Orchid haul from Andy's Orchids

I haven't posted in a while it's been quite busy with the holidays.  There was a 40% off sale at Andy's Orchids.  So of course, I had to purchase more orchids.  I purchased these in November, so sorry the sale is no longer going on.  But it seems to happen every November, so remember to check next year.  I could have paid for 2 day shipping, but if it was delayed for any reason the third day had below freezing temps so I went for overnight shipping.  It was pricey, but I did get 40% off, so I think it was still worth it. 

I know this picture doesn't show any details, but I'll post new ones when I posts updates on the orchids.

Here are the orchids I purchased (from left to right):

holcoglossum flavescens

ascocentrum pumilum

leptotes pohlitinocoi
haraella odorata
gastrochilus somai

Non-orchid purchase (top):
Myrmecodia (Ant Plant)

The plants are all very small, the largest was the gastrochilus which game in bud.  So excited about the buds.  They are miniatures, so they won't get big, but it will be a long while before they become specimen size.  Besides the leptotes, all the other genera are all new to me.  Hopefully they'll grow well for me.

Winter is always difficult though as the air is extremely dry.  Even with a humidifier on, its about 30%.  I wish we had a longer growing season.  It's so much easier to grow outside. Because it's so dry, everything pretty much dries in a day, so I water daily.  Watering is also difficult since I grow inside and I have to water each mount individually and try to get the hardwood floors all wet.  I usually get water everywhere. 

I have thought about transferring the mounts to pots, but it seems like it'd kill most of the roots and I would set the orchid back.  Potted plants will not have to be watered as often, but it takes a while for an orchid to recover after a re-pot so stripping it off a mount seems like it would inflict trauma to an orchid.

The ant plant is also new to me.  The caudex is supposed to grow large and it has all these crevices and tunnels that ants live in.  I'm not sure I want ants living in my plant, but I really like the shape of the fat base.   Like my orchids, this plan also likes humidity.  Hopefully it can tolerate my conditions.

Well that's it for now.  Good luck growing!

Orchid hual from Andy's orchids

This past weekend, there was a Friday orchid sale at Andy's.  A list of about 100 plants were 40% off.  I have purchased too many plants recently, but couldn't pass up the offer.  I purchased them online on Sunday, they were shipped Monday and I got them today 11/23.  I was a little worried about the cold temperatures at night, they dipped into the high 20's.  But all the orchids arrive live and well.  These genus are very new to me so I hope that I can grow them well. 

The plants were packaged very nicely.  It did come with a heat pack, but it was no longer warm.

After removing all the packing peanuts the plants are on the bottom.

Schoenorchis tixieri - A true miniature orchid.  And it looks like it already has a past flower spike.  

Paphiopedilum spicerianum - I think I count about five growths.  I was hoping that it would be in spike as this is the right time of year for it. But I guess I'll have to wait.

Neofinetia falcata (Onamisecai) - This has five fans as well.  So I think it should be a pretty mature plant. 

Leptotes bicolor - This one is supposed to be very floriforious.  I'm hoping it is large enough to bloom.

Chamaeangis (Microterangis) hildebrandtii  -  This had two old flower spikes so it is definitely blooming size.  I found a bunch of tiny snails in the moss, so I'll have to try and keep this away from the others. 

Schoenorchis juncifolia - Weeping plant that has blooms that are supposed to remind you of wisteria.

Sophronitis Cernua  - Smaller than expected.  I believe the bulbs are supposed to be about an inch, but they are a lot smaller.  I think I will probably have to wait a while for this one to bloom.