House orchids 2011

[SteveC2]

Just got back from the London Orchid Show; well worth a visit, although my wallet probably disagrees.  And, Maren, yes it was me who outed "houseslippers" , to all manner of strange looks from non-forumists!
As for the medals, don't worry, if the number of people taking photographs was anything to go by your display was very well received.

[Houseslippers]

... and lovely to meet you too, Maren. You are that rare commodity - someone who really knows their plants, AND who is prepared to divulge that knowledge very generously, AND who is friendly and welcoming as well - but I think we all already knew that on this great forum. And hi to Steve as well - my wallet took a hit but is still standing (there's tomorrow to think about).

Shame about the medal. I think your stand was in a difficult position anyway -  it felt rather dark around the back behind the dividing screen - that can't help. I also suspect that a stand of just or mainly Pleiones which focuses on the plants themselves might not be enough to wow more generalist judges - Pleiones are for those of us who like to peer closely at (and photograph, as Steve says) our plants, whereas to win a gold there has to be a strong and overarching theatrical element I suspect. There's always next year ...

Looking forward to your talk tomorrow!

[Graham Catlow]

Does anyone have any photos of the London Orchid show? Some general shots would be good but particularly Marens display!!

[Maren]

Hi,
I have a few rather poor pictures of my display taken in a hurry. Now I look at them I come to agree with the judges that it was a bit boring and lacking in refinement. Must try harder next time. - Didn't have time to take pics of anybody else's displays, sorry.

The hardy orchid group was kindly lent to me by Malcolm Brownsword, who supports my display every year to try to attract attention to the Hardy Orchid Society.

I also owe thanks to Simon Pugh-Jones of the famous Writhlington School, who supplied me with a few trays of very well grown and open pleiones (most of mine are still a bit behind). It was interesting to learn that he grew his at 10 degrees C, whereas I maintained a minimum temperature of 5 degrees, fearing that they may not like it any warmer. I have learnt something here and I shall try it next year to save my fingernails in the run up to the show. 

[Graham Catlow]

Thanks Maren,
A nice display with some good looking pleione's.

[meanie]

Here are a few of my current noid reblooms.
When I post multiple pictures I'll add them by way of links to the appropriate page on Flickr or Picassa, as one click gives you the option to view at a size of your choosing.
The Cymbidium is particularly pleasing as it was bought very cheap out of bloom, so I took a risk on colour - thankfully it is my favourite colour for a Cym!
https://picasaweb.google.com/LONGK48/SRGC#5586809233467301970
The mini Phal noid is very fragrant.
https://picasaweb.google.com/LONGK48/SRGC#5586809646733635970
The third is a reliable little Cattleya.
https://picasaweb.google.com/LONGK48/SRGC#5586808507193899730

[meanie]

Forgive me for the double post - I forgot my nobile Dendrobium noid!
https://picasaweb.google.com/LONGK48/SRGC#5586819369139955138

[SteveC2]

A few shots from London.  Too many people and lousy light doesn't help photography.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks  Steve, good to get this "flavour" of the show.

[SteveC2]

Now I must admit that on the "tropical" orchid front my love is paphiopedilums, the slipper orchids.  I was delighted to see that the huge "cabbage" hybrids are back in fashion.  Here's half a dozen of my favourites from the show.  If you pick the right ones they make very easy house plants, in fact I find that I get along better with these than with the ubiquitous phalaenopsis.

Gosh, I've just become a junior member.  It's been a long time since I was a junior anything!  No more Newbie!

[Tony Willis]

Now I must admit that on the "tropical" orchid front my love is paphiopedilums, the slipper orchids.  I was delighted to see that the huge "cabbage" hybrids are back in fashion.  Here's half a dozen of my favourites from the show.  If you pick the right ones they make very easy house plants, in fact I find that I get along better with these than with the ubiquitous phalaenopsis.

Gosh, I've just become a junior member.  It's been a long time since I was a junior anything!  No more Newbie!

I have just got my first three paphiopedilums and am probably  working my way towards slowly killing them. I wait to see if they are easier than phalaenopsis which seem to do well on the windowsill.

[daveyp1970]

The bottom two pics of steves are chinese paphs Tony,well third one down is Paphiopedilum malipoense or maybe a hybrid with it and the bottom one is Paphiopedilum micranthum .

[SteveC2]

Sorry that I didn't include names, was just trying to give a flavour of paphs available.
For completion
1 Lippewunder A hybrid which does fine in my house.
2 Sorry, the name escapes me.
3 Lowii. A species which has the possibility to grow huge. Not really a house plant, but no doubt someone will contradict me.  All I'll say is that I saw one at Peterborough Show which must have been four feet across!
4 An unnamed hybrid of the "cabbage" type.  These make fine houseplants.
5 malipoense.
6 micranthum.  I love it but struggle to get it to do anything.  it doesn't die.  it just sits.

[daveyp1970]

2. is paph hirsutissimum var esquirolei
speaking of paphs i have a book if anybody would like it,its the only one i have left from my paph growing days its called Growing Orchids...Cymbidiums and Slippers by J.N.Rentoul its in very good order.

[Houseslippers]

If pushed, I'd say Paph hirsutissimum var esquirolei is my favourite Paph of all. You can keep your roths and their ilk, although if my conditions suited them (they don't) I might say differently. I'm trying hard to love the bulldogs - Ratcliffes said they are coming back into fashion - but mini-complex hybrids ... toy bulldogs as it were ... now you're talking ....