Orchid Man in the United Kingdom

Grammatocymbidiums are an exciting novelty that’s only very slowly found its way into Europe, and it’s still hard to find them anywhere unless you know where to look. They are a hybrid between grammatophyllums and cymbidiums. Making them basically heat tolerant cymbidiums that can flower whenever, without the need of dramatic temperature changes, cold nights, and keeping it outside all year round until first frosts just to have that hopeful flower spike. Oh no! These plants can grow comfortably on your windowsill all year round, and will flower with beautiful cymbidium flowers. Most of them are fragrant too! As I said earlier I love cymbidiums, and I could never grow them properly and flower and now with my own plant – I just got it today! Im going to try to help these beautiful hybrids to get a foothold. Just look below!

I love cymbidiums, I truly do. The foliage is fantastic, reminding me of little palm trees – or not so little in some cases where the plant is the size of a small palm tree. The big fat vigorous bulbs and their power to grow fast and survive so many types of environments and lastly the flowers. Cymbidium flowers are among the most bellowed of all orchids to me and I never can get enough of them. But, there is a problem here. I am really bad at growing them. Actually absurdly bad. Actually probably as bad as with growing cattleyas. The common Chinese cymbidiums that are sold in our UK garden centers are unfortunately cold growing plants that require you to either have a greenhouse or a cold porch or keep them outside and then bring in. So I can’t really do that. In fact I can’t do that at all. I have a patio. If I leave orchids outside they will become the lair of slugs, spiders, ants, catepillars and anything that crawls outside. And that’s the big NOPE for me. In fact last...

The Slc. Jewel Box ‘Dark Waters’ is a hybrid cross of the   Cattlianthe orchid nothogenus, registered in 1962. The parents of the cross are Guarianthe aurantiaca and Cattleya anzac. Hands down one of my top 10 favorite orchids and my favorite cattleya hybrid.  Unfortunately, I find it incredibly difficult to get anywhere close to an accurate photo capture with a digital camera as reds and purples seem to be the troublesome colors.   Ctt. Jewel Box is a classic compact growing red cattleya hybrid. Bifoliate pseudobulbs that are about 4" tall grow along a horizontal rhizome. A terminal inflorescence is produced from a sheath at the tip of newly matured pseudobulbs. Ctt. Jewel Box averages 4.8 flowers per inflorescence and 9.2 cm (3.6 inches) natural spread. Flowers are slightly cupped, and vary from magenta to deep red, depending on growth conditions (light/temp) during bud development. LIGHT As with most cattleya hybrids you will need a lot of good su...

The Blc. White Diamond is one the nicest white mericlone cattleya hybrids available. Although it’s quite rare to find right now. This hybrid has bright, pristine white flowers with a great shape and it holds itself upright when in bloom.  The flowers inherited a beautiful waterfall lip leading to a nice golden centre.The flowers are pleasantly fragrant and last longer than most cattleyas. This orchid is a compact grower and a fragrant bloomer. It consistently blooms off on each new growth, flowers are at about 5 inches in diameter. LIGHT As with most cattleya hybrids you will need a lot of good sun exposure for them to grow well and flourish. A north exposure window that gets sunshine throughout the day will be best. However, ensure to give it diffused light during the hottest summer days as the foliage may get burned. Remember if the foliage gets a red tan, it means that your light is more than enough. TEMPERATURE Plants can tolerate a wide ran...

Neofinetia orchids are a genus of the orchid family, related to vanda family. This genus in total combines of 3 species, three found in China, two in Korea and one in Japan. It is arguably the first orchid ever to be grown with intention as a house plant from the early 1600s in Japan. Furan, the Japanese name for “Neofinetia falcata,” started to be replaced by ‘Fuuki-ran’ meaning ‘the rich and noble orchid’ as the plant quickly became loved by rich and noble people. Many years ago, Fuukiran’s were covered by a gold or silver net in order to protect them and people had to cover their mouth with Kaishi (a thin paper usually used for calligraphy) in order not to breathe on the plants while they appreciated them. This, by the way, is the same way the Japanese appreciate a great sword. This was an important time for Fuukiran as they became established into the Japanese culture. Neofinetia falcata ‘Gojo Fukurin’ is a very common and traditional mutation of Neofinetia. Some will eve...

