Cycnoches Jumbo Puff (Swan Orchids)

Ah, the swan orchids are flowering again. For a short period of time during November, our greenhouse is filled with jasmine like fragrance of MC1301 Cynoches Jumbo Puff, a primary hybrid of two specie warscewiczii and Mor. badia.These plants grow vigorsly during spring and summer. As soon as the weather cools off, its elongated leaves started to die back. The grower would stripe off its leaves to show off its newly developed robust pseudo bulb. Each bulb can carry 2-3 spikes. They are grown in a pot at Norman’s Orchids, but they can be grown successfully mounted on cork. The common name of this genus arose because the slender column and down turned apex resemble a swan.

News Flash! Buy 5 Get 6th Free
Norman's Orchids and orchids.com for the first time are promoting their fall open house in conjunction with their website www.orchids.com. Starting November 1st thru 16th, any orders placed online with 5 plants or more will receive the 6th one free (One of least value, all plants must ship to one address, and can not combine with any other offer).

2008 Fall Open House Nov 7th - 16th

Orchids.com & Norman's Orchids
11039 S. Monte Vista Ave view map
Montclair, CA 91763 (909)627-9515
Click for Pictures of Previous Open Houses

Our family invites your family and friends to a gala event held exclusively twice a year. Norman's open house is a tradition not to be missed. We have over 10,000 square feet of orchid showrooms filled with a vast assortment of blooming and near blooming size orchids. If you like our on-line catalog pictures, we invite you to come see them come to life in our greenhouse.

All your questions about growing these tropical delights will be answered at our lecture presentations each Saturday and Sunday of the event at 11am and 2pm. Our lectures are given by avid amateur growers with years of practical experience growing (indoor or outdoor) of Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Oncidium, Dendrobium, Paphiopedilum, Brassia, Epidendrum, Odontocidium & etc.

Our TV commercial Clip

Water Heads comparison

Water Breaker Nozzles: So What?

Water breakers are essential for "non-destructive" watering -- they prevent damage to a plant’s flowers and leaves from a water stream that is too powerful . Different water breakers have different uses. The flow pattern, hole density, and surface area of a nozzle determines its correct application. Both models in the photo regulate the water flow so that delicate foliage is not damaged and the potting medium is not disturbed. They are constructed from stainless steel and plastic -- made to last for many growing seasons.


Our Ultra Fine Water Breaker is used for smaller orchids. It has a much finer flow pattern, higher hole density as well as smaller holes, and a more concentrated area of effect. The outcome of all these elements is that you get a concentrated soft spray that minimizes damage and waste. This makes it perfect for those small potted orchids and don’t have to worry about tipping over the pot or damaging the flowers. Our growers typically use this head for pot sizes of two to four inches.

The Low Pressure Soft Rain Orchid Water Breaker is, as you can plainly see, larger. Its flow pattern is coarser compared to the one above. The lower hole density as well as larger holes and a larger area of effect makes it ideal for larger plants. The end result is it provides complete coverage of the root system while maintaining a high flow rate. As a general rule of thumb, this head is used on pots that are five inches or larger.

Going Back to Basics

Since the "buzz" about harlequins has settled down, our photographer found a gorgeous blush semi-alba this MC751 Dtps. Mount Lip 'FANGtastic' flowering in the greenhouse. Its vibrant red lip jumped out from its white splash petals. One can not help to notice its simple beauty among the sea of exotic harlequin phalaenopsis.

IPA - International Phalaenopsis Alliance

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the International Phalaenopsis Alliance (IPA), Norman’s Orchids was one of the original Founding Members of this 18-year old international organization solely devoted to promoting education about - and the sharing of information relating to - Phalaenopsis orchids. The IPA keeps the membership up to date with the latest information on culture, conservation and new breeding trends through their color-filled quarterly magazine, “Phalaenopsis”, through more casual regional get-togethers and at their annual three-day Symposium, which has been held at various locations around the US, in Taiwan, and which is due to take place in England next year.

