Gifts: Good and the Bad!

[solay]

OK, my sister, who hates gardening and doesn't know much about orchids said her orchid from work was "dead" since the flowers "just fell off". So I asked her for it. She left it sitting in the back yard in the sun for another 2 weeks before giving it to me. Sheesh!!!

She finally gave me the Phal. along with another gorgeous orchid she bought for under $10 from the San Francisco Flower Mart. Imagine, only $10!!! She flirts with a guy there and he gives her 50% off anything she wants. I told her I'm going with her next time wearing the most skimpy dress I can find in the closet so maybe I can get 75% off. LOL!!! Just Kidding. What a sight that would be!!! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Anyway, the blooms are huge and the fragrance is very strong. I forgot to write down the name. I'll do that tomorrow.

[solay]

Oh, and I forgot. See the leaves with the spots? Should I cut it off? I still need to re-pot and check out the roots. It is really root bound and dehydrated.

[articuno75]

Solay, This is an Oncidium hybrid/Alliance of some sort. Truthfully they like to be root bound. I wouldn't mess with it just yet. Just enjoy it for now and wait til the blooms fade.

[solay]

Jenny, I meant the Phal. Hee! Hee! Although I'm glad you mentioned the Oncidium hybrid since it does look root bound too.

[mayres]

My experience with a couple of phals with spots similar to that is that they can do nothing at all for months and then expand and take over the rest of the leaf and even potentially the plant in nothing flat. If it were my phal I would get myself a good sharp sterile razor blade and cut off the black spots - either sections of the leaf or the majority of the leaf straight across. Looks like your poor "baby" has been through a lot, but on the good side - looks like it can be saved and will most likely be thriving in your care in no time. I would also consider depotting, cleaning up the root system and repotting in fresh media.
Your other orchid looks similar to several I've seen and one I have (Winter Wonderland).

[solay]

I think that is a Winter Wonderland. That sounds very familiar. I'll double check when I get home. it has two more spikes coming up too.

OK, I will cut spots immediately and re-pot the Phal. ASAP. Thanks.

[myorchid]

What a great gift. I know will will help that Phal bloom into a beautful plant and the Onc is awesome! Huge flowers!!!

[articuno75]

It looks to have too many spots to be Dgmra. Winter Wonderland. It looks more like Bllra. Tropic Splendor.

[fred]

don't let my wife see this lol if you wore that skimpy dress I would give you 90% off ha ha he he

I had better go and hide under that rock lol

just to get back onto topic I would agree with Mike

[Orchidementia]

It also looks like a Bllra Tahoma Glacier, which is very fragrant. No matter what it is, great gifts!

[articuno75]

Originally Posted by Orchidementia

It also looks like a Bllra Tahoma Glacier, which is very fragrant. No matter what it is, great gifts!

I thought Tahoma Glacier had bigger splotches that were more pinkish? I'll chase a pic down.

[missann]

Well, I think mayres has the best suggestions, just cause I think he has the greenest orchid thumb. I don't know, it just seems like he always has amazing plants. Um. Please tell us what is smells like so I can get one. The phal looks like some of the ones I got at home depot. I hope they don't die! Good luck with that.

[patticake]

Congratulations on the new additions! They are huge! You'll have that phal "smiling" in no time!

[solay]

Wow, sounds like all great guesses. I will post the actual name tomorrow so we ca see who guessed right.

Missann I can't describe the fragrance. It's strong but all all that pleasant. Not unpleasant either. Oh, I don't know. I'll take a good sniff and try to describe it tomorrow.

Fred, your a laugh. Wish I could get that much off. LOL!!! I do truly plan to go with my sister next time and grab a bunch of orchids. I'll let her do the flirting while I do the grabbing.

[Orchidementia]

Originally Posted by articuno75

I thought Tahoma Glacier had bigger splotches that were more pinkish? I'll chase a pic down.

There's been a bunch of them at my orchid spot - Matsui seems to have an endless supply - and they resemble the photo. Who knows though????

[solay]

Ding. Ding. Ding. We got a winner!!! Jenny was right. It's a Bllra. Tropic Splendor 'Golden Gate'.

As for the fragrance, I still don't know how to describe it. Seems stronger during the day than night. I asked my husband to describe the scent and he says it smells like a wet rag. LOL!!! I disagree with his opinion. It's not an unpleasant scent but not sweet either. I love it all the same.

[Chubidubi]

Those are great 'chids. I bet the phal will be beautiful in no time.

[solay]

Thanks Wanda. Well, I went a head and cleaned it up and re-potted it. The roots were in pretty good shape after I cut off a ton of dead dried ones. I wasn't able to cut off all the spots. Now I'll see how it adjusts. Here are the pics.

[solay]

Oh, and there were two unexpected guest in the pot. Yuck!!! I sprinkled some salt on them and down the disposal they went.

[articuno75]

It looks great!