Bulbophyllum maxillare (syn. blumei)

Bulbophyllum maxillare (syn. blumei)

(Lindley) J.J. Sm. 

Section: Ephippium

Geographic Distribution: Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo to Philippines, PNG and Australia.  

Elevation/ Temperature: sea level - 800m lowland forest/ hot- cool growing species.

Plant Type: epiphytic.

Growing Habit: sympodial

Cultivation Treatment: plastic pot with sphagnum moss as main medium. Small-medium sized rocks at pot bottom.

Flowering Month(s) in Singapore: February, May-June, August-October, November.

Flowering Period: 2- 3 days.

Flower Colour: red petal with yellow margin. 

Flower Scent: not scented.

Flower Count: single flower per inflorescence at leaf length.

I have been growing this beautiful orchid since April 2011. After a 2-3 months of adjustment to the new environment, the plant started to grow new leads. I have observed that the plant continue to throw out a few slender inflorescences that hold a single reddish flower since May to October. The flower form is in a bow-legged fashion.

Pleurothallis quadrifida

Pleurothallis quadrifida

(La Llave & Lex) Lindley 1842

Subgenus: Specklinia 

Section: Acuminatae Lindley 1859

Geographic Distribution: Caribbean, Mexico to Venezuela.

Elevation/ Temperature: up to 1800m/ hot- cool growing species.

Plant Type: epiphytic and lithophytic.

Growing Habit: sympodial
Cultivation Treatment: plastic pot with small-medium sized rock pieces and top-dressed with sphagnum moss.
Flowering Month(s) in Singapore: October.

Flowering Period: 10 days.

Flower Colour: yellow.

Flower Scent: slight sweet fragrance. 

Flower Count: 18-20.

This small sized orchid have been growing at the bright spot of my balcony since July 2010. This is the plant first flowering in the month of October 2011. The flowering may have been triggered by temperature drop for the past days in Singapore, due to the sudden heavy rain coupled with strong Northeastern wind.

External Courtyard at Odeon Towers (Singapore)

Odeon Towers (Singapore)
This is my second post on landscape design. My first post on the landscape topic was posted earlier on February 2011. In this post, I wish to feature an external courtyard at Odeon Towers, located in the city hub of Singapore. 

Odeon Towers is a 23 floors mid-rise office tower along the bustling North Bridge Road. The tower is located within walking distance from the National Library, Bras Basah Complex, Chijmes and City Hall MRT Station. The tower has been around for the past 15-20 years and was last renovated in Year 2007. 

The renovation includes new landscape design for the external spaces around the office podium (refer to my sketch plans below). 

Bulbophyllum plumatum

Bulbophyllum plumatum [1]

Ames 1915

Section: Cirrhopetalum

This strange looking orchid also known as 'The Feathery Bulbophyllum or '紅絲帶' (which means red ribbon in chinese). However, I would prefer to call it 'The Red Lantern' or 'The Red Chilli' in my own term. This warm orchid is native to Malaysia, Indonesia as well as in Philippines. 

I have been growing this bulbophyllum since January 2011 along window area at my kitchen yard. The yard receives less indirect sunlight but strong prevailing south-western wind during June-July. Due to the windy condition and as the plant is mounted on a fern bark, I watered it in the morning and evening to increase humidity.

This bulbophyllum has flowered for the first time in mid July 2011. The plant's  budding/ spiking stages are as follows:

Brassocattleya Wonder Star (B. nodosa x Bc. Morning Glory)

Brassocattleya Wonder Star

First registered: 6/6/2001

Parentage: Brassavola nodosa x Brassocattleya Morning Glory

Section: Cattleys Alliances Hybrids

This attractive orchid hybrid, Bc. Wonder Star has been made by backcrossing Brassavola nodosa into Brassocattleya Morning Glory. See below:

Brassocattleya Wonder Star = Brassavola nodosa x Brassocattleya Morning Glory

Brassocattleya Morning Glory = Brassavola nodosa x Cattleya purpurata

A tiny ant poising with the flower.

Stichorkis (syn. Liparis) lacerata

Overall plant with unopened bud.

Stichorkis (syn. Liparis) lacerata

Ridl. 1886 

Section: Cestichis

This young orchid have been savaged previously from the mother plant that has suffered from basal rot around 2-3 years ago. The mother plant eventually died off, but fortunately this young offspring with 1-2 back bulbs have manage to re-establish itself on a small piece of wood mount. Although the plant have survived, its growth have been stunned and only managed to produce 1-2 new bulbs recently. 

I have added a small amount of moss around the root area and placed the wood horizontally to retain some moisture. The plant was watered sparingly in the morning and evening to prevent the re-occurrence of basal rot. 

Close-up of flower bud unfolding its petal.

Bulbophyllum putidum (syn. fascinator) [2]

The overall plant & close-up of flower with dimension overmarked. (Top & bottom photo)

Bulbophyllum putidum (syn. fascinator) [2]

(Teijsm. & Binn.) J.J.Sm. 1912 

Section: Cirrhopetalum

This is my second bulbophyllum putidum that I have taken care since Jan 2010. My first bulb. putidum was featured in my earlier blog post in April 2011. 

This orchid was originally planted in a plastic pot filled with perlite and top dressed with a layer of sphagnum moss to retain moisture. The plant has produced 2-3 new pseudo-bulbs over the year (total: 7-8 bulbs). It finally flowered from one of the latest bulb in June 2011.

In term of cultivation, I provided this plant with the same care as per my first bulb. putidum:

1) Sunlight: Bright indirect light.

2) Water: Once daily in the morning and second watering if I am available in the evening.

Perhaps the other bulbophyllum has been kept more on the drier side compared to this plant, as the former orchid is mounted on a small wooden twig.