Orchid Obsession

Another orchid

2009-06-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

Another orchid, another cup of tea, another peaceful day...

Currently blooming

2009-06-06T00:08:00.000-07:00

These 2 orchids are reblooming this year. It makes me blissfully happy, because it takes happy orchids to bloom. Orchids are one of the fussiest species on earth. These two must have felt my love. :P

Cymbidium - nice fragrance

2009-05-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

This plant smells very nice. I put it right next to my computer, a swift of orchid fragrance breezes by every now and then.

Random pictures of orchids

2009-05-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

White Cattleya

2009-05-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

I had this plant for about 4 years or more. This is the first time it flowers again since I bought it at an orchid show. The fragrance is so beautiful, a faint smell can be traced all over the house. I didn't expect it will flower again, so when I saw the open white flowers (not knowing it was budding), the surprise was delightful. I was just asking the orchid man at the Farmers Market the other day, what to do if a plan hasn't bloomed for years. He told me increase sun exposure. Magically, a pair of flowers appeared shortly after my complain. :D I should tell him what happened next time I see him.

Cymbidium hybrid

2009-05-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

One and only hybrid of this plant. I better not kill it. What a cute little orchid!

Cymbidium

2009-05-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

This plant smells lovely. Not many cymbidiums have fragrance. The ones do, some smells nice, and some not so nice. I have both kinds and many that do not have a scent.

In the past few weeks, an orchid man showed up at the farmer's market right in the shopping center where my tea shop is. I tried hard to ignore the flowers for the first week or so. But I am weak when it comes to orchids, so I end up with half a dozen plants or so. This orchid man hybrids many species, including some shown here. Some hybrids have only a couple of sibling plants, which made it unique and rare. I hope I won't kill one of them. Then I'll be liable for their extinction.

Cymbidium again

2009-05-07T18:33:00.000-07:00

Love this picture. What beautiful color contrast with clarity!

Another Cymbidum

2009-05-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

Cymbidium - White Star

2009-05-07T18:29:00.001-07:00

This is the only white cymbidium I have. Not sure why I didn't have any before.

Cymbidium - Vietnam specie

2009-05-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

New addition to the collection

2008-09-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

Yellow Dandrobium

2008-05-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

cymbidium of spring 2008

2008-01-06T16:30:00.001-08:00

It's cymbidium season! My orchids are doing quite well this year, 80% of 30+ cymbidiums are spiking, half of them have more then 2 spikes, one is the queen bee of all with 8 spikes!!!!

Fried Octopus?

2007-08-30T23:25:00.001-07:00

Orange clams - each flower blooms 9 months long

2007-08-30T23:09:00.000-07:00

Tiny flowers -- dragon fly lavender -- chemical scent

2007-08-30T23:05:00.001-07:00

Cymbidium season - currently blooming

2007-03-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

Currently blooming cymbidiums at my mom's back yard.

This is a special breed from the Philippine. I purchased it from my sister-in-law's coworker whom paid $75 for just one Pusedobulb. She split the plant in 2 after 3 years. I acquired this one from her for $75. The most expensive I paid for one orchid out of more than 100 plants I have.

Dandrobium - Fucia - royal purple heart

2007-03-12T23:53:00.000-07:00

Cymbidum - white rosie heart medium

2007-03-05T21:55:00.000-08:00

Japanese breed, pendulous long stem of flowers.

Vanda - pink dotted - medium

2007-01-31T00:44:00.000-08:00

Vanda is the most difficult specie I have encountered so far. I have killed 2 out of 4. The soiless plant absorbs moisture and nutrients from air only. Although I am faithful to watering other species every 4 to 5 days, I couldn't keep up with watering only the vandas every day. That could have attributed to the 50% fatality.

Oncidium - tiger oyster lip large

2007-01-13T23:44:00.000-08:00

Dandrobium - Pink yellow heart

2007-01-06T00:28:00.000-08:00

Dandrobium - fucia white - bald bark

2007-01-06T00:22:00.000-08:00

Cymbidium - jade butterfly small

2006-12-30T00:27:00.000-08:00

Cymbidium - yellow all over medium

2006-11-27T23:51:00.000-08:00

One of the 3 winning plants at the orchid auction. This year's auction had much less plants than last year, veriety is much fewer than previous as a result. 80% of the plants I already have in my collection.

