I never bothered to re-label all the Blc. that are now Rhyn., but since I had to make some more labels for my Schom. (oops) I went ahead and changed the label to the Myrm. genus.

I'm off to the orchid club meeting tomorrow and I've been conned into giving a short "learning moment" presentation on terrestrial orchids. I also have to round up some bloomers for the bloom table. Tonight I'm singing at an ALF which I always enjoy. Thursday, I'm going to a day long MG class on insects down at the Balm learning center. I thought I may see Elaine there. And so it goes.

Jim

How did you ever fit work years ago into your tight schedule....?

The one category of orchids I just haven't had a lot of success with are the terrestrials. My Vanilla Orchids have generally done well but during the winter, when everything was tucked away in my greenhouses, both the "White" and the "Purple" Spathoglottis and the Sarcoglottis sceptrodes failed miserably. My first thoughts were that the potting soil was too dense/too water-retentive, but that's just a guess. The Jewel Orchids' leaves seemed to just slowly rot to the point that the only thing left were the bulbous roots. In the spring I repotted them all using 1/2 cattleya mix and 1/2 potting soil and they are now all outside. Most of them have begun to grow new leaves but I still don't know exactly what I did wrong. The Spathoglottis plants are pretty much all toast.

Perhaps you can scan and copy your (Care) notes for growing the terrestrials and post them to my T-Mail or here on the "Orchids" forum.

Ken, I only have 5 to 10 minutes allotted to my presentation so I will just do it off the cuff, no notes necessary. We can start a thread on growing terrestrial orchids if you want and I will put in my two cents worth. I noticed you didn't mention Cymbidiums, which to me, are number one in ground orchids. What do you think, Ursula?

Jim

I have never grown a Cymbidium that I know of and only just purchased those four varieties last summer to experiment with them. I just got them as "novelty" plants.

A thread dedicated to terrestrial orchids would be handy.

Jim, around here - if I think terrestrials, I think Cypripediums, Habenarias, Spiranthes, Bletillas, hardy Calanthe. Closer to home/greenhouse I am thinking Jewel Orchids and related, Habenarias, probably Cymbidiums.

Now closer to you/in your climate - if you are talking more or less hobbyists growing Orchids in the ground - yes, Cymbidiums, Spathoglottis, Phaius?

Ken, you didn't do anything wrong, those you mentioned, do lose leaves and regrow them somewhat seasonally, depending on the amount of water (or withheld).

Ludisia discolor - I have rescued one of those by placing it into full sun one Summer, thinking it was dead. Would you believe it came back in the Fall better than ever? I give them a bit more sun ever since that experience, but of course not as extreme.

Yes, we can start a new thread about terrestrials, have to think a bit…..

Not to self, don't post if you are ready to eat Dinner….. as I did before.

A while later -
Ok, I simply started up a thread - go ahead, ask questions and/or post away!
The thread "Terrestrial Orchids, let's discuss!" in Orchids forum

I would love some tips on growing terrestrials!

Ask away in the new thread and we might put our heads together and share our experiences!

I'm just back from singing. Thanks, Ursula, I'm sure the new thread will be of help to us all.

Jim

It will be fun and interesting!!

In the meanwhile, did we mention Schomburgkia/ Myrmecophila ?
This is Myrmecophila albopurpurea and this one is just about a miniature Orchid!!
Now the really strange thing on this particular spike / bloom is the location of this blooming growth!!
Have a look:

The bloom is beautiful but I see what you mean; that does look odd.

Jim

I have never seen a keiki emerging on these type of Orchids right smack out of the middle of the growth, where normally the spike comes out. Something got the wrong signal here and it turned into growth instead of a spike?

If I were able to diagnose such things, I would ask for donations.

Jim

That's different, for sure!

I am still in Salt lake until tomorrow, Jim. I did want to do that insect class. We used to have Dr. Fred Santana at our Extension office and I sure miss his classes.

Looking forward to posting on the Terrestrial thread, when I get home. I do have Cyms, Phaius, Spathoglottis, Ludisia and a vanilla.

Ken the Spathoglottis I got from you is still alive but it did die back some over the winter.

Right now Dendrobium batanense ( equitans) is in bloom again under the Japanese Maple tree. This one blooms every so often, the tiny cute blooms are sweetly fragrant.


Dendrobium hercoglossum usually blooms in late Winter towards Spring for me. This year it is in bloom now and still budding.

Love the Den. hercoglossum, Ursula. Such delicate graceful flowers.

Finally home, and greeted with two new blooms today. Both my B. Big Jim and my Rhyn. David Sander have opened just a day or two ago. Sorry for the bad picture of David, will get better one later when the light is not so bright. (the photographer is not so bright this morning, either . . . blame it on jet lag) He has a second bud about to pop, too! So delightful.