Introduction

My current collection of Orchids

Phalaenopsis

This is my oldest Orchid, which I’ve had for approx. 18mths, bought from Homebase. It is a purple Phal. I’ve had quite a few flowers off this small plant and it has grown new leaves/roots in abundance. After a few months rest it is now putting out a new spike, so I’m hoping for some more flowers in a month or so.

This is my second oldest Orchid, which I got from M&S about a year ago.

As you can see in the pics it had loads of flowers on there, but there are only two left now. However it is branching several new spikes off of the old ones and some of the spent nodes, should have some flowers in a month or so.

Whilst shopping for a vase for my Vanda, I came across this reduced Phal, which I thought would be rude to pass by. Some of the flowers are a little deformed as the whole plant was wrapped in cellophane, quite stupidly. Hopefully they will spread a little now they have room. Hoping this one will reflower and grow normally. Thankfully it doesn’t need repotting just yet. Got a nice little ceramic pot with it too.

Dendrobiums

Now we come to my Dendrobiums. The white one is a Nobile type. I think it may not be so happy in the bathroom as the flowers are starting to die, however they could have been out for a while prior to purchase. I’ve had it a week now, bought from Wyevale garden centre.

This is my reduced to clear Dendrobium, again from Wyevale. This is a Phalaenopsis Dendrobium. I couldn’t turn this bargain down, half price, all it needed was repotting.

Vanda

So lastly (for now) we come to my little baby Vanda. This is a Blue Magic variety, bought from Easy Orchids, and I am hoping for some stunning purpley/blue flowers next year if I can give it enough light! I have opted for the vase method to grow it in. I was hoping it would fit in a £3 or £4 Homebase jobby, but no, due to the length of the roots I needed to get the deepest vase they had at £10 It is sitting in there just fine now. It had a good soak until its roots went green before popping into vase. Then I spritzed it with some water. I will let it dry before adding more water.

I got my Vanda cheaper as it isn’t in spike/bud/flower. This saved myself about £20 actually. I can tell my the old trimmed down spikes it has almost definitely spiked/flowered before, so hopefully I can get it to do so again. They are such stunning plants it will be worth the wait. Looks rather unusual on our living room windowsill. However due to the size and total expense of the Vanda (£33 inc. postage and vase!) I don’t think I’ll be able to get another for a while!

I hope to update this diary with photos as all my orchids grow, but especially this one.