Southern California Orchid Species Society

May

Species	Click on thumbnail to see larger photo. Use browser <Back> button to return	Notes	Contact for More Information (roberta@orchidcentral.net unless otherwise noted)

Aerides ringens		Grows outside (coastal) in a basket, in shady area. It received frequent waterings since it near the mounted plants.
Bletilla ochracea		This plant was labelled "Bletilla striata - yellow" but it is actually a separate species. It grows under the same conditions as Bletilla striata.
Bletilla striata		The Vietnamese Ground Orchid grows outside. This terrestrial can be grown in the ground if the soil is well-drained, but is quite happy in a pot. It goes dormant in the winter (watering should be reduced, but it should not dry out completely for long periods). It has has an alba (completely white) color form in addition to the most common pink form.
Bulbophyllum lobbii		Grows in greenhouse. The hinged lip wobbles with the slightest breeze or motion of the plant.
Cattleya skinneri		Grows outside (coastal) in filtered sun.
Cattleya warnerii		Grows outside (coastal) in filtered sun.
Dendrobium prenticei		Grew in greenhouse, but is doing better outside (coastal) Tiny flowers on a tiny mounted plant. It may also bloom in the late fall.
Dendrobium schrautii (williamsonii type)		Grows outside (coastal) on mount, in open shade. Closeup of flower shows spectacular lip.
Dendrobium teretifolium		Grows outside (coastal). It may bloom again in the summer or fall. It does best mounted, or potted in a very loose medium.
Elleanthus gramminifolius		Grown in intermediate greenhouse. Small plant with delicate, grass-like leaves and tiny flowers.
Epidendrum embreii		Grows outside (coastal) in filtered sun. Closeup of flower.
Epidendrum falcatum		Grows outside (coastal), mounted, in open shade. Plant and growth habit are very similar to Epidendrum parkinsonianum. It is fragrant.
Epidendrum gastropodium		Grows outside(coastal) in filtered sun or open shade.
Epidendrum longipetalum		Grows outside, mounted, in bright shade or filtered sun. It blooms intermittently on the same inflorescence for as long as two years, so don't cut the inflorescence even though the end looks dead - it will probably branch for another flower.
Masdevallia colossus		Grows outside (coastal) in shade, in a clay pot. The clay helps keep the roots cool through the summer, since this (and other Masdevallias from high elevations) like to be cool and moist. Closeup of the lip and petals. (On Masdevallias, the sepals are the dominant feature, but they do have lip and petals, like all orchids.)
Maxillaria calantha		Grows outside (coastal) in a basket in open shade.
Mexicoa ghiesbreghtiana		This Oncidium relative grows outside (coastal), mounted, in filtered sun. Closeup of flower.
Odontoglossum spectatissimum		Grows outside (coastal) in open shade.
Oncidium harrisonianum		Grows outside (coastal) on a mount in bright shade or filtered sun. Closeup of flower.
Paphiopedilum philippinense		Grown in greenhouse.
Pholidota chinensis		Grows outide (coastal) in an open basket, in shade. It receives plentiful water, but the basket keeps it from staying too wet. Closeup of flower.
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldi		Grows outside in filtered sun. It needs to dry out somewhat (not totally) in winter for best blooming. There is considerable variation in the flowers. Here's another example.
Vanda tricolor		This is a distinctly different color form than the V. suavis, but it probably the same species.
Vanda tricolor v. suavis		Also called Vanda suavis. This is the best-known of the temperature-tolerant Vandas. It grows outside(coastal) and can tolerate as low as 32 deg. F, especially if kept dry. Closeup of flower. It is fragrant.