Happy New Year from all of us here at the Writhlington Orchid Project. As you can see 365 days of orchids will continue this year with an orchid in flower every day of 2018 although we will include species included in 2017 as well as species new to the blog.

2018 is a massive year for the project with highlights being the European Orchid Show in Paris from 22nd-25th March, The London Orchid show from 5th-7th April and or course we host the British Orchid Show and Congress at School from 2-4th November.

Back to today’s post – Prosthechea vitellina is one of our most startling orchids with its very bright orange flowers, a colour not common amongst our plants. The plant is native to cool pine and oak forest in the mountains of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua but we find it does best for us in Warm Americas with good light but well watered throughout the year. It has many features that identify it as humming bird pollinated – bright orange flowers, no scent and flowers well clear of the foliage to allow easy access for birds on the wing. The dark pollen cap shows the point for beak access to the nectar. The leaves have an unusual grey waxy coating which is presumably protection from the sun and to prevent water loss.