Myrtle
This is Myrtle. She’s an orchid. She sits on the windowsill above the sink in our kitchen enjoying north-facing sun. Her first two seasons, she gave us delicate magenta blossoms, since then, not a one. Instead, she grows obscene-looking tentacles that appear to be reaching for something.
I talk to Myrtle regularly, bathe her sturdy leaves every couple of weeks. I imagine her humming with gratitude as I use my dampened fingers to wash away whatever dust has accumulated. Often, I wonder if my attentions will inspire a blossom or two. Wouldn’t that be nice? I have dreams for her.
This morning, as I was doing the dishes, I wondered if it was time for her bath. I felt her leaves to see if they needed me, then inspected her tentacles, even wondered about their health. One of them is determined to go underground and it doesn’t appear to be doing so well. I ask if her I should cut him off. No!, she says. (She knows I don’t know what I’m doing). Better to google those tentacles again, so I do. They’re called aerial roots, and they’re important for girls like her because they help absorb moisture from humidity in the air.
As I was taking a picture of Myrtle thinking I might write about her today, I realized I love her just the way she is, that wishing or hoping she would bloom again meant I was missing the beauty of who she is now. It all sounds so corny, but it wasn’t a leap for me to see myself in her.
Hi Bar. Myrtle may be telling you a little support, more light and aerial moisture on her aerial roots (misting) would be nice. The aerial roots are looking for something to grab onto as their function is both moisture and support. And they seem to be counter balancing the leaves (which look very happy so your hand washing and fertilizing are working). Caution: Nerd Alert. We grew the epiphyte species of orchids among others in the orchid horticulture class I took in high school in the early 60’s in Honolulu. We grew ours up fibrous stakes made from the bark of tree ferns. A guess might be to repot and include a fibrous stake placed between the aerial roots. You can train the roots over onto the stake with some success but just tethering them with soft plant support tape helps too. Don't cut them unless they wither and die. The window facing south in your front room might be a good place to try this all out. Myrtle is reaching out to you – you are feeling it!
Ah lovely post, Bar! Thank you for the information about aerial roots! So helpful. My orchid is in hibernation, too, but she deserves the rest. Last year she gave us seven sublime flowers at once. I thanked her and bowed to her many times. It’s been years since our amaryllis bloomed. At one point she was just a rotting bulb but I wouldn’t give up. I asked her to please live, apologized for clearly not knowing how to take care of her, and told her it didn’t matter if she ever produced another flower. I put her next to the violet you gave me so she’d have friendly encouragement (I can tell Violet is kind :)
That the Amaryllis is still alive and now has leaves is perfection to me!