The Coconut Orchid-- Maxillaria tenuifolia

An orchid to look for, the Maxillaria tenuifolia has interesting foliage and colorful blooms, but it is not the primary reason people purchase this plant. This Maxillaria is widely sought after due to its strong fragrance, and can fill a home with the smell of sweet coconuts for the entirety of its blooming period.

The warm-loving tenuifolia ranges from Mexico to Nicaragua, an epiphyte growing in forests at low elevations. It prefers medium-high light, good moisture and warm temperatures. In the home, the plant needs some of those conditions replicated if it is to bloom and thrive.

Therefore, I place it in a south facing window, and with its long slender leaves it does very well hanging in a clay pot. Metal hangers for clay pots can be found at many garden center and conservatory shops. Some growers with greenhouses mount this plant onto cork oak or tree fern bark, but keeping this orchid moist when mounted would be a lot of work for the indoor grower- so pot it in either a mix of coconut husks & sphagnum or medium bark & sphagnum. With that mix, I'd recommend watering 2 times per week- more during the hottest and driest days of summer.

If treated properly, the tenuifolia will bloom every year in spring/early summer and should continue blooming for a couple of months. And the blooms are a treat; as I previously mentioned, they smell of sweet coconut and can fill a room as well as any candle.

Paphiopedilum Pinocchio - a multifloral Paph

What do we mean when we say multi-floral? Well, when referencing slipper orchids, it means that you will enjoy blooms for a long time. The multifloral Paphs bloom sequentially, with a new bloom developing behind the current flower, with flowers lasting for many months.

The Paph Pinocchio is a great example of the multi-floral Paphs, and is a cross between two species, Paph glaucophyllum and Paph primulinum. With proper care it just blooms and blooms, a new slipper opening days before the old one falls off the spike. It is easy to care for, needs medium-low light and a fairly moist environment.

A starter plant.... Degarmoara Flying High

Want an orchid/blooming plant that is easy to grow indoors? That is tolerant of varying light conditions, watering habits, and can handle a large temperature range? Look no further than the Degarmoara Flying High.

This modern intergeneric hybrid  is an orchid well suited for anyone just stepping into caring for plants. It is generally tolerant, willing to forgive of a myriad of abuses and churn out several different spikes of flowers each year. It comes in a range of cultivars, the most commonly grown being Degarmoara Flying High '"Stars n' Bars" -- which is inexpensive and widely available from a range of online nurseries and larger greenhouses.

Just put this orchid in any east or west facing window, as it needs medium light. Mine gets direct sunlight for no more than a couple hours a day. Indoor temperatures seem to suit in wonderfully. This orchid can be potted in any store bought orchid mix, and although it is not picky whatsoever, seems to do best in a mixture of medium and fine orchid bark. If you have it potted this way, you'll need to water it about twice a week. (Just pay attention to the psuedobulbs, if they begin to seriously shrivel up, increase watering a bit.) Fertilize sparingly, just follow the label directions on any orchid fertilizer. 

To rehash, care is pretty darn simple:
1) East or west window
2) Any bark mix
3) Water twice a week
4) Watch it bloom

If anyone has one, or ends up getting one, let me know how its doing for you and what you think of the Deg. Flying High.