A Few Orchids That Bloomed Last Year

I hadn't gotten around to posting all the orchids that bloomed late summer through December 2015, so here are some that I remembered to photograph now!

This nice species Oncidium ampliatum decided to bloom, rather largely for being a 2 pseudobulb plant at the time.

Maxillaria tenuifolia had it's best bloom year ever.

Then  in December, this Cattleya lawrenceana I've had for 2 years finally bloomed. (Species cross with color forms 'El Hatillo' x 'Manantial') Hey, you think this one needs a repot yet?  ;)

There were so many that bloomed that I forgot to photo or was too busy to notice until they were fading. That was disappointing, but sometimes life gets gets in the way and I'll have to remind myself this year to stop and smell the orchids, or roses, or whatever.

The worst Maxillaria tenuifolia ever

I love Maxillaria tenuifolia. The flowers are interesting, pretty, and they smell exactly like coconut. It's truly uncanny. My Maxillaria tenuifolia is the worst one ever. It was given to me because the previous owner couldn't get it to bloom, but it was supposed to be an especially nice one so I took it. Then for the next five years, I tried getting it to bloom. Nothing.

It grew, but it was mature the whole time I had it, so that wasn't the issue. I read it liked more water than the average orchid, done and given, still nothing. I gave it a proper winter rest, nope, still hates me. Summers outdoors in good light and a nice breeze, no, you are terrible.

I didn't have the heart to throw it out, I love Maxillaria tenuifola, remember? Every time I saw one for sale anywhere else I considered purchasing it, just so I'd have one that I at least knew was physically capable of flowering.

While my brother, (who I've helped enable into being an orchid hoarder too,) was visiting he decided he wanted to try a piece of my Maxillaria tenuifola.I warned him, this plant will not flower. He decided he wanted a piece anyway. So I literally just grabbed a chunk and separated it from the mass of pseudobulbs and repotted the rest of the plant, while he repotted his piece.

That's when I discovered..... IT. A strange looking growth. On his piece that I tore off my plant without any consideration. I flat out told him that if it turned out to be a flower bud I would punch him in the trachea. I've never seen a bud on this stupid plant before, how am I supposed to know what it looks like just starting to grow out? I've waited five years for this plant to flower and now I won't even get to see it, because it's not actually on my plant anymore and you're leaving to go home soon? Fill the next few sentences in your mid with colorful expletives.

But all isn't lost! No one's getting punched in the trachea after all. I have one bud that flowered on the pseudobulbs that remain! I discovered it a few days later when watering

 One flower, (I guess we can count it as having had two). I'm still kind of laughing because it really only sort of redeemed itself.