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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year!

 
 
On December 21st, Tom gave me this winter solstice/25th anniversary gift, my first Cymbidium Orchid.  Hope I don't kill it!  Some house plants like to be watered more regularly than succulents so often my house plants that aren't natives of arid regions get a little crispy.
 
Happy new plant, happy new year, happy longer days. 
Do you play with orchids?  Do you treat them as long-lasting cut flowers and then dispose of the plant or do you keep them going year after year and enjoy returning blooms?

As we begin a new year, I'd like to thank all of you who stop by my blog sporadically or habitually.  Special thanks for sharing your expertise, humor, disgust, etc. by leaving comments.  It's been a fun year and a half and 413 posts. Happy 2014! 

33 comments:

  1. Gorgeous gift!

    They are beautiful. I kept a dendrobium orchid in the kitchen for a while and it rebloomed twice before it died off. I enjoyed it but have never been able to get another one to rebloom since.

    I'd say reading your blog is a habit by now and I definitely enjoy your humor.

    Happy 2014!

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    1. I'm so glad you have picked up this bad habit. I've heard there are worse things one can do on the interwebs. Happy 2014 to you!

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  2. Wonderful choice! Orchids do last a long time in bloom. It's worth the long wait to see them bloom again. It's so clever of orchids to bloom mid-winter when most other plants are asleep.

    I have 2 Phalenopsis from the big box store and one in a big glass cyclinder growing in pebbles that was a gift. One of the BB Phals has buds. The other has a potential bloom spike starting if it doesn't turn out to be yet another aerial root.

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    1. Good to know. I admire these in bloom at stores but have always been to chicken to try them. Got a "moth orchid" as a gift a couple of years ago that bloomed beautifully for the longest time at work but did not seem to like the light or my lack of attention and gave up after a while. I'll try harder with this one!

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  3. In our old apartment, we had the HUGE floor-to-ceiling windows that faced east and were great for growing Orchids. I had always thought they were hard to grow, but Norm gave me my first one on our 1st anniversary, and while I expected it to die after flowering, it kept on going...and flowered sporadically over the next few years. I added a few more...and always had success with them! Sadly, when we moved to our house, the new conditions just didn't suit them...so one by one, they bit the dust...so no more house plants for us...which is ok...except for the orchids, I never liked most of them anyway...I think I just felt like I OUGHT to have some houseplants, for some reason ;-) Happy New Year!

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    1. I'm not really very good with house plants but somehow manage to keep a few zonal denial things alive during the winter inside. Maybe house plants are more important for people who live in areas where the ground is frozen solid for months on end? Happy New Year to you, Pal!

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  4. The only orchids I don't kill are the silk ones. I"m quite talented at keeping those alive. I just don't have the right indoor conditions for them. Yours are beauties! Happy New Year! :o)

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    1. Happy New Year to you, Tammy! I also enjoy growing silk flowers! They last so much longer, don't require water, and never outgrow the space!

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  5. I had a couple of orchids a couple of years ago that stayed in my kitchen window over the sink. They bloomed and then never bloomed again, and slowly started to decline. I thought they might like some fresh bark, so I repotted them. That killed them off, LOL! Tom chose a very pretty one, lovely colors. Happy New Year! Happy Solstice! Happy 25th Anniversary!

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    1. R.I.P. over the sink orchids. Happy Solstice, New Year, and Twelfth Night (soon) to you Alison.

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  6. What a beautiful orchid, that Tom - he's a keeper. I've had a few orchids over the years, mainly cheap ones I fell for at Trader Joes. They inevitably passed on...

    Happy NY to you!

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    1. Oh well, like many temporary plants, I'll enjoy it while it blooms and see where it goes from there!

      Happy NY right back at you!

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  7. I've never had an orchid. I'm so scared to kill it... Yours is beautiful. Happy New Year, Peter!

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    1. This will be a fun experiment. Happy New Year, Satu!

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  8. Very pretty! In SoCal, I've found that Cymbidiums are among the best orchids to keep. They do need regular fertilizer boosts to bloom and periodic dividing (although the bulbs like to be a bit crowded). Of course, we don't have your winter problem...Happy new year!

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    1. You're funny Kris! "Winter problem" indeed! Happy New Year!

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  9. That's a lovely gift Peter. Best wishes to you and Tom for 2014!

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    1. Thanks guys. May 2014 be much less stressful for you both!

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  10. Gorgeous gift and Happy Anniversary! I've tried to join the ranks of successful orchid growers, and inevitably, I fall flat on my face Sigh. I have no advice, except that I don't know that mine had enough light or water (as I tend to forget that I have houseplants)..so maybe with good light and regular water/fertilizer you'll be treated to a rebloomer! Happy New Year! I always enjoy your blog posts :)

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    1. Thanks Jennifer! You mean I'm supposed to water it? Oh, well, it'll be nice until it dies. Happy 2014 to you!

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  11. I've tried a couple of orchids but we didn't get along and had to part ways via the compost pile. I think they are so beautiful, though! Happy New Year to you!

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    1. Oh well, it's fun to look at while it lasts. Happy New Year!

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  12. I do not have a goodh house for orchids, so I don't even try. Yours is beautiful! Congratulations on your anniversary!
    And yes, you, or your blog, have become a habit, a good one.

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    1. I fear that it would like more light than it is getting where I have it. We'll see what happens.

      Thanks for your congratulations and for your habit!

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  13. My Cymbidium has NINE flower stalks. It thrives on neglect. I love a plant that thrives on neglect. In June, I put it outside in the shade, throw in a handful of balanced fertilizer, and water it with the hose when I think of it. I bring it in some time in October (before frost). That's it.

    Deirdre in Seattle

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    1. Hooray! I love this idea and will happily follow your instructions!

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  14. Peter, last year I had a gift ---2 orchids. They bloomed prettily, as yours. Then flowers faded I put the pots in cool place and watered them ONCE a week, checking the water level doesn't touch the bottom of the pot. The year passed an I have new orchids stalks with buds!
    I love yours very much and think you will have new orchid blooms once again!
    Happy New year and new orchids!

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    1. Thank you for the good advice, Nadezda! Happy New Year to you!

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  15. We have had several oncidium orchids re-bloom in later years. Orchids aren't as tricky as some say. Yours is a gorgeous new year harbinger. Happy New Year Peter!

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  16. What a beautiful gift! I stay away from orchids as they would likely require more care than I would give them. Happy 2014!

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  17. Orchids, like roses, seem to defy their rep as difficult. The ones I have had success with have been the ones that I mostly ignored. East-facing window seems to work the best.Whatever...that living bouquet will last a long, long time.

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  18. The trick with orchids is to figure out which ones will do well with the conditions you have. Papheopedalums (the ones with checkered leaves, not the plain leaves), Cymbidiums, and Phaleonopsis pretty much like the same conditions as people (Give them cool nights for bud set). Some of the others want heat and humidity. I don't grow any of those. My mother had a very bright house. Dendrobiums did well for her. I've never had any luck with them.

    If somethings don't work out, get rid of the bodies quickly. It will do wonders for your reputation.

    Deirdre

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  19. I seem to be a magnet for orchid gifts from friends and I kill every last one. Yours is gorgeous--what a sweet man you've got.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.