About Myself

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Singapore
Hi ! Welcome to my blog on orchids and landscape design. I have been growing various type of orchids along the balcony of my high-rise apartment since 2004. My favorite orchid genus of all times are Bulbophyllum, Onicidium as well as Cattleya alliances. I love bulbophyllum for their exotic form and intricate 'movable lip'. Although I have been growing orchids with little success, due to the lack of sufficient sunlight and low humidity, as well as strong wind which prevail at my growing area, I still try to find the right types of orchids for my flat through trial and error. Occassionally, my orchids have surprised me with unexpected bloom that would make my day! Beside orchids, I also enjoyed strolling in public gardens and parks, and at the same time looking at the landscape design intent. In my blog, I'll be sharing with you, photographs of orchids that I adore and as well as interesting parks that I have ventured. I hope you will enjoy these photos too and please feel free to leave some comments or thoughts. Thank you for viewing my photo blog.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Phalaenopsis violacea var. coerulea x sib [1]

Phalaenopsis violacea with blue flower form
Phalaenopsis violacea var. coerulea
Witte 1861 SUBGENUS Polychilos SECTION Amboinenses Sweet 1968

In their native habitat which ranges from the Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia and Sumatra at 150 m low altitude, Phalaenopsis violacea can be found growing as an warm loving epiphyte in shady and high humidity condition.

Different flower color forms exist, such as variety 'Malayan', 'Blue', 'Alba' and 'Sumatra' as this orchid species have a widespread geographical distribution. 

Since July 2010, I have been growing this young orchid at my kitchen yard that faces southwest direction. It receives about 3-4 hours of filtered morning light next to my kitchen window. I have retained the orchid in their original plastic pot with loosely packed moss as medium, to minimize disruption and shock to plant. 

The orchid is drenched thoroughly only once a week, as the moss is capable to retain moisture and to minimize the chance of rot. So far the plant had produced a new leaf and put up a fresh new flower spike under this condition. The photo above shows the plant's 1st flowering under my care, since my acquisition from Ching Hua Orchids (Taiwan Nursery).

The size of the 1st flower is about 3cm (wide) x 4cm (height).

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Bulbophyllum gracillimum

Bulbophyllum gracillimum 
(Rolfe)Rofle 1912 SECTION Cirrhopetaloides Garay, Hamer & Siegerist 1994

Bulbophyllum gracillimum is a small size lowland orchid species. It is widespread from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Borneo and Australia.This bulbophyllum is commonly found growing in rainforest along the lower tree trunk. 
1st flower spike with premature bud drop. Sad!



The flowering period in southern Thailand is usually between October to December. Having said that, this bulbophyllum has flowered twice for me in early March this year in Singapore (the 1st flowering is unsuccessful though). I shall monitor its subsequence flowering to determine whether the March flowering is caused by stress. 

This bulbophyllum can produced up to 10-15 purplish red flowers which are arranged in a cluster form. The bright yellow dorsal sepal, which color is contrasting with the rest of the flower. The size of each flower is about 0.3cm wide x 2.5 cm in length. 


New flower buds forming from the 2nd inflorescence 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Bulbophyllum corolliferum (syn. curtisii)

Bulbophyllum corolliferum (syn. curtisii)
J.J.Sm. 1917 Section Cirrhopetalum
Plant: Overall View
Previously in December 2010, I had a post on 'Bulbophyllum curtisii var. lutescens' that has yellow flower. Further to that, I wish to share photos of Bulbophyllum corolliferum (syn. curtisii) that has the typical color form of purplish flower as compared to that of the former. 

Bulbophyllum corolliferum is a lowland hot-warm growing orchid species that ranges from Thailand and Malaysia. The flowering period in Thailand is between November to December. It can have up to 10 flowers arranged in umbel. The size of each flower is about 0.3cm wide x 1.5 cm in length.