More from Pacific Orchid Expo 2014
I’m still sorting through photos from the recent Pacific Orchid Expo, and I wanted to share some more great pictures. It’s easy to see that these aren’t your everyday orchids. With the magic of Dave’s photography, the incredible diversity of the orchid family shines through.
Among the vast world of orchids, Dave and I find many of our favorites in the Masdevallia family. Most of these stunning beauties, like those in the three photos below, are cool growers. They’re native to rainforests high in the Andes, and they love foggy breezes on the Northern California coast. With enchanting shapes and colors, it’s a guarantee that they’ll always be popular outdoor choices here in San Francisco.
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March 11th, 2014 at 4:30 am
Tеrrific post! These are the kіnd of photos that everybody loves.
March 11th, 2014 at 4:38 am
Great purple flower! I love that pic!!!
March 18th, 2014 at 1:08 am
Hello,
I have a Phaleanopsis orchid. It is my first ever one and frankly i know nothing about it. I just watered the plant and kept it under good lighting (not direct). All seemed well. Then I noticed that the leaves were drooping down but healthy.It developed few flowers. Later the leaves began to develop white patches that if wiped would come off. Now within a week all leaves have fallen , including the new one. New bud has shrivelled up. The main stem is still dark green. But all other extra stems have dried up.
Current status is that main stem is dark green, plant has no leaves, there is a shrivelled brown stem with a small green tip, no flowers .
Please help me. I really do not want to kill my first orchid. What have I done wrong? Please.
March 20th, 2014 at 9:01 am
Hi Veni. It sounds like your Phal has some problems. They may all be tied to one cause, or there may be multiple issues to address. If your Phal has dropped all its leaves, unfortunately it won’t recover. However, if you can identify what went wrong, you can learn from it.
First, after every thorough watering, make sure that excess water drains out of the pot completely. Don’t let the roots sit in water or waterlogged bark, or they will rot. Symptoms of this problem could include a white fungus on the leaves and loss of flower buds.
Phals need warm temps, with a 65°F (18°C) minimum at night. Cools temps or cold breezes could cause the plant to decline.
White patches on the leaves could also be mealybugs. These pests can damage the plant. Often, they thrive on plants which are in decline due to the above problems, or other problems like low humidity or too little water.
Check basic care info for Phals before you try again. If you’re feeling discouraged, please remember that your experience is a common one. One of my favorite orchid sayings is that you’re not an orchid expert until you’ve killed your weight in orchids.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:59 am
Coool pics! I love the first one with the squiggley petals. It looks like it came from Dr Seuss!