Orchids Blooming

My cattlaya is from a division from an old, old plant. For more than 10 years, that plant grew and grew in a sunny corner in the winter and summer vacations outside exposed to only morning light. I re-potted it and divided it and gave 20-some divisions away, all of which did well. Then it got a fungus or other rotting disease probably from over-watering and not changing the medium (redwood bark) and died.

My sister on the east coast successfully kept the divisions I sent her growing and blooming by giving it full zone 8 sun in the summer and horticultural lights in the winter. After my parent plant died, she sent me 4 divisions of 2-3 nodes each.

Those divisions were positioned in the full Bay Area afternoon sun. Within hours, the leaves burned literally to a crisp. The surviving pieces were put under a tree in very bright but continually shaded conditions where they happily made many new leaves.

The one that grew to 6 nodes is blooming from the 5th node. The fourth node tried to bloom around Thanksgiving but I guess the temperature was too high or the humidity too low, or the November light was too wan... or 5 nodes were still not mature enough to support flowers?

These two blossoms have deep purple petals with bright yellow throats, no scent. Maybe the other divisions will bloom later this Spring? I hope so.

A miniature varigated Phalanopsis (you can't see how dark pink the varigation is, in these poorly done photos) was given to me last May so it's been in my care for about 10 months. You can see from its bare stems that it had three stems with 13 blooms when it arrived. It lives on a east-facing windowsill with frequent watering, occasional half-strength 20-20-20 fertilizer, and even less occasional doses of a vitamin solution ("Thrive!"). Maybe I should lower the N and increase the P in the fertilizer to encourage more flowers and less foliage? It grew several really big leaves which was a very satisfying indication that it was happy. Maybe dark green leaves mean it's not getting enough light? Should Phalanopsis also have light green leaves, like Cattlayas?

I still pine for my specie Brassia with its elegantly long stem and outrageously pointy flowers. Four types of orchids are enough for now, however emboldened I might be with these two blooms.

And now, for the two orchids that haven't bloomed ever, while in my care. One is more than 6 years old and since I've never seen the flowers, I don't know what kind it is. Oh, I know I can identify it through leaves but that's really taking it seriously. The other is a 2-year old pink Miltonia. At least they're both alive and making leaves!