Cymbidium - hatching alligator eggs medium

2006-11-27T23:32:00.000-08:00

One of the winning items at tonights orchid auction. Weird alien animal like flower. It looks like a kind of shell fish I once found at the beach which lives under the sand and navigates FAST beneath the sand in groups.

Anyways, this is its fully blooming stage, which is only half way compare to most cymbidiums. The contrast of the color makes it more interesting, perhaps like a little alligator hatching out of its egg shell.

Orchid auction

2006-11-27T16:43:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the once a year orchid auction at the South Coast orchid association. This is a fund raising event for the association, members and local orchid nurseries donate plants up for auction. Money will be used for yearly expense such as weekly meeting space rental, newsletters and organization expense. Events including field trips, auctions, guest speakers and cultural classes.

There are many species/varietals, mostly uncommon kinds you won't see at a grocery store. Most of these species are collectible plants from all continents and climates. Even if you are not a collector like myself, it's an eye opening event just to observe the beauty of the forever mysterious orchids. Fabulously mesmerizing!

You can find a local orchid association near you easily online. Los Angeles alone has many regional associations which also host annual auctions, Burbank, Palos Verdes, Newport Beach, 2 in Long Beach, just to name a few. There are Cymbidium assoications or others by species in addition to Orchid associations as well. Members ranging from amerteurs to serious collectors, so don't be shy, it's a great way to learn from beginning to advance level. Myself is at the end of beginner level. :) Learning is a never ending process!

Dandrobium - Fading fucia/white large

2006-11-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

This is a Dandrobium with very large flower, size of the Phalaenopsis, that's about 4 times of the regular Dandrobium. Fabulous!

Oncidium - Deep Burgundy medium

2006-11-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

The way to tell an addict is when one buys more than 1 plant of the same specie. I bought this plant because it has 3 more spikes coming out in addition to the blooming spike while the other plant is done blooming. *bad me*

Oncidium - star fish large

2006-11-13T14:56:00.000-08:00

Cattlaya - burgundy green, large

2006-11-12T23:24:00.000-08:00

large flowers and lovely fragrance

Oncidium - yellow butterfly tiny

2006-11-12T23:19:00.000-08:00

Dandrobium - tiny white

2006-11-12T23:11:00.000-08:00

Tiny white flowers looks like small dragon flies. Dandrobium has the most exotic flowers!

Oncidium - Burgundy small

2006-11-12T23:05:00.000-08:00

Waxy burgundy flowers with white lip.

Cycnodes - yellow 2

2006-11-06T17:53:00.000-08:00

This is an other cycnodes I recently bought. It's in full bloom versus the first one I bought was at end of bloom. However, there is a new spike growing from the same stalk.

Dandrobium - Fucia small

2006-11-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

This plan has 7 blooming spikes currently. Very healthy and mature, it's ready for transplanting in separate pots after bloom season.

Oncidium - banana chocolate small

2006-11-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

Phalaenopsis - Pink with rosie lip

2006-11-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

Phalaenopsis - white with pink yellow heart

2006-11-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

Oncidium - chocolate cherry small

2006-11-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

Although I do not already have this specie, it was something similar I wanted to buy, and I mistaken this plant for it. I am a little taken back by it. Oh well....

Cattlaya - peach, large

2006-10-22T00:04:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - yellow lavender heart

2006-10-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

Phalaenosis burgandy green virus

2006-10-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

Cattleya - Large yellow

2006-10-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

Beautiful yellow cattleya, slightly fragrant.

Dandrobium - burgundy, twisty, small

2006-10-09T00:53:00.000-07:00

Cycnodes - Yellow

2006-10-09T00:46:00.000-07:00

Flowers are drying up when I got my hands on this plan. I am just glad that I found it. Not a common plan.

Brassia - spidy large

2006-09-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - burgundy

2006-09-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - orange brown small

2006-09-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - yellow small

2006-09-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

Brassia - star fish medium

2006-09-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

That's all for now

2006-09-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

I am finally done up loading all the pictures. There are a few I did not take pictures or have not bloomed since I acquired them. Also a few that are new to the family since I got mugged.

Cymbidium - pink large

2006-09-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

Cymbidium - white fuscia lip medium

2006-09-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

A pendulous cymbidium, spike long 3 to 4 feet hangs upside down.

Cymbidium - iron red medium

2006-09-14T19:53:00.000-07:00

Cymbidium - champagne rose large

2006-09-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

It's now located in San Diego.

Cymbidium - pink star medium

2006-09-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

7 spikes this spring, good producer.

