I have a beautiful Phalaenopsis "Sand Spots" Orchid that was given to me as a gift on Jan 17th. It had 4 or 5 blossoms on it when I received it and then a couple more openned later. One didn't open but fell off. Today is March 16 and there are still six blossoms between the two spikes. One spike is 15" and the other is 11" or so. there were originally 7 leaves, however the two smallest lower leaves yellowed and fell off last month as did another small lower leaf yesterday. I have fed the plant once per month with Schultz Expert Gardener Orchid Food 19-31-17. I also water and drain once per week. It seems very happy except for the three lower leaves that were lost. We live in the mountains of north Georgia and it has been cold. I keep the inside temp between 72 and 76 degrees. We have high ceilings, so the heat rises. The plant has been located at countertop level. Occasionally I set it near a bright window. Today I raised it to a level of about 6 feet and about 4 or 5 feet from a light fixture that is about 2 feet higher and has 5 60 watt light bulbs in the chandalier. I am hoping that will do the trick...more light. On warmer days, maybe I should put it out under a deciduous tree in my shady yard. What do you think?

Maybe "cheating", but Grafted (onto G. thunbergia) gardenias by Monrovia (sold in many nurseries or directly thru website}, though $$ are much hardier/less fussy with watering & dying!!! The only plant I have truly killed is a gardenia! (Rose & fragrant flower nut.) I have an August Beauty (nursery person thinks since tag fell off), whose flowers are Huge! (3 1/2" in Fremont, CA in a 21" pot, now 4 years old & entire plant is enormous 4' x4'x3' with a slight weeping habit.). P. S. It did well but has really started to take off in the last 2 years once I was brave enough to cut off a strong shoot that never really had the right leaves & no flowers, finally figured out that was a "sucker" from the rootstock though situated smack in the center. That said, I've just started growing a double flowered Arabian Jasmine Sambac "Summer Soul" also Monrovia (pic). The flowers are huge for a jasmine 1-1 1/2" & the scent is heavenly (TDF), this beats everything else I have ever grown for scent hands down no contest, roses, gardenias, other jasmine etc.!!!!! P. P. S. Tried several other fragrant "gardenia-like" plants. Easier to grow but not impressed with strength/quality of scent on any. Including: African Gardenia (Mitriostigma axillare) & Orange Jasmine (Murraya paniculata) from Logee. Vietnamese Gardenia (Gardenia (Kailarsenia) vietnamensis) from Top Tropicals, & Double-Flowering Crape Jasmine (tabernaemontana divaricata 'flore pleno') from Kartuz greenhouses, also super slow 1st year. All outdoor pots in Fremont, CA, acid-loving potting soil, & no fertilizer till 2nd year just to be safe.

Dear seil, thank you for reassuring me about my rose :) it's my first one and I bought it without knowing anything on growing roses, had to catch up quickly on the internet after the purchase) hopefully it will be fine (as I also have another one to repot after blooming). As for the water bulb, actually the rose hasn't touched it for 2 days (after I hosed it through), so it's just there in "emergency" case (is there such a case with roses?) as the temperatures really go high unexpectedly here during the day. But I will take it out tomorrow to see how it goes without it) The mesh is the remedy from my dogs - they think they are great gardeners and tend to dig out soil from the pots (they share the terrace with roses), so I try to discourage them from it for no one was hurt :) Do freshly replanted young plants need water-dilluted fertilising? Internet resources say contradictory things about it.. Help?

BenT, thanks to your photo and comment about Sam McGredy’s book, Look to the Rose, I couldn’t resist purchasing a used copy. It came today and I was thrilled to recognize that the cover photo was Matangi!! The write up devoted to Matangi was representative of the fabulous rose I think Matangi is. He started out by suggesting how the public grows weary of rose breeders bragging on how novel their new rose is. Then he says there can be no argument about the novel quality of Matangi. It sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s color combination is completely unique and the rose is also almost instantly recognizable even when its not in bloom. Matangi has very dark, rather small foliage, but it is produced in such abundance that the leaf size becomes unimportant. (I didn’t know small foliage was considered a flaw!). He goes on to say the plant is unusually free flowering, even for a Florabunda. The growth is very even and the bush develops a nice shape. It repeats very quickly and the overall effect is graceful. He left out one of my favorite characteristics, how long the flowers look colorful in the garden, which is long after they’ve passed their prime. I love its very dark foliage and it’s handsome shape because it makes the plant fit into the garden so well. There are no ugly lower parts or awkward growth habits to disguise. Matangi was awarded President’s Trophy for the U.K. winner for the best rose of its year. Its name comes from a traditional Maori song with a haunting melody, “E rere ra et Matangi”. there is a WWII battleship from New Zealand named Matangi I am so glad I have this rose. I’ll always make a place for it in my garden.