Southern Spotted Velvet Gecko
Our house is home to several geckos, most of which are the Southern Spotted Velvet Gecko (Oedura tryoni). Now the one that currently inhabits the living area is known as Tyrell and has quite the personality. During the day he hides in behind the furniture or under the fridge, which is his preferred spot during winter as the condenser keeps it nice and cosy. Occasionally another gecko tries to move in on his territory and that’s when the hissyfits started, and it can quite noisy as they fight it out (or it could be just mating season??). Now Tyrell’s...
Odontioda Taylor Barfield ‘This n ...
Sometimes the orchids that you least expect to do well, surprise you. Generally Odontioda is a mix of cool growing Odontoglossums and cool growing Cochliodas. So when I first grew Odontioda Taylor Barfield I wasn’t expecting such a great result in South East Queensland (subtropical climate), particularly when you consider that it’s half Odontoglossum cirrhosum which gives it that beautiful star shape and distinctive lip. Well if you’ve always had a desire to grow Odontoglossum cirrhosum but couldn’t because you live in a warm climate, Taylor...
Oncidium Alosuka ‘Claire’
Oncidium Alosuka is one of the typical yellow skirt dancing ladies which everyone thinks of when you say Oncidium. Alosuka is a hybrid from what is called the Varicosum group of Oncidiums, or the group that loves its water during the warm months but hates water around its roots during the night or during the cooler months. The Varicosum group make great epiphytes on trees or mounted on tree fern slabs (see photo). During the warm humid months with plenty of rain about these Oncidiums will grow masses of aerial roots over their tree or mount, so always water every...