South African Terrestrial Orchids

[Darren]

This could be a rather unpopulated thread as there are not many about - unless some Disa growers want to join in..

This is Satyrium erectum

[Maren]

Not so hasty, young Darren, I'm sure there are lots who are just lurking.

Actually, I am really glad you started this because it prompted me to look at a couple of flasks of Satyrium I bought from Equatorial Plants at the recent London Orchid Show, well, I bought one and Dick Warren gave me the second one because the first one needed a friend, a man after my heart.

I have now deflasked them, they needed it, got a bit cooked in this hot weather.

Here they are:
Satyrium halackii (left) and S. humile.

And here is a picture of one I cooked earlier:

Satyrium coriifolium, such a pretty plant and so dead now. I must try again.

Any suggestions as to compost?

[Darren]

Hi Maren - I use Heinrich Beyrles suggested mix which is about 80% perlite/seramis or similar, and 20% wood fibre (fine composted bark might do instead). But then I killed my own corrifolium in this mix so no guarantees....

They look like nice seedlings you have. I am appallingly lazy as I have access to full clean lab facilities at work but never bothered to sow my own orchid seed.

Ironically I got 3 tubers of 'corrifolium' some years ago to replace my own lost plant (a great favourite - the flowers in profile look like cartoon dolphins!). One flowered the first time last year and turned out to be S. longicolle, the second one is the S. erectum above and the third is yet to flower but looks different in leaf so might actually be corrifolium! Not a bad deal I reckon as I know of no commercial source of longicolle or erectum, or at least not named as such.

[Darren]

p.s. thanks for calling me young. I hurt my knee on monday and have been unable to do my usual 3 gym sessions so am feeling decidedly creaky today..!

[Ezeiza]

I had grown Satyriums and other orchids from South Africa in the usual mix used for the other bulbs from that origin, that is a well drained bulb mix with lots of coarse sand. Amazingly they were among the easiest of South African "bulbs" returning year after year and even offsetting. The foliage is very attractive with large fleshy roundish leaves pressed flat to the ground. They eventually were lost due to health problems (mine) for a whole year but they were great. The flowers werelarge in stout compact inflorescences.

[Maren]

Oh Darren, I'm sorry about your knee, hope it's temporary, a bad knee can be a nasty business.

I am currently 'enjoying' a stinking cold, very unusual for me and all the more crippling. My ribs ache from all the coughing and sneezing and I am feeling so guilty about all the jobs I should be doing on my allotment. Bother, bother

Managed to drag myself into the garden to measure my assumed Cypripedium parviflorum v pubescens. Distance from left to right = 15 cm, from top to bottom = 8cm.

[aldo]

My little Disa Kewensis "mandarin"

[Peter Maguire]

That's a huge flower for a 'little' Disa   - looks fabulous.
I've yet to find a good, large yellow Disa - I have a smaller yellow hybrid just flowering now, will try to photograph it when I get home later.

Oops, it was a species, not a hybrid.

[Peter Maguire]

This one's the small-flowered species, Disa aurata (flowers about 1cm across)

[Maggi Young]

A little yellow treasure, Peter. Very cute. Never seen one... does it grow in conditions similar to "ordinary" (!!) Disa uniflora?

[Peter Maguire]

Yes Maggi - it's kept in a tray of cold rainwater about 5mm deep with the Disa unifloras (and a few other Disas). It doesn't seem to do it any harm to be much dryer in winter when the temperature drops.
Ponerochis graminifolia gets the same treatment here and seems to like it.

[aldo]

Thank you Peter, your Disa is a jewel, the color is wonderful.

[Pete Clarke]

Disa Unifoam "Firebird." A very large, vibrant flower on a short stem.