for larger pots.

If you have one or are planning to grow one, there is good information here.

 The start of growing cycle after hybernation

The end of growth cycle

Phalaenopsis bellina "chen"

This is one of the plants from a flask I bought from a Taiwanese grower. Looks great for a first bloom. Super green around the edges.

Phalaenopsis bellina "chen" 

Mini fireworks

They resemble fireworks when they bloom. An old specimen that has been around since I started growing orchids.

Bulbophyllum medusae

Daddel's fat boy

A first bloom from new hybrid....  a good change from the recent yellow white themes.

Phalaenopsis violacea alba

Phalaenopsis violacea alba, whats left of an old plant that I have grown for many years. Managed to save it from rot and now happy to see it blooming again. Fragrant !

Phalaenopsis violacea alba 

Acacallis cyanea

An impulse buy several years ago at a time when anything blue looks nice.  

Acacallis cyanea

Renenthera storiei

This one has gone through several near death experiences.....  i tried tying it to palm tree ,  plumeria, grow in charcoal etc  finally it seems happy growing from a chopsticks holder with a mix of charcoal and coco husks. This is a yellow form which i got from Moi Hwa Nursery.

Anselia africana

I like this orchid but not its messy roots.  This is one of 2 seedlimgs bought from a local nursery. Growing nicely and i have not paid much attention to it...   also have the alba version but i think the non alba flowers are much nicer. Can't wait for it to start blooming.

 

Beccarii added new leaf

The beccarii grew new leaves ....  leaves getting larger. A good sign that the growing conditions is suitable.  I will be adding more chopped coconut husks and spaghnum moss this one like a very wet growing media.

Weeding time

The ferns and my orchids are such good buddies, i have to spend a morning every few weeks to weed out the random growing ferns...  they usually add up to half a pail.

The chubby one

One of my favourites, this Phalaenopsis teoh tee teong X Phalaenopsis bellina hybrid has been in the collection for quite a while. I got it from Uncle Moi Hwa of Moi Hwa Nursery along with many of my other better Phalaenopsis orchids. Known for the quality of his Phalaenopsis bellinas and creative orchid hybrids, it was a pity that he decided to wind up business and close his nursery.

Phalaenopsis teoh tee teong X Phalaenopsis bellina

New first bloom

Not quite flattened out yet. A first bloom from one of my white yelllow hybrids that just blossomed this morning.

Harvesting time for orchid seedpods

I was looking for more infomation on the harvesting time for bulbophyllum seedpods and found this article by AOS.  The full article is here .  The chart below is a summary taken from the article written by Ruben Sauleda .

Harvesting Times for Selected Species and Hybrids 

Pistillate Parent	Optimum Harvesting Range (Days)	Mean (Days)
Cattleya labiata Group	130-180	171
Cattleya Bifoliate Group	110-150	142
Cattleya flava, cinnabarina, harpophylla	110-120	117
Cattleya xanthina, perrinii, purpurata	120-180	170
Laelia rubescens, anceps	120-150	127
Rhyncholaelia species	130-180	160
Brassavola species	120-150	125
Cattleya coccinea	75-100	96
Epidendrum species and hybrids	100-120	119
Encyclia species and hybrids	130-180	160
Broughtonia species	60-75	66
Cattleya hybrids Labiata Group (white, lavender, pink, white with colored lip)	150-180	175
Cattleya hybrids Labiata Group (yellow, orange, art shades)	130-150	141
Cattleya hybrids Labiata Group involving former species of Sophronitis	130-150	147
Cattleya hybrids Bifoliate Group	110-150	138
Oncidium species (true)	110-140/td>	122
Trichocentrum species (including former mule-ear Oncidium species)	180-240	207
Trichocentrum species (including former rat-tail Oncidium species)	110-130	121
Psychopsis species	90-120	100
Trichocentrum microchilum, splendidum	130-170	160
Tolumnia species	65-70	65
Rodriguezia species	110-130	123
Miltonia species (true)	120-140	130
Dendrobium devonianum, lituifolium, anosmum	160-250	186
Dendrobium nobile and its hybrids	150-180	163
Dendrobium bigibbum (phalaenopsis) and its hybrids	120-40	131
Dendrobium stratiotes, superbiens and their hybrids	150-200	162
Vanda species and hybrids	150-195	182
Ascocentrum species and hybrids	110-180	152
Ascocenda hybrids	120-190	171
Vandopsis species	160-180	165
Phalaenopsis species and hybrids	110-120	111
Rhynchostylis species and hybrids	150-250	187
Aerides species and hybrids	150-180	162
Renanthera species and hybrids	150-180	167
Maxillaria species	120-140	121
Chysis species	140-180	156
Ansellia species	120-150	130
Cyrtopodium species	150-270	182
Phaius species	120-150	135
Bulbophyllum (including Cirrhopetalum)	140-180	165

