MENA Gardens

[Shoot Em Straight 385]

Hi ladies...had many earth quakes but nothing BIG for California....so why cant my orchids bloom again??

I have leafs and the rest of the stem I did not cut.... but nothing since last year??? I know I can go and buy really full and beautiful ones right now but I want to make it happen with the sad little two I have.

Advise?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

WoM-- tell me about your filter south-facing bay window that Jackie Bright is in. I picked up Eplcs Jackie Bright 'Hilo Star' and Mae Bly 'Emy.' I have a south facing window for them but it's not filtered. I was thinking to set them a about a foot back from it.

Yayyyy more orchids !

This is my bay window - as you can see, I have some sheer curtains up right now as the winter sun can be too harsh - it will sunburn the leaves. I can adjust the sheers or remove them as needed as the sun takes a higher path in the sky.

Here is my Jackie Bright - almost ready to open:

The phals did really well in this bay window spot - it gets cool there next to the window during the winter as they prefer, but also gets very bright filtered sun. Here are some that bloomed once already, but are sending out tons of new branches and new buds:

Bargain phal blooming:

This is a cymbidium "Mighty Cariga":

My east windows (unfiltered) seem to do pretty well for the phals, as well - got some re-bloomers there, too.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Hi ladies...had many earth quakes but nothing BIG for California....so why cant my orchids bloom again??

I have leafs and the rest of the stem I did not cut.... but nothing since last year??? I know I can go and buy really full and beautiful ones right now but I want to make it happen with the sad little two I have.

Advise?

OK these are the phals you posted pics of ? Did they put out a new leaf yet ?

I have found that phals like a little "cooling off" period of rest after they bloom - maybe down to 50-55 degrees at night, maybe 60s-70s in the day - for about 6-8 weeks or so. During this time, they like bright (possibly filtered) light, but not too much water - let them almost dry out in between waterings.

Old stems that stay green may bloom again, so don't cut those back until you're sure they are dead (when they turn brown and dry.) When you see the new leaf appear, this means they are done resting. You can begin to water more often and feed regularly, and a new bloom shoot should eventually appear.

As long as the leaves are green, it can re-bloom. Just make sure it gets that cool rest period - it made all the difference for mine.

[Nasturtium 500]

They may also rest for a year if they were forced to bloom-- sometimes that throws them off schedule. But usually it has to do with temps. if they don't have the variation in temperatures between night and day, they won't bloom.

That's what I figured you did WoM. I can't do that as I put my sun-loving cacti and succulents in the same window. So I think back a bit is the answer. It's a narrow window, so moving out of direct sunlight is not that hard.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

They may also rest for a year if they were forced to bloom-- sometimes that throws them off schedule. But usually it has to do with temps. if they don't have the variation in temperatures between night and day, they won't bloom.

That's what I figured you did WoM. I can't do that as I put my sun-loving cacti and succulents in the same window. So I think back a bit is the answer. It's a narrow window, so moving out of direct sunlight is not that hard.

I keep some small succulents and other sun-lovers right on the windowsill (opposite side of the sheer curtain, next to the glass,) but it's too narrow for anything over a 4-5" pot. Or maybe only use a sheer over part of the window, and let direct sun come through part of it ?

[Nasturtium 500]

I keep some small succulents and other sun-lovers right on the windowsill (opposite side of the sheer curtain, next to the glass,) but it's too narrow for anything over a 4-5" pot. Or maybe only use a sheer over part of the window, and let direct sun come through part of it ?

The window is only 2x4. I have succulents in front of it on all sides, but also some hanging on the walls. Back from them are the phals and AVs. So it would be hard. I think between the succulents and the phals I'll stick these guys. The light reduces drastically when plants are moved back, so it wouldn't be bad. I'll watch for sunburn and then see.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

The window is only 2x4. I have succulents in front of it on all sides, but also some hanging on the walls. Back from them are the phals and AVs. So it would be hard. I think between the succulents and the phals I'll stick these guys. The light reduces drastically when plants are moved back, so it wouldn't be bad. I'll watch for sunburn and then see.

Are the eplc's in bloom ?

[Nasturtium 500]

Are the eplc's in bloom ?

No. And I see no evidence of older stalks. So they are probably not quite blooming size.

[Cathi 5,755]

Yayyyy more orchids !

This is my bay window - as you can see, I have some sheer curtains up right now as the winter sun can be too harsh - it will sunburn the leaves. I can adjust the sheers or remove them as needed as the sun takes a higher path in the sky.

Here is my Jackie Bright - almost ready to open:

The phals did really well in this bay window spot - it gets cool there next to the window during the winter as they prefer, but also gets very bright filtered sun. Here are some that bloomed once already, but are sending out tons of new branches and new buds:

Bargain phal blooming:

This is a cymbidium "Mighty Cariga":

My east windows (unfiltered) seem to do pretty well for the phals, as well - got some re-bloomers there, too.

Gorgeous!!!

[Cathi 5,755]

Just as all the snow had almost melted here in New Hampshire, we are in the midst of yet another big snow storm today, 12+ inches . The crocus were beginning to show there little heads above the soil, and I was getting so excited in anticipation of the spring blooming season....WHAM!!! Of course this was my husband's first winter here and it has been the worst in terms of snow in 30 years. I hope all you ladies are having better weather wherever you may be.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Just as all the snow had almost melted here in New Hampshire, we are in the midst of yet another big snow storm today, 12+ inches . The crocus were beginning to show there little heads above the soil, and I was getting so excited in anticipation of the spring blooming season....WHAM!!! Of course this was my husband's first winter here and it has been the worst in terms of snow in 30 years. I hope all you ladies are having better weather wherever you may be.

I saw pictures of some of the storm in the East - sorry I really don't enjoy cold weather at all. Maybe you can bloom some bulbs in a pot on the windowsill to make it feel slightly spring-like ?

It was 95 here in San Antonio yesterday so I can't complain (This was a bit unusual - it beat the old record set more than 100 years ago.) We still get a nippy evening down in the 40s on occasion.

But generally, early February-late April is springtime for us in South Texas, so I am already in sandals and doing my spring yard chores. I have a couple of tomato plants started in the veggie patch which already have several fruit on them, along with some Italian parsley. And several bell peppers made it through the winter - I harvested one orange bell pepper over the weekend

Edited March 19, 2013 by wife_of_mahmoud

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Here is one of my tangerine trees:

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Another cymbidium:

These will live on my back patio most of the year.

One more grapefruit still to harvest on the Ruby Red. Have not yet decided where its permanent home shall be, but for now it lives on the back patio/back porch.

[Nasturtium 500]

Love it!

It's supposed to get cold here again which is total #######. It was scheduled to have weather in the 70s, and now it's the 40s/50s with lows in the 30s. WTH?!

[Shoot Em Straight 385]

yes it is the two beauties of the past

the leaves look great, fresh strong and green just have a pathetic stick where the blooms used to grow out of.

i was teetering of whether or not to post a pic...but now that you showed yours....hahaha forget it.

So defused sun and just leave them be...k.

On better info...the trailing jasmines are blooming.... sending sweet smells through out the day. Also apricot and peach trees have blooms!!! Spring has SPRUNG!