Do you remember in an earlier post I mentioned that one of my orchid plants was refusing to flower again?
Well after a bit of research I started to wonder whether the compost that this orchid was planted in was to blame. The orchid that is flowering is in a compost that seems to be made up of mainly bark and the one that isn't was potted in this.
So off I went to a local garden centre to try to find some bark compost - as you may have guessed this wasn't as easy as it should have been as the seasonal fairies had transformed everywhere and most signs of gardening items (unless they were of the sort that could be wrapped in fancy paper) had been spirited away. Not to be thwarted I consulted Amazon and found this Orchid Bark Compost
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It was duly ordered and arrived last week and looks like this.
Quite different from the compost that the orchid was planted in.
When I tipped the orchid from its pot the original compost just fell away and revealed that some of the roots had dried out and shrivelled up but it also had some healthy roots.
The dry roots have been trimmed and as many healthy ones as possible have been encouraged into the pot.
Some had other ideas but that isn't a problem as orchid roots often prefer to be free of the compost.
The orchid was given a good watering and then set in a plant saucer surrounded by gravel. It has been settled in on the windowsill with it's flowering cousin.
Maybe it will get the idea. We'll just have to see whether or not it appreciates my efforts and rewards me with a flower spike - I'll let you know.
Help wanted:
Still on the subject of orchids, can anyone help a friend identify this orchid. Not being an orchid expert, as you may have deduced, my best guess is a Cattleya but I'm not convinced.
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When I tipped the orchid from its pot the original compost just fell away and revealed that some of the roots had dried out and shrivelled up but it also had some healthy roots.
The orchid was given a good watering and then set in a plant saucer surrounded by gravel. It has been settled in on the windowsill with it's flowering cousin.
Help wanted:
Still on the subject of orchids, can anyone help a friend identify this orchid. Not being an orchid expert, as you may have deduced, my best guess is a Cattleya but I'm not convinced.
Stop Press: We've just had a phone call from aforementioned friend. Guess what? - He's found a label in amongst the orchid leaves and the orchid is a Cambria. What can I say?
And Thanks to.
Val Micklethwaite from The Orchid Society of Great Britain to her speedy response to my email this morning, (before the label was found), who sent this information.
This is a cambria orchid and it looks like it is what was called Burrageara Nelly Isler. It has been reclassified recently to Oncidiopsis Nelly Isler, but you will find it on the internet under the original name.
And Thanks to.
Val Micklethwaite from The Orchid Society of Great Britain to her speedy response to my email this morning, (before the label was found), who sent this information.
This is a cambria orchid and it looks like it is what was called Burrageara Nelly Isler. It has been reclassified recently to Oncidiopsis Nelly Isler, but you will find it on the internet under the original name.
Posts
Do you feed your orchids? My dad has a couple of white ones with large blooms (easier for him to see) I am sure he has never fed them but I thought I would buy him a bottle of the stuff on my next visit to the garden centre.
ReplyDeleteI did last year awpol - I put a drip feeder in but I'm, not sure it did any good. I've read that you should feed them but I'm no expert and am struggling to understand what makes them tick myself.
DeleteIt looks healthy enough so I hope it blooms for you. Both of mine are in bark compost similar to that which you bought. They've been budding up for quite a while now and I've just noticed today that one of the buds is just starting to open.
ReplyDeleteGreat that your orchid is going to flower, Jo. As for cymbidium the leaves just don't look right for this type and the flower petals seem to be more rounded. Could be wrong though!
DeleteForgot to say, I don't know much about orchids, but just had a look on Google. Could it be a Cymbidium?
ReplyDeleteNow I'm intrigued. My mom has an orchid that flowered and then now has no flowers. Maybe it's the compost? I'll have to look into it for her. Good post! :)
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you find out, Tina.
DeleteSorry, I'm no good at all with orchids.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being a runner up, I got your comment sent to me before I got the e-mail from Spaldings, lol.
Glad it was one of us, think I had the advantage of doing mine after you although it left me with less choice as I didn't want to copy.
Well done
I don't think I am either, Liz.
DeleteSo I shot the Spalding bolt then - I did wonder whether we were the only entrants so they decided to give all of us a prize :)
It's hard to say whether it was an advantage to go first or not really.
We have a few orchids which we love. I just think those aerial roots do look so exotic!
ReplyDeleteI feed mine with a few granules (as little as half a dozen granules) of a general NPK fertiliser such as growmore every ten weeks. Half strength liquid tomato feed at the same frequency will also work well.
I may try feeding mine too then, Roger.
DeleteCould your orchid be a Dendrobium?
ReplyDeleteSee: http://www.orchidpost.co.uk/Orchids/418-Dendrobium-Galaxy-Yellow-Orchids.html
It's difficult to say NJGF, the petals seem more pointed in the picture on this site and there isn't any photo of the leaves. I'll see what else I can find on dendrobiums.
DeleteThere is a bit more about them here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrobium
ReplyDeleteCrikey there are hundreds all different - this is difficult!
DeleteIf you haven't seem my Stop Press on this post - our friend has come across a label hidden amongst the orchid leaves and it is a Cambria!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed that your Orchid flowers Sue. Having said that even just the leaves look pretty and very healthy....What will you do if it doesn't flower?? Will you just keep it as greenery?
ReplyDeleteGlad you found out the Orchid name...I am hopeless with plant names so would have been no help what-so-ever!
I'll keep it and keep hoping Tanya. The flowers on the other one are just starting to go over now sadly!
DeleteI missed this post...with the rush to Christmas. Anyway, glad you found out the name of the orchid. This post is great Sue, and it reminds me I must repot mine. Only have two. I keep them cool for awhile, Nov-Dec but will now bring them out into the warmth, and do as you did, and will feed with an orchid fertilizer. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeletePleasure Bren - my flowering orchid has gone over now, so I will repot it and the other one still isn't showing any signs of a flower stem.
DeleteBurregeara Nelly Isler for sure.. You can buy more at Kawamotoorchids.com by clicking on their ebay page.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that
Delete