I have an opportunity to trade for two varieties of Arachnis. I have never grown any of these before. Please give me your opinion on whether you think there would be interest in me handling them. Apparently they grow vine-like but are not hard to grow. I just don't know how appealing the plant and/or the flowers are to folks. Any advise would be appreciated.

I've never tried to grow one because I've never seen one for sale. It comes from SE Asia and likes lots of sun and plenty of water. It has a large flower and is fragrant. I think they would grow in Florida, no problem that I can think of. You would probably be the only guy in Mississippi that has them.

Jim

Thanks, Jim. The lady who has them is in Coral Springs and she says they grow well for her and are not the least bit finicky. She says she treats her just like her Vanda. Of course, like many of y'all, she lives in orchid-paradise and grows them outside year 'round. I have sort of looked for them and they are certainly not readily available.

Looking at the photos of the plant, I would have to say the size of the plant would be too big for most hobby growers. Jim could handle one in the OC, but most of us couldn't, if they have to be moved in for winter.

Thanks for pointing that out, Carol. That is a bit of concern when it comes to over-wintering them. If I do the deal, I am hopeful that they will sell and I won't have more than one or possibly two to have inside. Of course I do have the solarium and it is pretty darn large at 400 sf. I would like to see one bloom though. Another aspect of these plants is that you can propagate them by taking "tops", and by doing this, I can control their overall size. At least that is my understanding. I love a challenge and love to grow completely different orchids, so perhaps I will take a chance.

http://ricardogupi.blogspot.co...
You probably read this?

Here you go.

Jim

Ursula, That's about what I was thinking. That guy is funny!

Sorry, Ken! The way it was worded, I thought you were thinking of selling them.

You know you are up to the challenge Ken. Sorry but when I looked at the picture in Ursula's link all I could think of was "The Hulk."

For those growing in a tropical climate or lots of room in other regions, it is a gorgeous Orchid. If I had plenty room, I would got for it.

I have declined the lady's offer. The plants simply get way too large. She says she has other orchids that are overgrown and need dividing. She'll let me know what she finds. It is not a big deal since we are only trading one-for-one. But trades are sometimes good because I get to try orchids that I don't have.

Darn, here I was thinking I could grow one over top of my pool cage . . then I read the link to the blog that Ursula posted. Love the part about "Flee the country".

Hmmm, I wonder if one would grow up into one of my oak trees, though? Maybe our cooler winters would slow it down some . . .


No, No, No

When I saw the pictures, my first thought was Vanilla orchid, very impractical here. When I read the blog, I thought Ipomea. I named mine Jumanji. A former best friend wanted something to hide the block wall before her daughter's wedding, so I gave her some cuttings...it did well, took over her whole back yard (and probably her neighbor's). She doesn't call me anymore.

So the plant ended your friendship? Boy, that must have been quite the plant.

Yup, morning glories go everywhere. I used to grow the 'Heavenly Blue' in a bed next to our pool in Salt Lake. By the time we sold that house I was glad to leave the multitudes of seedlings that came up in all the beds across the back of the house. They reverted to the purple/pink variety but were still pretty every year.

Ipomoea indica ( Blue Dawn flower) is the one I gave my friend. Ipomoea cairica I have kept. It gets weekly hair cuts.

The I. indica is a big no no, it is terribly invasive. It is known as the new Kudzu around here and we encourage folks to not plant it.

I learned my lesson, and removed mine...no easy task. Unfortunately, there is some in the planter on the other side of our block wall that is creeping over. People who haven't had it think it's sooo pretty, and they let it go until it's too late.