First successful phalaenopsis cross germination!

Last spring I tried another phalaenopsis cross using my very fragrant Phal. Pingtung Gold. After several previous unsuccessful attempts (self, and other noid phals), this time, we had a compatible match!!

The pollen parent I used was Phal Bedford Golden Berry (Phal Taipei Gold 'Goldstar' x Phal Goldberry 'Carmela'), one of my very first orchids purchased back in 2000 (Gubler's Orchids) from our local White Rose Store. Both parents have very waxy flowers but only Pingtung Gold is fragrant, producing a most delicious and strong cinnamon/spice scent. I'm hoping that characteristic will be passed on to the offspring...but first, we have to wait at least 2-3 years before the first blooms! 

I can't take credit for the flasking...I enlisted Drew from This Side of Paradise Orchids to grow out the tiny and delicate seedlings. 

Phal. Pingtun Gold (pod parent)

Phal Bedford Golden Berry (pollen parent)

Newly fertilized flower with swelling ovary

Ripened seed pod with viable seeds

Nov 11 2018 vessels (2 months post seeding) photo courtesy This Side of Paradise Orchids

(Phal Pingtung Gold)  X  (Phal Taipei Gold 'Goldstar x Phal Goldberry 'Carmela') (3 months post seeding) photo
courtesy This Side of Paradise Orchids

Orchid Beallara Pacific Bright Star "Willy Nilly" (Oda. Remembrance x Mtssa. Royal Robe)

Well, she certainly has not disappointed me this season!! After spending years trying to revive this plant from near death, it now seems very happy. Next I will attempt to grow it to a larger specimen size which should hopefully result in many more spikes and blooms. Each spike bears 6 flowers and each bloom measures roughly 5" across! The only thing missing to make this an absolute 10 is fragrance.

Beallara surprise!

I'm so thrilled this gorgeous beauty is blooming especially during this early winter gloomy weather. The bright colors and star-shaped blooms measure about 4" across! It would be a bonus if this orchid was fragrant but alas, it is not. Can't complain, she's giving me 2 spikes with 6 blooms each this season.
This specimen was purchased as a seedling from Cloud's Orchids back in 2009 and I almost lost her. She is now truly revived and doing well, as you can see.

Beallara Pacific Bright Star "Willy Nilly" (Oda. Remembrance x Mtssa. Royal Robe) 

Potinara surprise!

Wow, that was fast! Here you go, she started opening today. The colors are not fully developed yet and the petals not fully flexed. I enjoy watching the various shape/color changes all flowers go through. Hope you do too!

Potinara Chief Sweet Orange in bud

Just over a year ago I purchased this Potinara in bloom from Crystal Star Nurseries while on day trip. I wait in anticipation as this is the first re-bloom for this prized orchid! These buds are huge, measuring almost 3" long already.  I would say perhaps another 2-3 days before the bloom starts to unravel and then it will take several more days for each bud to totally unfurl and for the fragrance to emanate... will just have to be patient.

Zygopetallum "Advance Australia"

Oh I'm so delighted to have my first successful re-bloom on a zygo! Apparently they are more challenging to grow and bloom compared to the easy breezy phalaenopsis orchids so I must have done something right!
I find it quite cheerful to have plants bloom in my house throughout the winter months, and especially today with a heavy spring snowstorm descending upon us yet again!
The coloring on the photo does not do this bloom justice. It should appear as a more blueish purple and not this pinkish mauve.
One more thing...too bad your screen does not have a "scratch n sniff" feature as this is one of the most pleasantly fragrant in the orchid world!

Zygopetallum "Advance Australia"

White big lip (petaloid) Phalaenopsis orchid

Imagine my surprise when I was scanning the plant shelves at our local Walmart when I found petaloid (big lip) moth orchids! These are pure white with a blotch of pale pink at the center. The flattened  lip is fused and quite attractive!
So here is another one that followed me home...

Mellow yellow phalaenopsis joins the collection

Here is another interesting find at the local grocery store. This phalaenopsis has a nice buttery yellow color with flecks of orange near the base of the lower petals, giving it a truly pleasing appearance. Alas, no fragrance but I still brought her home!

Pink on pink veined moth orchid

Sometimes it pays off to visit the local Walmart clearance shelves. I rescued this lovely pink princess who had nothing wrong with her except having spent and damaged blossoms. Before any plant purchase, I  thoroughly inspect the leaves, roots, flowers and moss for any signs of disease or pests and always place them in quarantine. I won't risk infecting my entire collection so I have dedicated several spots of my house as segregation areas. It is well worth the effort to being pro-active, trust me!

 

Phalaenopsis NOID, pink on pink, veined with magenta lip