Jane,

How big is sooo big? 3' tall x 2' wide?

Thanks,

Bob

WOW! That's big, but beautiful.

Beautiful.

That is impressive!
Congrats
Maryanne in Snowy Massachusetts

Bob, it measures 54"x 36 wide.There are flowers on both sides some of the offshoots are also flowering. Its like a shrub. Hard to photograph.

Jane

oh I love this... the flowers and the foliage.. just marvelous.. thanks for sharing

Cant get too big! Wonderful, beautiful plant and flowers. I wonder how big they get in nature. I have a Dendrobium speciosum grandiflorum with over 50 canes which reach 40" including leaves. It will never move from it's location, too heavy but I won't divide it either, I don't know what my family will do with it after I go to the big compost heap in the sky.

Nick

Yes, my daughter already told me. I told her to bury me in a compost heap with my orchids. Wouldn't that be cool!

Jane

It is gorgeous! How long have you had this?

Absolutely Beautiful!

Too bad it would take up 1/2 of my grow room, but one of these days!

Thanks for sharing Jane.

Bob

Yea,I know about Big plants.I have a Dendrobium that,from bottom of plant to top is 4 1/2 feet and almost 6 feet wide.It likes it where it is and will stay there forever.
Your orchid is amazing.

Took this today. Most of the buds have opened.

I decided to enter it in the Venice show. My friend offered her car which has a well in the back and we hope we can get it in without to much damage.

My next car will have to be a van.

Jane

I immediately had the image of the picture in the link in my mind as I read the two comments above. SBOE has a picture of someone hauling a D. speciosum in the back of a pickup truck. As I recall, very similar to charlesb's orchid and I can just see Jane driving it around :)

Bob

Here is a link that might be useful: Big speciosum in a truck

That was a hilli. It was moved around with a fork lift. It had over 300 spikes and over 15.000 flowers. After the show SBOE bought it and broke it into little pieces. I have one which now has become a monster that will never leave the spot where it rests.

Nick

Nick, how far along is your hillii? The one I got from you had flowered once before for the pleasure of your daughter. Now it is showing the beginnings of 6 spikes. The longest is about 1/2" out. Potential first speciosum blooms for me. I have only seen pictures of any speciosum so these little spikes are under constant observation...When do you think the flowers will come? Thanks.

That will be me next year, Bob! Actually, I was thinking a bus.

I'm an old hippy, I thought I'd trade in my SUV for a Volkswagen bus, fill it with orchids and drive around town.

Jane

Much further along, close to opening. It's just a reflection on local climate. Some of my Au Dends are getting ready to open.

Nick, how long did it take from where mine are to grow to where yours are?

Thanks

Wow, a grand beauty! I hope you win 1st prize at the show.

Allymarie

The hillii is the 'orchid of the day' at SBOE today. Pretty expensive still.

Bob

IT grows fast, It probably took 10 years to turn into the unmanageable monster it is today but bloomed early. Other speciosum take a longtime to bloom. David Banks characterized it's flowers as 'Low Quality', pinched and on the low end of the hilii curve. It's spikes however are loaded with an abundance of flowers and the overall impression is very favorable. From the distance it looks like a very impressive ball of white. I'll post pictures in about 5 to 10 days.

The big one in Santa Barbara that made the news in the orchid world was only given a cultural award. The AOS judges in other words said it is "Big". No doubt about that. I don't think it ever earned any other AOS awards for flower quality. It never the less is very popular and well known.

Nick

Getting ready to bloom, I count over 40 canes. When it's in bloom, I'll just put it in my back back and take it to a show. This started out as 2 canes the year Don Brown's plant made all the noise in Santa Barbara. SBOE bought it from him , broke it up and sold it by the cane.

I have made a wooden tray filled with lava rock. Not the potting kind but 4" to 6" pieces of rock and it is growing as a true lithophyte. No other media. The roots not only have bound the rocks together but also permanently cemented the entire thing to the bench. It would take a fork lift or 6 body builders to take it to a show.

Nick

Wow, unbelievable!

Jane

What Jane said!

Bob

Ditto!

In bloom now. Jane , what did you win with that beauty of yours? That's a 4' wide bench and it is hanging over both sides. We are having a cold spell, down to an intolerable near freezing 60F and overcast with sprinkles. In sunlight it is quite showy white. I might take another picture in the sun.

Nick

Oh, this is beautiful flowers, to ask for the name of this flower?

Mockery

It's beautiful

OH mY GaaW...just saw your Angraecum queen!!! Spectacular is so understated. A magnificent specimen indeed!

Jane, please post an update of your Angraecum this spring complete with tantalizing pics. Has the FL humidity taken a toll on the plant at all? Should I say stagnant humidity...Joe

It was funny reading the posts from 2 years ago.

I just entered it in the Venice, Florida show yesterday. Judging was this morning and I did not go. Will go to the show tomorrow. I'm not sure how it will do. It was so difficult getting it to the show. My friend removed her back seats from her car and we tipped it on its side to get it there. What a ride. I sat on the floor and held the top of the plant so the flowers wouldn't break. Some did.

Someone cut her off, she slammed on her brakes and me and the plant held on for dear life!

It was too big to put in the display. So it was sitting in a corner and I was not happy. The plant shows better elevated as the flowers droop down. Also, did not have as many spikes this year as the mother plant made two keikies where the spike should have been.

The basal offshoots bloomed but the flowers were facing the back of the plant. So we will see how she does. I think it will be the last year as she's gotten too big. I could cut off some of the offshoots but they add to the beauty of the plant. I have another year to deal with her. Repotting this spring should be an experience.

In the photo, you can see how big the offshoots are. Some are half the size of the mother plant. My poor plant sat like a 'wall-flower' all by herself.

This is our Clubs display. I think she would have looked lovely in the middle somewhere.

Jane,

This just came today off ebay...I can only hope it will fare as well as yours. Great snag in a 6in pot...several available too...

Hi Jane,

Did you win a prize? Here at the local orchid society the show schedule would have a class for Vandaceous Hybrids. Champion any other orchid, Champion or Reserve Champion orchid of the show. Also Special Award for culture or Beauty and Appeal.

I never get involved in putting a display together, but sometimes an outstanding plant arrives when the display is almost built and a last minute rebuild is very difficult, anyway I think the display is lovely

Arthur, I got a first prize but did not get an AOS award (wishful) nor best in Class. I did get best in class for Vandaceous Hybrids two years ago and have a trophy. That was a thrill. Our shows do the same as yours however, I don't think they give an award for Culture or Beauty. They should as I have seen many beautifully presented and grown plants.

I didn't expect to win a big award this year as my plant did not flower as well and some flowers were damaged by transporting it in a car.

It was fun, I wish she had been in the display as it would have hid some of the damage and my inability to present her properly.

But it was a good show and I'm happy to have won a ribbon.

I will decide this Spring whether to separate some of the babies from mother when I repot the plant. I'm not looking forward to this!

Jane

Amazing! I skimmed but didn't read /every/ comment. Is this fragrant?

Yes it is fragrant at night only. Fills the room or patio with a lovely sent.

Jane