Colorful Winter Ahead

[remo]

Nice going, Bill...I have a bunch of cyms in spike right now, several of them the pendulous variety, my favorite. They take months to actually bloom though and the wait drives me batty yearly! getting a few catts with dry sheaths, wonder what that is all about...should have some oncidiums spiking on the windowsill pretty soon!

[angela]

Hi Bill
I am thrilled for you. Looking good.
Please let us have pics when they are fully opened.
I have not had much to crow about lately. We have been having very unseasonal, incessant rains for the whole month, and my shade house does not look good.
The Barbados Orch. Soc. is holding their Xmas Party at my home and I am not proud to show them my collection!! I am sure they will understand though, since we all were getting the same rain.
Good luck with your blooms.

[mauraec]

Hi Angela (forgive me for hijacking your thread for a moment, Bill - and I have some cym. questions for you as well)-

I'm so sorry to hear about the rains. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the sun will return and your house will be filled and surrounded by your usual gorgeous blooms soon. It's so good of you to host the party - that's such a huge undertaking! It makes me shudder to remember the parties I gave back when I had a big house. Try not to stress too much - your kind and gracious manner will carry the event, anyway.

As for the rain, we have the opposite problem in Atlanta - I know, because I collect it to water my plants and it's been mighty scarce lately. I keep reminding myself of how grateful I am that there's no snow, though - back home in New England they've already gotten a pounding! Ugghhhh.....


Bill - I have 3 cyms - one standard, one medium and one small (how's that for variety). The standard and the small have been pet projects of mine ever since I was told I'd never get them to spike in Atlanta. Well, they did - and then they went off to the orchid-killer's greenhouse, where they were kept inside with insufficient light and consistent temps around 70 degrees for 5 weeks. Now I have a couple of withered spikes and one small, rather beaten up looking one. Since I've had them back, I've kept the warmth tolerant one near the south-facing window, which goes up to about 78 degrees by day and about 62 by night. The standard I put back outside, where it should have been all along - however, the temps here at night are going down into the low 30s a lot and I'm hesitant to leave it out overnight. Now that it's spiked, if it makes it, can I bring it inside, or does it still need the drop in temps at night? My medium cym. was a consolation gift to myself yesterday after I left Phillip at the hospital - it's got one fabulous spike nearly in bloom and 2 more fat ones coming along. Can I keep it indoors now, or does it, too have to go outside? I'll try to post pics when I can.

[angela]

@Maura
Thanks for you comments & good wishes.
So sorry to hear that Phillip is hospitalised. My prayers & best wishes are with him.
Sorry I can't give any info on Cyms. I have never tried them, don't think they would do well in my climate. Good luck with those spikes.
Best regards
Angela