Phalaenopsis grace chen

A reblooming of my Phalaenopsis chen hui grace. A hybrid from Hybrid 447 and Phalaenopsis sapphire's galah.

Phalaenopsis chen hui grace

Bulbo agastor selfing

Looks like the selfing might be successful.....for now will just have to wait and see if it developes nicely.  If successful it will be my first Bulbophyllum seedpod.

Phalaenopsis appendiculata

Trying tro do a crossing between 2 blooming appendiculatas. The blooms are so small and the pollens really tiny !!!!   Just trying to see clearly with the watch makers' magnifier strains the eyes.  Will update if successful.

The eagle keeps getting better

Phalaenopsis tying shin fly eagle, this one is getter better and better as it adapts to my growing enviromnent. Its just beautiful. Tying Shin orchids created this and registered it in 2011 according to the Orchid Register. A masterful stroke of genius.

Phalaenopsis tying shin fly eagle

Selfing done...

Couldn't resist doing a selfing yesterday ..... now we wait !!  Fingers crossed.

Same same but different !

This week , a first bloom for 2 seedlings from the same seed pod. This is the reason why the process might become routine but the excitment never stops because you can never really predict accurately what the outcome will be.

Bulbophyllum agastor

Bought this from Bill Thoms after a long search. Its been here alomst 16 months. I grow it mounted on fern bark and under 50% shade netting. Its happy with 2 waterings a day when there is no rain. Flowering for the first time since I bought it  :)

Bulbophyllum agastor 

Princess blooms

Always happy to see this one bloom...

Phalaenopsis kung's princess

Phalaenopsis bellina coerulea

I have not taken or posted much photos of this bellina. Bought from a Taiwanese grower at one 2012 WOC. Its in the background but not forgotten.

Phalaenopsis bellina coerulea 

Phalaenopsis gentle jack

A hybrid from Phalaenopsis gigantea and tetrapis C1 ,  it retains the big leaf characteristics of the gigantea.  

Phalaenopsis gentle jack

Phalaenopsis tang mei chyn

This was my first registered hybrid....  the experience was quite educational and the journey exciting. Following this the process became easier but no less exciting especially the days leading up to the opening of the first bloom of each hybrid.

In posting my photographs I try not to do anything more than white balance and contrast adjustments so as to show the actual colours. This can be especially challenging for blue and indigo coloured blooms.

Phalaenopsis tang mei chyn

Bulbophyllum medusae

This bulbo is  one of the old timers in the garden. Bought from Song orchids when I first started growing orchids. Has the ability to throw out lots of blooms and put on quite a show. Easy to grow and not demanding.

Bulbophyllum medusae 

Phalaenopsis bellina alba

Got this not too long ago ....  now growing tied to cork bark instead of the original spaghnum moss which doesnt quite suit my watering programme.

Phalaenopsis bellina alba

Deflasking the seedlings

Deflasked the seedlings this morning. The whole process is not too difficult. These came in flasks so they can easily be taken out. If they had been grown in bottles I would have to break the bottles before I can remove them. Next steps involve washing of the agar growing medium followed by a wash with fungicide. After air drying they are ready to be planted, I am using live spaghnum moss.