Cymbidium - plain white small

2006-09-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

This is the most unflattering plant. When I bought it, it was budding and I thought it would be yellow. Very disappointed.

Cymbidium - pale green pink lip large

2006-09-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

Looks like large butterflies.

Cymbidium - pale green pink spotty lip medium

2006-09-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

One of those non-invasive color soothing to the eye yet attractive.

Cymbidium - jade white lip small

2006-09-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

Cymbidium - green red lip large

2006-09-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Apple green petals, sharp contrast with red lip.

Cymbidium - jade red spotty lip medium

2006-09-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

Clusters of flowers on each spike, 3 spikes this spring.

Cymbidium - Yellow red lip large

2006-09-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

Large cluster of flowers, 9 spikes of flowers bloomed for 8 months. Awesome!

Cymbidium - yellow giant

2006-09-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

Flowers are as big as half of my face. Gorgeous!

Dandrobium - orange giant alien bug

2006-09-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

Odd looking flower, however extremely exotic. One of my favorites.

There might be the most number of exotic species in dandrobium, however only the common kinds are available on the market.

Dandrobium - jade spider purple lip

2006-09-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

On top of my favorite list. Amazingly exotic!

Dandrobium - yellow lavender lip

2006-09-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

Lotsa flowers on each spike.

Dandrobium - curly blushing bride

2006-09-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

Dandrobium - blushing bride

2006-09-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

currently blooming for the second time in the same year. Yay!

Dandrobium - Yellow fragrant

2006-09-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

Lots blooms, light fragrance, clear and refreshing.

Dandrobium - white fragrant

2006-09-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

Den. Spring Jewel 'Miki' AM/AOS
(Mild Yumi x Hatsushimo)
First release in North America. Delightful fragrance. This clone received an Award of Merit from the American Orchid Society at 2002 Taiwan International Orchid Show. At the time of award it has over 113 flat beautifully proportioned snow-white flowers on four canes up to 17 inches tall. Flower substance excellent and crystalline texture. Nearly flawless,archetypal quality for the Den.monififorme-nobile complex of plants with compact growth habit. Fragrant!

Dandrobium - Pink fragrant

2006-09-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

Dandrobium - lavender

2006-09-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Dead. Not enough water, too much water, I don't know.

Miltonia - pink

2006-09-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

Miltonia - viral burgandy

2006-09-14T17:08:00.000-07:00

Miltonia - white purple heart

2006-09-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - yellow giant dancing lady

2006-09-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

American obesity, 3 times the normal size dancing lady.

Oncidium - yellow dancing lady small

2006-09-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

typical size, quarter lip size.

Oncidium - spider tiger

2006-09-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

My love

Oncidium - coconut cocktail

2006-09-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

my favorite

Oncidium - brown spider

2006-09-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - brown white lip

2006-09-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

blooms profusely

Oncidium - red white lip

2006-09-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - red butterfly

2006-09-14T16:23:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - tiny red fire ball

2006-09-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - tiny pink lady

2006-09-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

fragrant

Oncidium - curly burgandy

2006-09-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - brown lavender lip

2006-09-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - purple tiger

2006-09-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - lighter version of cheetah lavender lip

2006-09-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

Oncidium - cheetah lavender lip

2006-09-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

aromatic scent, a bit medicine like.

Oncidium - white star

2006-09-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

Odontoglossum - splashing wine

2006-09-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

My mom's favorite color. It's too colorful for me.

Odontoglossum - lacy pink

2006-09-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

Odontoglossum - lacy yellow red spot

2006-09-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Odontoglossum - lacy greenish pink

2006-09-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Odontoglossum - Chocolate orange lip

2006-09-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

Adgm. Summit 'Frenchtown' AM/AOS, note: nice plant with 2 spikes. (Odm. bictoniense x Ada. keiliana)

COLOR / FRAGRANCE :
Color : Orange
Fragrance : No

Bright orange lip set on sepals that are very dark chocolate. This specimen plant has been producing two spikes per growth 2-3 times a year.

CULTURE INFORMATION :
Watering : Dry Between Water
Temperature : Warm, Intermediate
Plant Location : Greenhouse, House, Outdoor-frost free
Season : Spring, Fall, Winter
Propagation : Mericlone
Light Requirement :
Strong 2000+ F.C.

Brassia - curly jade tiger yellow lip

2006-09-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

My favorite Brassia.