Vanda Mimi Palmer x Vanda Kultana Indian Incense

Seen at the November meeting of the Orquidistas de Puerto Rico Facebook group.

Vanda brunnea tessellata x Vanda Kultana Fragrance

Seen at the November meeting of the Orquidistas de Puerto Rico Facebook group.

Cyclopogon cranichoides (Griseb.) Schltr. a terrestrial orchid with very dark leaves in the Rio Abajo forest in Puerto Rico

I have passed through the part of the Rio Abajo forest where this orchid grows literally thousands of times.   I had never noticed than an orchid was growing in the place where this orchid lives.  The main reason is that is is a muddy shallow ditch that is normally covered with dead leaves unless a particularly strong rain shower washes them away.  The color of the leaves of this orchid is a good mimicry of the color of the dead and decaying leaves that cover the area most of the time.

I probably would have never stopped to look at the spot if I had not noticed the inflorescence.  The color of the leaves hide them from sight but apparently some animal found them tasty and took out a few bites from them.  The flowers are nodding and tiny so getting a good photo was a bit of a challenge.  This is the only plant of this species I have been able to find in this location.  Nearby there are plants of Erythrodes, Ponthieva, Cranichis and Oeceoclades orchids growing on the ground.

Bollopetalum Midnight Blue (Zygopetalum Arthur Elle x Zygopetalum Skippy Ku)

I saw this hybrid on the December meeting of the Orquidistas de Puerto Rico.  These types of hybrids are not that common in the island of Puerto Rico.  However recently these hybrids have become available locally.  I am looking forward to see these plants show in local orchid shows.

Dendrobium anosmum var. huttonii, an update on my plant

For the last seven years my plant of this species grew vigorously and bloomed well.  Unfortunately, I moved it to a shadier, wetter spot than what it was used to because I wanted to put some other plants there.  As a result the base of the plant stayed sopping wet for weeks during the rainy season and it died.  Fortunately the plant has four large keikis that will be repotted to individual baskets as soon as they finish blooming.  Although the mother plant base died, the keikis are so large, all of them bloomed.
Here is a link to how I cultivate this plant.

http://ricardogupi.blogspot.com/2008/10/dendrobium-anosmum-var-huttoni-culture.html

Renanthera monachica Ames 1915, slow growing but rewarding

This small Renanthera is a very slow grower under my conditions.  Thankfully it will bloom at a size that is positively microscopic when compared with its relatives such as Ren. coccinea and Ren storiei.  The bright colored flowers are a veritable plague magnet, I had to spray mine regularly with a mild insecticidal dilution just to be able to enjoy a full inflorescence.  Even the something bit off the dorsal petal of the first flower to open.

The flowers open slowly over the course of weeks.  The first flower opened on February 8 and it took until the 19 for the inflorescence to open its 10 th flower.  The inflorescence still has a bit to go until all the flowers are open.  I recommend this plant for people with limited space and endless patience.