Neofinetia orchids are a genus of the orchid family, related to vanda family. This genus in total combines of 3 species, three found in China, two in Korea and one in Japan. It is arguably the first orchid ever to be grown with intention as a house plant from the early 1600s in Japan. Furan, the Japanese name for “Neofinetia falcata,” started to be replaced by ‘Fuuki-ran’ meaning ‘the rich and noble orchid’ as the plant quickly became loved by rich and noble people. Many years ago, Fuukiran’s were covered by a gold or silver net in order to protect them and people had to cover their mouth with Kaishi (a thin paper usually used for calligraphy) in order not to breathe on the plants while they appreciated them. This, by the way, is the same way the Japanese appreciate a great sword. This was an important time for Fuukiran as they became established into the Japanese culture. Neofinetia falcate ‘Shutennou’ is one of the most sought after of all the Neofinetia varieties. A very...

Once in a blue moon, in a large supermarket or a commercial garden center you can find real pearls. Orchids that are named hybrids with some unique qualities. One of those is Phalaenopsis Sun Passat. You will undoubtedly lose your heart to the seemingly simple beauty of this Phalaenopsis hybrid. The plant is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for design and decoration thanks for its yellow to white colours with delicate orange stripes in the heart of the flower. And surprisingly this orchid is very fragrant, which is a unusual quality for large phalaenopsis hybrids, furthermore this orchid grows very large very quickly and can put out many, many spikes at the same time and these can carry up to 12 or more large flowers that can reach up to 9 cm across. Like most complex hybrids it’s easy to care for and it can accommodate different media like bark, spaghnum or even growing in semi hydroponics – which I do personally and it’s doing very well. Because the ...

Proctavola Golden Peacock is a intergeneric hybrid of Brassocattleya Richard Mueller X Prosthechea vitelline and it’s one of the most vigorous and prolific growing orchids you can find. This plant grows well in most settings and unless severely stressed it will produce a beautiful spike of many bright orange flowers. These are unfortunately without fragrance, but it doesn’t take any of it’s beauty. The maximum flowers each spike can bare is between 8 and 10. And they are long lasting, and can stay in flower up to 8 weeks. Furthermore, because the plant grows fast it will flower for you even 3 times a year. Now that’s a treat. From personal experience, the Golden Peacock does well both in standard bark, and in semi hydroponics. It also clumps fast so the plant will have to be maintained every 2 years. Provide it with ample daylight, however not a Vanda light. It will grow OK in phalaeonopsis set up with only 2500 – 3000 footcandles of light but will tolerate...

Darwinara Rainbow Stars is a neofinetia intergeneric hybrid. It’s parents are (Darwinara Charm 'Blue Star' x Neo. falcata 'Tamakongo'). It’s classic Neofinetia falcata hybrid that can exhibit a great deal of variety in its flower and foliage coloration. This unusual and exotic cross can produce a wide spectrum of colours ranging from dusty white, light pink, dark purple and even yellow or blue. The flowers are fragrant and they bare a shape very close to a standard neofinetia flowers. This vigorous hybrid will grow much larger than its Neofinetia parent, though it retains the similar growth form and will quickly create a large healthy clump. Also as in neofinetia, thanks to the mutations the colour of the roots can vary from pale green, through mud and ruby. These plants are best grown in various ways, similar to neofinetia orchids. Starting with hanged in baskets and on mounted and require bright to full sunlight and cool to intermediate temperatures. If ha...

Dear all! I am more than happy to announce we have now a super loving and happy orchids growers on Facebook and are welcoming anyone who is Living in the UK and looking to learn, make friends and be a happy chappy! Come and Join us! You can find the Group on Facebook by looking for : Growing Orchids in the UK or by clicking the below link: Growing Orchids in the UK

When you start growing your orchids and your collection is pretty small its always best to keep to the safe and tried out method. Bark and stuff, you also have sphagnum moss people and full water culture. Everyone grows their plants differently. I am no different and I am sure, my dear reader, you are also. After 8 years of mixed bark medium I couldn't have been happier with the results, till I got a plague of fungus gnats. I mean a plague, nothing worked, you got these buggers everywhere including wardrobes. So I pursued my love for pebbles. Seriously. Semi hydroponics has been a blessing. Let me explain quickly what is semi-hydro: As mentioned on Wikipedia: Semi hydroponics also known as passive hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, peat moss, or bark. Instead an inert porous medium transports water and fertiliser to the roots by capillary action. Water and fertiliser are held in a reservoir and conducted to the roots as necessary, reducing...