Bloom Event - Banfieldara Gilded Tower 'Mystic Maze'

Another mouthful of a name. I'm not sure I've got the correct one even now. This has definitely been masquerading under several different names for quite some time. I could pronounce Brassidium (just). Another remnant of the time when I used to make a habit of selling plants. I actually have two left, and they both flower quite regularly, often twice per pseudobulb. They seem easy growers and are well adapted to the warm conditions in my growroom thanks to the Brassia influence in their parentage. The flower spikes are upright and tend not to need support, especially if grown in good light. There is a slight fragrance, but it isn't a room-filler. I always find the smell of Brassia and its relatives slightly unpleasant, actually. I can forgive them this small transgression, though, because the flowers are quite striking.

The Brassia influence is quite strong, and the flowers are good and spidery, but with stronger lip markings than on the typical Brassia. This hybrid usually blooms as its new growth is maturing and then again just before new growth begins, much like Brassia big spider does. Not every time, but more often than not.

The plant has been in its current pot for quite some time now and is filled with roots. I really should do something about it because it will start to decline if I don't change the potting medium soon. Plus, the pot is split from top to bottom. I don't know if they are making biodegradable pots of some description, but I have found that some of the pots that orchids come in (not the ones from specialist nurseries) start to disintegrate after a year or two. I haven't decided whether this is because the growers are trying to be green (somehow I doubt that) or because they don't expect the plant to live long enough for it to become an issue.

Only the very very lucky ones make it into the hands of someone who knows what they are doing (not meaning to blow my own trumpet, of course). The vast majority of orchids sold these days go in the bin straight after they have bloomed.....they don't even get the chance to die through overwatering or sitting in a draught or one of the other things I hear people do to kill their orchids. It's a shame really, but we can't rescue all of them.

Bloom event - Oncidium katrin zoch

Oncidium Katrin Zoch is one of those orchids that I just can't quite understand. It grows (after a fashion). It blooms. And repeat. It just never seems to really grow well or reach the proportions you see them at in garden centres. I'd love to know how those Dutch growers do it (this and several other genera I can't grow for toffee). Having said that, this plant has done well recently, and beggars can't be choosers, can they? It has produced probably 20 flowers on a branched spike, and has put on an attractive show. It is originally one of Ray Creek's infamous plug plants, and I have had it a few years now. Sadly it doesn't seem one for 'clumping up' (producing more than one lead), although it often produces more than one spike per pseudobulb, though never at the same time. It is definitely a keeper though, as it has the most amazing scent, sort of like white chocolate with a bit of vanilla. And its a pretty colour. I shouldn't whinge so much about it really, should I?