Orchids for window growing?

[caseyhoo]

Originally Posted by David

Those smaler ones would be nice. Will look around and see. Tks.

I few plantlet, if you want...

[David]

Hi KC! Thanks. I've sms you.

[David]

I just came back from Sg. Buloh nurseries. Can't help myself and bought 2 orchids again. It was at the spur of the moment and I did not find out more about them before I buy them. I may regret this decision and kill them in my growing environment.

Can somebody help me out with the names and a little information on them please?

This is a small fella with cute small flowers...


The flowers of this have a certain smell. I wouldn't say I like the smell a lot but it sure is beautiful. I kept asking the nursery person whether this is a highland plant as I do not want to grow highlanders. She said no. Not sure if I've been cheated.

[atmccmn]

David, the first one is an oncidium. Sorry! me also don't what name it was. All I know is oncidium. Mine was mounted as I was advised to plant it with coarse charcoal. It comes in an array of colors like pink, maroon, yellow, red & etc.....
The second one is maxillaria......something. I also have that mounted to driftwood. I put mine at very shaded area so, it looks like a bulb sprouting grass..

[David]

Thanks Andy,

So both species roots needs to be very airy and plants needs to be placed in a more shaded area?

The maxillaria flowers really have a pungent odour. Let my son smell it. he said I don't like the smell... haa, haaa... actually after smelling it a couple of times it does smell a little like amonia. But I just love the leaves. It's different from the usual orchid's leaves.

[paphioboy]

The first one is a tolumnia/equitant oncidium. You seem to have a good buy there as your plant is a large clump with many fans of leaves. I haven't had much success with tolumnias before, but they can be grown in pots or mounted on wood. They do not like to be exposed to heavy rain. Tolumnias are warm growers and come from South America.

The second one is Maxillaria tenuifolia. Not sure about the culture but most books and sites list it as intermediate/cool. I have had mine for about half a year now and it is growing well, but no flowers yet. Apparently it is a seasonal bloomer and now is the peak blooming season. andy, I grow mine with dendrobiums so it gets a fair bit of light. I heard that catasetum culture is best, so it must be watered heavily when the new growths form and kept dry after the bulb is mature to induce blooming. David, I thought it is supposed to smell like dry coconut, not ammonia..?

[David]

Thanks for the info paphioboy. Appreciate it. Let me go back and smell it again. I have a little bit of sinus problem and maybe I did not get the smell right.

[atmccmn]

No wonder my maxillaria never bloom untill recently. Even worse....I only found out after seeing the flower leftovers at the base of it's bulb. Thanks for the info.

[David]

Paphioboy,

Went back yesterday and smell it again. You're right! It does smell like coconut.

[paphioboy]

Originally Posted by atmccmn

No wonder my maxillaria never bloom untill recently. Even worse....I only found out after seeing the flower leftovers at the base of it's bulb. Thanks for the info.

Well, Andy, at least yours bloomed. Mine not blooming this year..