Terrestrial orchids 2015

[Nova]

I didn't keep exact track of time. Being busy with work and having hardly any time to check on the flowers it felt they last a few days. Looking back at the pictures the individual flower last about a week. The hot weather last week may have speeded up the withering. First picture was taken 1st July and the second one today (the first flower already gone). The second clone is nearly out of flower.
Don't have any experience with Penway.

[SteveC2]

Penway Coral is in my opinion a beauty.  I mistakenly said that I was given one last month, though it certainly felt like it.  At my last orchid society meeting the breeder "sold" three large plants for £5 each.  Needless to say they went very quickly.  The photo is a good likeness.

My ochracea is not a nice yellow like Nova's, far paler, though not as pale in the picture.

[Tony Willis]

Nova

very lovely and you are quite correct the flowers only last a couple of days.

Some of mine

three Bletilla ochracea

Bletilla formosana these have very small flowers compared with B. ochracea

[SteveC2]

I am now wondering if my "ochracea" might be a hybrid as clearly it has some long lasting flower genes from somewhere!  Genetically modified perhaps!  Or perhaps it is just a clone that has "longer" lasting flowers.
Even allowing for flowers developing up the spikes the Penway Coral has now been in flower for several weeks, I bought on June 21 when the seller described it as "well past its best". It still has several flowers open.  A bit of a bargain for a fiver I reckon.

[Nova]

Very nice Bletillas Tony!!!

And yes it's a bargain Steve, lucky you 

[Maggi Young]

That whole potful  - for a fiver?   Very good!

[Maren]

Hi Steve2,

I agree, the B. Penway Coral is rather special. A real beauty.

[Roma]

My feeble efforts at Ponerorchis graminifolia.  I think I twice bought 6 from Thomson & Morgan a few years ago.  There were some nice colours but most only lasted a year.  I have three left.  Two never open properly.  Not sure if it's genetic or cultural but one shares a pot with the good one.

[Maren]

Hi Roma,

they are not that easy. I have quite a collection and the coloured ones only make one or two spikes.

I also have a white one mentioned elsewhere. Some people think it's not what it is. Interesting philosophical concept. I'm happy to say that  at today's BOC Judging Symposium at Harlow Carr, it was placed 1st in its class of 10 others. Happy me.

[Nova]

Happy you and a very happy looking plant Maren, congrats!

[SteveC2]

Maren, I cannot see what else your "Ponerorchis" might be!  Just looks to be a lovely example which is bulking up nicely.  Some seem to produce the peanut-like extra new tubers better than others.  I have three clones bought on the same day from Wubben at the last Peterborough International Orchid Show in 2012.  One is now five plants, one two and the other still a single tuber.  All grown in identical conditions. 

If there is any doubt about whether it is a true Ponerorchis it would be interesting to see one of the tubers when dormant.  I suspect that it will just be an extra big peanut!

To Roma I say that given you bought yours from T and M you have done well to keep them at all!  The tubers that they supplied me were tiny and very dry, and the plants just faded away.  Buying orchids of any sort from these "gardening" firms is now a no-no for me.  The quality is just not up to scratch, especially with Cypripediums.

[Maggi Young]

Maren, I cannot see what else your "Ponerorchis" might be!  Just looks to be a lovely example which is bulking up nicely.  Some seem to produce the peanut-like extra new tubers better than others.  I have three clones bought on the same day from Wubben at the last Peterborough International Orchid Show in 2012.  One is now five plants, one two and the other still a single tuber.  All grown in identical conditions. 

If there is any doubt about whether it is a true Ponerorchis it would be interesting to see one of the tubers when dormant.  I suspect that it will just be an extra big peanut!

To Roma I say that given you bought yours from T and M you have done well to keep them at all!  The tubers that they supplied me were tiny and very dry, and the plants just faded away.  Buying orchids of any sort from these "gardening" firms is now a no-no for me.  The quality is just not up to scratch, especially with Cypripediums.

Maren's white flowered  plant is indeed a real beauty.

I  too have bought T &M's  plants to no avail - though I think Wim B. has done rather better with them. I have found the orchids, and something else bought from T&M by myself and for a friend, have been a complete failure. Had the same problem with cyps. bought from the RHS! Never again!

[Peter Maguire]

Like Maren, I find my (almost) white form bulks up well - mind you I bought this in 2010 (from Paul Christian).
Another, darker, form bought last year in flower has yet to flower this year.
This is the white form I have flowering at present - I think it needs a feed. It shares a water tray with my Disas and is probably slightly starved at present.

[christian pfalz]

hello all,
now the platanthera cilliaris are open.....in my outdoor bog, without any protection in winter, cultivatet in pure sphagnum like dactyloriza sphagnolica.....
cheers
chris

[Maren]

Thanks for all your kind remarks.

Peter, that's a very pretty form. I agree that the plant may wish for some food, perhaps also a small dose of Epsom salts to help green up the leaves.