Mini slice of the tropics. Orchids in bloom!

[opaline]

I decided to divide the plant into 2 - 3 plants Maura and mounted seperately. Each now have 6 - 10 PBs with new shoots developing, I think this one is going to become an old reliable, its vigouress. Part of my ruthless cleanup was to rid of quite a bit of foliage/ roots/ sad bulbs in the end and what seemed a little harsh at the time Im pleased I did it with the new grow season around the corner and will soon go wild again.

Trouble is 'ruthless' leaves the cupboard looking bare! and will need to look at the dictionary again to find out what the word 'patience' means.

Brats mounted!

[opaline]

Sad to look at it now but a dose of tough love is what the Dr ordered.

Orchid grow area stripped bare!

Its gonna take some serious restraint from needing/ wanting to buy some newbies to fill those temorary voids. Definelty need to act on your advice Maura and splash out with some petty cash and invest in a decent camera.

The benefit of keeping to your thread and adding to it periodically, it provides you with a text/ photographic diary. It may possibly reduce that frustrating element of 'hindsight' when you wish you had kept a record or taken an photo for reference.

[opaline]

A diary with 75% pictures. Notice my recent addition of a Zelenkoa, formely oncidium mounted on a cactus to replicate them in the wild, well trying to!

The second pic shows a catsetum maculatum. My favourite! Should have gone dormant now as it followed its instinct and abandoned leaves. It skipped its rest and shooted again. Trouble is I hope this doesnt exhaust its PBs. Just above it is a peristeria elata (dove orchid). Imported legally and recently from US. Its acclimatising at mo, notice the 2 big bulbs.. Very very lucky to find it and so cheap!

[opaline]

As my monkey pitcher interest has officially taken off my latest addition caused my first ever online purchase delight and amazement opposed to the norm - an average response or satisfactory reaction.

In addition to being my best bargain ever the Nepenthes Miranda certainly gave me the jaw dropping experience. Couldnt get a decent image reflecting its very form, but the size was quite a shock! The large leaves are aslong as a mans arm and nearly as wide as 28" waist. The pitcher itself measures a close 7 - 8" inches base to top of lid! Could feed off full grown mice im sure! Pitchers get bigger than this, glad its a mature one.

Wasnt aware this size existed in neps, has anyone else got this beauty in their collection?. The best bit, was only £15 / us $14. 2 large growths and a dozen or so basal shoots. Space wise a tad of a challenge but was determined to keep it.

[orchids^_^]

Very very nice!
"Snakes" are fine, if they are not "poisonous"...
Very cute mini greenhouse, I have to find time to make my own!
Alex

[mauraec]

Matt! Didn't I tell you to invest in a cheap point and shoot!?!?!?! You can't have all these great plants that I want to see in detail and tease me with cellphone pictures - it's not fair!

[opaline]

Matt! Didn't I tell you to invest in a cheap point and shoot!?!?!?! You can't have all these great plants that I want to see in detail and tease me with cellphone pictures - it's not fair!

Lol! so sorry mom!, just havent had the time, but i still have your words saved in a paph folder on my desktop. Everytime i take a crappy pic i think ' i should really sit down , open mauras folder and start shopping!!!!!!!' - and you are so right but I get lost in a timeless world of plants and animals i forget about reality for a bit! I will honor your assistance with a conclusion soon! hehehe

[Pindar]

Hey hey hey! I have the hugest grin round my chops, Matt! Pure delight- makes me want to get up and jump around (might just do that later!) Thank you for this display and the peek into your world.

Now then, where is this- g/house, conzie, sunroom or what? I picked up on the fact that you have done something constructive about humidity- that sounds intriguing, as that is the big weakness in my setup. I have a tiled floor, so could keep it watered in the warmer months I guess.. and sod the furniture... but then we'd get soppy feet when chillaxing in there. What have you undertaken, my friend?

I too have horror pictures to post and seek explanation. Not everything goes perfectly, as you say. Love the tree trunk there for mounting. Did you have to disinfect it?

[Pindar]

Matt- I think it is really sweet how you use American English in your reply to Maura. That is so civilised, I wish I were that considerate. Or maybe you are originally from the US yourself? (On the other hand you said earlier "perish the thought" which is such a British expression...)

[mauraec]

Matt- I think it is really sweet how you use American English in your reply to Maura. That is so civilised, I wish I were that considerate. Or maybe you are originally from the US yourself? (On the other hand you said earlier "perish the thought" which is such a British expression...)

What, exactly, makes you think Matt's response to me was in "American English"? Its lack of grammar, typos, general informality? Most us write or speak in English. Period. As an English major and writing teacher, I often use the British spelling of a word, since I am more accustomed to it, and neither the "American" nor the "English" spellings is incorrect. I also prefer the OED to Webster's. In my humble opinion, the English language refers to proper grammar, punctuation, syntax, and spelling. Oh, and I support the Oxford Comma.