One of my favorite orchid genera are the phragmipediums. They are the South American ladyslippers. The plants enjoy plenty of moisture at the roots and also high humidity with moderate to cool temperatures. Phragmipedium Giganteum often has sepals reaching two feet in length...no one knows the purpose of these long appendages but it has been speculated a pollinator could travel up to the reproductive parts of the flower for pollination.

Another beautiful Phragmipedium is the species schlimii. The lovely pink flowers are often fragrant. This is the true Phragmipedium schlimii.

Phragmipedium Giganteum 'Timberlane' AM/CCM/AOS

Phragmipedium schlimii 'Timberlane' CCM/AOS

Phragmipedium Albopurpureum 'Sir Arthur' AM/AOS

Phragmipedium richteri 'Lorance'

The Miltoniopsis are commonly called the pansy orchid for their obvious resemblance to the garden pansy. These plants like moderate temperatures (60 degrees/night and 75 degrees/day), plenty of humidity, moisture at their roots, and underpotting. They should be fed a balanced fertilizer during the winter months (20-20-20) and a high nitrogen fertilizer (30-10-10) during the summer to encourage growth.

I received awards on both of these plants...however the Lyceana 'Stamperland' had already received a flower quality award previously (AM/AOS). I received a cultural merit award (CCM/AOS) on my plant but could not give it a clonal name ('Timberlane') as it was already named 'Stamperland.'

Miltoniopsis Bert Fields 'Crimson Glow' AM/AOS

Miltoniopsis Lyceana 'Stamperland' AM/CCM/AOS

One of the pleasures of growing orchids is working with interesting species. Babtistonia echinata is a small plant from Brazil with a spike of pendulous, bee-like, flowers. When the plant is happy...growing on a mount with plenty of water once a day and drying between waterings, moderately bright light and temperatures...the grower can be rewarded with these lovely flowers.

Babtistonia echinata

There are nearly 700 maxillaria species in this diverse genus which are distributed throughout tropical America from Florida, through the West Indies, to central America, Brazil, and south through Argentina. They are in general epiphytic in nature. These plants are very popular with hobbyists not only for their lovely flowers, but for the wonderful variety of scents.

Maxillaria atrata 'Timberlane' CCM/AOS

Maxillaria atrata 'Timberlane' is grown in a pot and is very robust often producing 200 - 300 scented 1 inch flowers. After receiving a cultural merit award it was divided and divisions shared with friends. This is a very good idea...if something should happen to the "parent" plant, there are often friends willing to return a division.

Dendrobium is a huge genus comprising over 900 - 1000 species found in India, SriLanka, Japan, Philipines, Malaysia, New Guinea, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. Most dendrobiums are epiphytic or lithophytic. Because there are so many species and they come from such a wide ranging area and habitat condition that there have been several attempts to split this genus into smaller units.

Dendrobium chryxotoxum is a beautiful plant with lovely sunny yellow flowers approximately two inches wide. The plant covers itself with these panicles of flowers in the spring. It grows in a pot in bright light and does not receive any rest period.

Dendrobium chryxotoxum

Aerangis biloba 'Timberlane' CCM/AOS

Aerangis comprises approximately 60 monopodial, epiphytic species distributed throughout Africa, Madagascar, and the Comoro Islands. The flowers are most fragrant at night. Each flower has a long spur at the base of the lip.

Aerangis biloba 'Timberlane' CCM/AOS grows in a slatted basket with its roots and flowering spikes flowing gracefully over the side.

Paphiopedilum Houghtoniae 'Timberlane' AM/CCM/AOS

Paphiopedilum Houghtoniae 'Timberlane' AM/CCM/AOS

The paphiopedilums are the Asian ladyslippers....easily grown as greenhouse, windowsill, or houseplants. This paphiopedilum....Paph. Houghtoniae 'Timberlane' AM/CCM/AOS.... is a primary hybrid between haynaldianum and rothschildianum and is very easy to grow. In March of 1988 it was judged Best in Show at the Michigan MidAmerica Show. It has been divided many times and currently is holding 20 growths and the potential of 15 or more spikes in its next blooming.

photos and page by Marcia Whitmore

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