House orchids

[hud357]

Thanks for all the replies. It take it that everyone's doubts about Orchids are mainly because the roots would never dry out?

It is an old cracked fish tank, one I wouldn't want to trust with water. There is a fan in the hood which comes on with the lights so that it keeps the glass condensation free during the day.

It does have some ferns along with nepenthes, drosera, heliamphora, utrics, dionaea and a lone ping. I think there's a pattern developing here  . Humidity is very high as the substrate shows standing water in the lower areas. Plenty of plush green sphag in there too. ...

[GordonT]

Hello Hud357,

That is a nice setup you have for the carnivores. My comments about rot ere more about condensation building up between the leaves of both new and older growths, providing a place for bacterial rot to set in. Your terrarium looks like it would be the perfect environment for some other orchids: the jewel orchids such as Macodes or Anoectochilus, and many pleurothallids- Lepanthes, Masdevallia, Pleurothallis, Restrepia. Many of the Lepanthes are tiny, but have fascinating leaves (Lepanthes calodictyon), flowers (Lepanthes felis, Lepanthes telipogoniflora), or both (Lepanthes saltatrix) http://www.orchidspecies.com/lepsalatrix.htm

Masdevallias and perhaps some species of Sophronitis, like David's stunning tetraploid Sophronitis coccinea would probably thrive, as long as temperatures didn't get too high. If the terrarium remains reasonably cool (especially at night), another plant worth finding is Dendrobium cuthbertsonii. I don't dare try any of these, as my conditions are too warm and dry for them.

Cheers, and Happy Holidays
Gordon

[hud357]

I looked at some of the families you mention but the thing is kept quite warm (~25C) year round (and 24/7) and I read that eg Masdevallias like it a lot cooler than that.

[hud357]

I think this might give the game away temperature wise  ...

[GordonT]

Now I understand your temperature regime. I think the several genera of jewel orchids (Anoectochilus, Macodes etc) ought to do well in your conditions. Dendrobium laevifolium, Cattleya aclandiae, and perhaps Masdevallia floribunda might work, and if you are interested in something unusual, see if you can find one of the species of Chiloschista (lunifera, parishii, usneoides). Cattleya and Chiloschista would need to be mounted on bark or a similar surface.

[hud357]

Well I've had a good look at candidates and there seems to be quite a few. Sophronitis, Aerangis ... What I will probably try is mounting them on branches above the wet substrate or what I have done with the heli above.

Lepanthes saltatrix - do they come any odder? 

The humidity must be fairly high. This popped up overnight right in the middle of the Nep!

[Peter Maguire]

I know that we're now into 2015, but these pictures were taken a week or so ago, just before Christmas.

The plant of Ludisia discolor was bought at a local garden centre - half price, as the flowers were fading  - with four fading flower spikes and one spike in bud last year. It's still in the same pot and beginning to look a little unruly!
The flowers aren't anything special in close-up, although they do have a fabulous scent when they first open. The leaves are something special though, with small glittery spots in bright sunlight, something I've not yet managed to successfully capture a photo of; if the weather improves.....

[johnstephen29]

Here is a Dendrobium in flower, plus a close up of one of the loverly flowers.


Dendrobium by johnstephen29, on Flickr


Close up of flower by johnstephen29, on Flickr

[Kevin]

Here are a couple of plants which I have flowering right now at home.

Dendrobium wardianum which I grow mounted and outside all summer. It really does need that dry winter rest in order for it to do it's thing. Flowers are of good substance and fragrant too!


The second Encyclia polybulbon grows like a weed and flowers twice a year for me. I've only had success growing this mounted and I've discovered it likes lots of humidity, and it's a small plant with a rambling habit. This one didn't like being outside over the summer!


Regards,
Kevin

[johnstephen29]

Lovely plants Kevin especially the Dendrobium, one of my favourite orchids.

[Kevin]

Thanks John,

I've attempted to self this Dendrobium as I have never seen it for sale anywhere and I think it would be a great addition to any collection.
Fingers crossed it takes.... only time will tell.

[johnstephen29]

Yeah hope so Kevin, where are you by the way. Somewhere warmer than here I suspect if you can grow Dendrobium outside all year round.

[ferdinand]

I bought this six years ago and the plant is blooming for the first time. I probably came to how to grow it 

[Maggi Young]

I bought this six years ago and the plant is blooming for the first time. I probably came to how to grow it 

  A long wait!  Wonderful rich colour to the flowers.

[Maren]

Hi Ferdinand,
what a beautiful Cymbidium. I love those colours. Well done.