Unexpected Surprises

In the last week, I noticed some new growths on some of the orchids that I thought perhaps I was actually killing!

This is a mini phal that I had gotten in the HHOS Christmas party swap. I had a mini phal a couple of years ago and it died from lack of watering. When I got it, the roots were packed in moss and didn't look great. I had actually gotten two and the other one is sitting on the boyfriend's window sill. His started growing a couple of new leaves while mine just sat and didn't do much for a while. Then one day, I noticed a new leaf growing and was really excited. This week, I noticed that the original spike (that big one) had grown and extended for new buds on the tip and it branched! You can also see the start of a second new leaf in the picture!

If you take a look at the roots, you can spy a healthy green root in there. I water it every couple of days to give it some time to dry out, but not so much that it's dying from thirst.

The terrarium is a dendrobium nobile and I really didn't think it was doing all that well but there is a new cane with a couple of leaves peeking out! I guess there was some root growth in there and I didn't completely neglect it it's doing okay.

Do you see that little nub? This is actually half of my mom's orchid that I brought home with me at Thanksgiving. I really had my doubts on it. When I repotted it, the original plant was in dirt, which it should not have been, and it split in half. I replanted it in bark but because this half was so off balanced, it kept tipping over. Also, I questioned whether going from dirt to bark was a good idea since it had spent years in dirt, probably getting used to the moist environment. I replanted it a couple of weeks ago into a semi-hydroponic environment with the clay pellets. Now, it can suck up as much water as it wants. The other half is still in bark. It will make for a nice environment

This week, I spotted the nub and I wasn't sure what to make of it or if it was even there before! I will look forward to see what develops here!

My new project: a terrarium!

At this month's meeting of the Hollin Hills Orchid Society, we made terrariums!

There is a next of sphagmum moss, then from the bottom up, a layer of horticultural charcoal, perlite, peat moss, and some orchid bark. I've stuck a couple of dendrobium nobiles in along with a leaf from an African violet (those things can root from a leaf!), and some companion filler plants! I need to keep it out of direct sunlight so that I don't boil everything in the glass so it's sitting by one of the south facing windows but slightly away from the window.

It normally takes 2-3 months for terrariums to settle in so I will report back!  As it's settling in, I'm going to keep some plastic wrap on top to really keep the humidity in. If this works out, it is very tempting to make another one (or two or five) with miniature orchids!