Phalaenopsis schilleriana is one of our favourite Phalaenopsis species with really attractive mottled leaves and long thin pendulous flower stems of large pink flowers. The spikes become branched when plants are larger.

Phalaenopsis schilleriana comes from hot lowland forests in the Philippines and so enjoys high temperatures and shaded conditions. we grow the species in what used to be our greenhouse classroom with minimum 17C although it would like a little warmer.

We are excited to be taking part in the RHS Orchid Show next week (25th-27th March) at Wisley, especially since the shows in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled for Covid. It means that this year’s student show team are new to big shows and are learning about the anxious anticipation of spotting which plants will make it to the display in perfect flowering condition, and which will either still be in bud or have gone over.

Our specimen Dendrobium thyrsiflorum is looking good (above) and will hopefully be joined by lots of other Dendrobiums including Dendrobium aphyllum below (buds hopefully opening early next week)

… and Coelogyne holochila – fingers crossed 🙂 – I will let you know what happens.

Can I wish happy bud watching to all those planning orchid displays this spring.

I mentioned on Sunday that we have lots of Australian dendrobiums and today we have another. These stunning plants will be some of our feature plants at the RHS Orchid Show at the end of next week, and with this week’s sunny days the greenhouse and filled with the heady fragrance of Dendrobium delicatum’s massed flowers.

Dendrobium delicatum is a natural hybrid between two Australian species, that have already featured in 365 days, Dendrobium speciosum and Dendrobium kingianum . With the variable nature of the parent species it is not a surprise that Dendrobium delicatum is highly variable too.

The top plant is our clone ‘pink blush’ but we have other clones that are white and cream but all are very fragrant. The plants are variable too but generally have long pseudobulbs (up to 40cm long) which are much thinner than those on Dendrobium speciosum.

The plant makes a great specimen as it gets older and the top photo shows ‘pink blush’ over 1m across.

We grow plants in our Cool Asia section (min 10C) and in our Temperate section (min 6C) so this is a cool growing species although plants that have found their way into other sections of the greenhouse also flourish. We keep plant well watered in the summer when in growth but a bit dryer in the winter and spring especially when in flower.

Some orchids are not blessed with the most appealing of names and this one sounds like an orchid with Corona virus!!! Fortunately it tests negative on a lateral flow test and positive on a ‘cute little orchid that is easy to grow test’

Most Stelis species have spikes of small flowers but these are smaller than most (the plant is in a 3cm pot) and pinky brown. The plant makes up for the size of the flowers by producing them in splendid abundance. This plant will be in flower for at least six weeks now with multiple spikes appearing from the base of all the leaves.

Stelis congesta is endemic to Ecuador where it grows in cloud forests at around 1900m. Over  time it lives up to its name and produces a mass of upright leaves and flower spikes. the mounted plant is particularly appealing with spikes from evert leaf base.

The flowers are only about 3-4mm across but the mass of flowers give a very attractive display. We find the species vigorous and easy to propagate by division, and a very rewarding little species to brighten up the winter greenhouse.

We will have plants for sale at the RHS Orchid Show Wisley 25-27th March (and on the shop straight afterwards if we have and plants left.)

Our Australian dendrobiums are making a great show in the greenhouse so it is time to feature some more of them. The first is Dendrobium pugioniforme, a remarkable species with fleshy pointed leaves along a pendulous rhizome, and the whole thing is covered in very attractive flowers with light green petal and sepals, and a white and pink lip.

The flowers begin to appear on our plant in early March and the last ones go over at the end of April. As can be seen from the photos the flowers are non-resupinate (upside down with the lip at the top) and produced in profusion from all along the pendulous stems.

We grow our plant mounted on a largish piece of cork bark and we spray the plant daily, it hangs up where it gets good light in our Cool Asia section.