Orchids for everyone!

Tonight I scored an Oncidium species from the raffle at the Malihini Orchid Society meeting. I seem to have already lost the tag in the span of 5 minutes, but I do believe it's an Onc. sphacelatum. Hopefully the tag turns up in the car. Or in my lap. That would be nice.

Anyway, the plant is HUGE. The pseudobulbs are oblong, about 4 inches high, and the leaves are blade-like, about a foot or more long. The inflorescences themselves (there are 2 of them) are branched and are sporting at least 50 blooms. The plant is tall, so tall in fact that it might have to live outside or on a plant stand on my floor, as it cannot live perched on a dresser like the other orchids.

Tonight's speaker was David Sorokowsky, speaking on the delightful little things that are Sarcochilus. Predominantly white, red, or white with red splotches, there are attempts to bring out browns, blues, and yellows. They're quite adorable! Sarcochilus species themselves are native to Australia and are cool/cold growing orchids, tolerating lows to 30F and wilting in anything above 80F. Hybrid vigor allows for a wider tolerance range, but I would still not want to chance these picky fellers in anywhere but San Francisco, or a heavily controlled greenhouse setting.