February: What's Blooming In the Office?

 

The plant in the top photo is an oncidium; the bottom is a cymbidium. You could also call them mixed blessings.

Yes, they are beautiful, and the oncidium emits a heavenly scent. But the Treasure Valley Orchid Society Show & Sale isn’t until April 14-15 this year, and by then these blooms will be long gone.

This means, of course, there’s no way I can enter them in the show.

I admire people who are able to gauge their plants’ needs for nutrients, light and growing temperatures and get them to flower almost on cue. I’m not one of them and doubt I will ever be.

I have grow-lights for the orchids, but I use them primarily to help the plants get through our gray Idaho winters. Different orchids require different light levels and I haven’t done the research to ensure they’re all getting enough.

So, for this novice grower, the upside is that every bloom is a surprise – if not a blue-ribbon winner at the next orchid show.