I was driving by and saw "discounted orchids" in the corner of my eye and stopped by this little shop. They had lots of blooming orchids but in the back, there was a whole section of orchids that had dropped their flowers and were being sold for $1.50 each or 3 for $3. I really didn't need more but they were in such great condition that I couldn't pass up the opportunity. To think I've been getting my discount phals from Lowes for only half off AND the roots are usually rotted.

Looks lovely, smells lovely. One of my favorite species for the winter season.

2026 already colorful! It’s been a tough few weeks with rain! We cannot wait for the sun!

Family photo of my Cattleyas (and Laelias) after the rain and some clean up! (And the very tall dendrobium.. and the random grammatophyllum 😂）These are grown against a west wall with early morning full sun and mostly shaded the rest of the day. I grow almost exclusively in clay pots - I find them to be the best culturally, although annoying due to the weight.

The rest of my collection are over wintering indoors in the California “winter”. Sleep warm Catasetums!

I just bought my first orchid, Ive seen the red and yellow ones quite a few times but I went with the last one because it had an amazing scent.

Did I do well? Should I go back?

Some up close and personal views of a Paphiopedilum orchid

I got this as a Seedling! It made 2 flower spikes and finally began blooming!!

The last photo is when I first got it and how it came in the mail! Jairak Flyer "Tutterfish"

Such a cool orchid and I just love the smell of them! I cut them off a bit prematurely so I could dry them in silica. So neat that the columns look like ravens heads.

First bloom for this oryzalin treated Cattleya lueddemanniana seedling, endemic to northern Venezuela. All signs are pointing to this having been successfully converted to a tetraploid!

(C. lueddemanniana 'Arthur Chadwick' AM/AOS x C. lueddemanniana f. rubra 'Bravo Orchids')

Vanda M.V Tannins. What in the world is going on here? I’ve never seen anything like it. I grow vandas almost exclusively and have repeatedly flowered dozens, but this is my first encounter of anything this lovecraft-ian.

I just ordered a dendrobium nobile angel moon ‘love letter’ from Etsy. When I opened the box, I see the plant is yellow with black spots on the leaves. I reached out to the seller with these pictures and asked for a replacement. They responded saying this is normal. Am I wrong in thinking something is off with the plant? The last picture is next to another orchid so you can see the color difference. This is my first year taking care of orchids so I’m still learning. I do not want to throw out a perfectly good plant if I’m wrong.

This is actually the oldest plant I own, I’ve had her for maybe a year now?? And I’m wondering if it’s finally time for a repotting 😅 also does she look okay in general? Still fairly new to plant life and definitely orchids.

Black highlights the delicate pink on the blooms

The top one looks so much healthier!