Looking ahead, Norman’s Orchids is planning to host an IPA Regional Meeting next spring in conjunction with our April Open House. As more details become available regarding speakers and dates, we will keep you advised. It’s a relaxed day long get-together which allows for round table discussions, culture workshops and presentations on the newest directions in breeding. Even experienced growers comment that they always learn something new as a result of participating in one of these meetings. We welcome all – IPA members and non-members alike – to share in this very special day solely devoted to achieving the best from your Phalaenopsis orchids.

Our Cup Runneth Over – In Dallas, Texas

“Our cup runneth over” with a Trophy, an AOS award and numerous blue ribbons at the 14th International Phalaenopsis Alliance (IPA) Symposium in Dallas, Texas this July.

But even more rewarding than the ribbons and trophies for us was the opportunity to personally meet many of our on-line clients from all over the world and the chance to get to know many new Phalaenopsis friends.

This three-day annual Symposium was packed with speakers from around the world, workshops moderated by experienced growers, sales tables offering the newest and best in Phalaenopsis breeding and, as its centerpiece, a stunning show table of Phalaenopsis entered for ribbon and AOS consideration by the teams of AOS judge-attendees.

One of the show stoppers – and the trophy winner of Best Phal in Show - was our clone of Phalaenopsis Talin Gold ‘FANGtastic’ HCC/AOS exhibiting three proud spikes of full and round large clear yellow flowers, beautifully accented with a dramatic red lip. This particular clone was the happy result of clonal drift, producing non-fading yellow flowers with heavy substance.

In addition to winning the IPA trophy, this clone also received a Blue Ribbon in its class and was granted an HCC/AOS of 78 points by the American Orchid Society judges present, all of whom were Phalaenopsis experts. We are currently having this very special plant mericloned in Taiwan.

In addition, we were awarded Blue Ribbons for Best in their Class to several of our exclusive clones, many of which are currently available on our web site:

Phalaenopsis Sogo Lawrence ‘Tahiti Sunset’ (MC1214): A beautiful waxy sunset tone flower created by an intense red overlay on a brilliant yellow flower





Phalaenopsis Princess Kaiulani ‘Caribbean Sunset’ (MC1192): A more compact spiking and flowering plant with vivid sunset tones and flowers with the substance of cardboard. Beautifully fragrant and capable of flowering from old spikes as well as creating new.



Phalaenopsis Nobby’s Fox ‘Super Star’ (MC1199): A delightfully fragrant hybrid bearing flowers which look like a Phal. bellina on steroids. Its compact spikes will re-flower in addition to creating new.




Phalaenopsis Ming-Hsing Yellow Boy ‘Montclair’ (MC1096): This flower suggests the brilliance of sunshine touched by the intensity of fire! One of our all-time favorites, it produces medium height spikes with flowers of heavy substance.




Phalaenopsis Yu Pin Natsume ‘Butterfly Peloric’ (MC1252): Another happy result of clonal drift from a mericlone population of Yu Pin Natsume. This peloric clone shows how beautifully the petals are attempting to mimic the lip of the flower, showing themselves off to their best advantage by lying flat to the surface of the flower.

Doritaenopsis Little Gem Stripes ‘Stars’ (MC795): A very special little “bush” of multifloral miniature white flowers, with a subtle hint of soft pink candy striping and finished with a brilliant red lip. This particular plant, blooming for just the first time, was fully branched and very showy.


Doritaenopsis Sogo Chabstic (NF1581): This miniature flowered from a hybrid population producing small white flowers accented with light harlequin marks just around the column. A real charmer which not only won Best First Bloom Seedling but also Best Miniature in Show.


In addition to the plants we exhibited, two of our clones were exhibited by one of our clients, Mr. Meir Moses, both of which received Blue Ribbons in their class:

Phalaenopsis Cat’s Paw Firebird ‘Montclair’ HCC/AOS (MC897): A stunning waxy red flower display that can last for months…and definitely one of the best reds available. Plus, it’s fragrant!



Doritaenopsis City Girl ‘Madonna’ HCC/AOS (MC538): Our truly elegant - and always classic - large white flower with a bold red lip, the flowers presented on gracefully arching inflorescences.