Monday, May 25, 2015

Angraecum dideri

This is a species that has been blooming twice a year for me.  It bloomed last October and now it is blooming again with three flowers, though only one is shown in the photos.  Angraecum dideri is from Madagascar and is a small plant in comparison to some of the other species in the genus.  Its root, however, ramble everywhere and it is always for that reason a bit difficult to contain in my limited space..  The plant is an elongated fan of leaves which grows to 20 cm or and produces new growths along the stem (there are two new growths on my plant, one of which is blooming).  The flowers, produced one or two per spike, are 6 cm with a 10 cm nectary or spur extending from the back of the flower.  The flowers are a very pale green with a while lip and are fragrant at night.






Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Masdevallia coccinea 'Dwarf Pink'

This is a dwarf form of the well-known Masdevallia coccinea, but it is still the largest plant in my collection.  Masdevallia coccinea is from Peru and in this case the plant is 15 cm tall (it can be twice that size) with flower spikes that reach another 15 cm above the plant.  The 5 cm flowers open are dark pink and fade to paler pink.  It always blooms in the spring and is grown in a 15 cm pot in sphagnum moss.










Friday, May 15, 2015

Masdevallia hartmanii

This is Masdevallia hartmanii from Ecuador (thanks for the plant, Kevin, and thanks for reminding me of the correct name).  It is a tiny species, only 5-6 cm tall with flowers that are 3 cm, including the "tails".  I grow it mounted and cool with high humidity.



Monday, May 11, 2015

Dendrobium Mountain Magic

This is a Dendrobium cuthbertsonii hybrid, a cross of that species, less than 3 cm tall, and Dendrobium pseudoglomeratum, a very large plant.  The smaller parent has reduced the plant size to around 15 cm but the flowers are still very large, 4 cm long.  The plant blooms several times a year and is more tolerant of warm temperatures than its Dendrobium cuthbertsonii parent.  My plant is grown in live sphagnum in a clay pot with cool temperatures and good humidity and light.




Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Masdevallia lucernula

Masdevallia lucernula, from Peru, is a rather odd species that does not open widely and has flowers that are more or less pendant at the end of the flower spikes, though the spikes themselves are erect.  It is a small species, only 10 cm tall, the spikes held just above the foliage, and the flowers 3 cm long.  It requires cool to cold temperatures and my plant is grown in sphagnum moss in a plastic net pot.



Saturday, May 2, 2015

Masdevallia datura

Masdevallia datura is named for the enormous Angel Trumpet flowers belonging to the genus Datura or Brugmansia.  Its flowers are nowhere near the size of the Angel Trumpets but are large for the size of the plants.  The plants of this Masdevallia are 12-15 cm tall, with narrow leaves and flowers, measured from tip to tip that are as large as the plant.  The species is from Bolivia and is cool growing.  It is not a prolific bloomer for me, but has done better since I reduced the light, cut back fertilizing to almost nothing, and let it dry out a bit more between waterings.