macodes sanderiana

Yesterday when I was writing up my post about Dendrobium moniliforme I started exploring the concept of growing an orchid exclusively for its vegetative characteristic. Thier really is not a better example of this then Macodes sanderiana, or better known as the jewel orchid. I really can not think of any plant that has cooler foliage then the one pictured on the left.

The flowers of this particular species are rather insignificant. They are without fragrance and do not posses any attribute that distinguishes them.

This plants natural range starts within Malaysia and extends into the Pacific Islands. They are a terrestrial plant and often grow in finer soils. Jewel orchids are rather easy to cultivate, they do not require as much attention as some of the orchids that I have posted.

Dendrobium moniliforme

This is a very exciting plant for me, because it combines two of my great passions. The first being orchids of course, and the second being bonsai. Dendrobium moniliforme (or the Japanese Stone Orchid (New World Orchids, 2011)). You see, monifliforme is not only cultivated for its floral characteristics but also for its vegetative characteristics. This makes it a prime as a specimen, and as a accent plant.

Moniliforme comes in several different subspecies. Collectors often seek out specimens displaying unique leaf, cane, and floral attributes that make each plant totally awesome (Daniel Boire, 2011). This may include variegation, dwarf growing habbits, and sweet flowers just to name a few. 

Dendrobium moniliforme is a natural lithophyte where it grows in bright sun where light intensity can be as high as 3500 foot candles or 17 500 micromoles (New World Orchids 2011). Now, they can be a little tricky due to their temperature requirements. During the summer months they can take temps of 65-86º F with night time difference of 10-15º F. So if you ran an average daytime temp of 74º F , you would want to shoot for 64º F nighttime temp. During the winter dry months you should keep them below 60º F with a nighttime low of 40º F (New World Orchids, 2011). Which essential means that you would want to keep your daytime temp about 50º F and below 60º F so you can maintain you 10º F differential. If you miss your mark it may mess with some of the plant systems which could result in a altered flowering time. They typically flower at the end of winter and through summer.  Whew!

Is it worth all that to get them to flower like that? You bet it is! The flowers are wonderfully fragrant and can fill up a whole room!

Works Cited

"AOS | Orchids as Bonsai." AO. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.aos.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=orchid_resources1&TEMPLATE=/cm/contentdisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=6673>.

"Culture of Dendrobium Moniliforme." New World Orchids. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.newworldorchids.com/pages/denculture.htm>.

"IOSPE PHOTOS." Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.orchidspecies.com/denmoniliforme.htm>.

Paraphalaenopsis labukensis

I have been having a real hard time deciding which orchids to blog about, you'd think it would be real easy, but it isn't somehow. So for today I just picked from my top ten favorite. Paraphalaenopsis labukensi.
But what is it that makes this particular flower unique. The answer is simple, it has really super cool flowers! Do you like the smell of cinnamon? Because that's exactly what this flower smells like, delicious cinnamon. They grow in 5-15 inflorescence with ovate-triangular floral bracts. (IOSPE PHOTOS, 2001). The leaves are pendant and cylindrical and can grow up to 2 meters long. (Gary Yong Gee, 2011)

Paraphalaenopsis are in the Vandeae tribe, and used to be included in the genus Phalaenopsis. However due to the radical differences in morphological feature Paraphalaenopsis have been given their own genus and a place is the Phalaenopsis alliance (Wikipedia, 2011).  Paraphalaenopsis labukensis  are native to Malaysia where they grow on rocks at an elevation of 500-1000m. (Gary Yong Gee, 2011).


Evidently these orchids are very easy to grow, just treat them like you would a conventional Phalaenopsis. Keep them moist with moderate sunlight and they ought to do just fine. Many people grow them on slabs but they can be grown in a container with bark mix or sphagnum moss. (Gary Yong Gee, 2011). After writing this blog, I really want one of these! They are one of the coolest orchids I have done so far, I have always liked them but after reading all of the habit info I think I have a new love!

Works Cited

"IOSPE PHOTOS." Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. <http://www.orchidspecies.com/paralabukensis.htm>.

"Paraphalaenopsis Labukensis Shim, A. Lamb & C.L. Chan." Orchid Photographs by Gary Yong Gee. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. <http://www.yonggee.name/Notes/Paraphal_labuk.htm>.

"Paraphalaenopsis." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraphalaenopsis>.

Bulbophyllum beccarii

I was speaking to a peer of mine today about this blog and somewhere in the conversation they said something about how they loved the sweet smell of orchids. Imediatly i thought of Bulbophyllum beccarii. If someone said to me, "Daniel, would you please describe Bulbophyllum beccarii to me in 2 words" I would respond with "Smells awful". Well, to be honest I most likely wouldn't say awful, however the word I would use can't be posted on here. Children might be reading.

I know, your curious as to what it smells like. Imagine your walking through the forest of Borneo when all of a sudden your are overwhelmed by the unmistakable stench of rotting Borneo Pygmy Elephant, (lets be honest who hasn't been there). So you start searching around because their just isn't anything more exciting then dead elephant corpse hunting. Then you come across this flower, disappointed that you have not found your elephant.

Well don't be disappointed, this is one crazy discovery. The smell is just a ploy to lure in corpse flies to aid in pollination. beccarii is the largest species of Bulbophyllum; it grows by slowly creeping up the tree, circling it as it goes. The pendant spikes can grow up to 15" long with tight bunches of flowers. The flowers themselves are off pink with red dots.

This Orchid is native to Borneo and grows at an elevation of 5000 meters in elevation. They need to be grown on multiple slabs tied all together to form a faux trunk. They also require bright light and plenty of room for expansion. It is also important to make sure that they are not watered to often for they are susceptible to rot. (Go figure).

Works Cited

"Bulbophyllum." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbophyllum>.

Fischer, Jerry. "Orchid Web: Bulbophyllum Beccarii." Buy Orchids and Orchid Supplies. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. <http://www.orchidweb.com/detail.aspx?id=1221>.

"IOSPE PHOTOS." Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. <http://www.orchidspecies.com/bulbbeccarrii.htm>.

Pridgeon, Alec. "Bulbophyllum." The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids. Portland, Oregon: Timber, 2006. 42. Print.

Gongora sanderiana

It was rather hard for me to find a photo of this amazing flower that did it any justice. I suppose one of my greatest frustrations during this endeavor is that I simply do not have the means to fully explain to you how crazy these orchids actually are. There is just know what I can explain how wonderful the fragrance of this orchid is. I explained it to a friend of mine as chocolate love, which is just a romanticized way of me saying that it is very sweet, with a hint of creamy chocolaty goodness.

The pendant spikes can hang as low as 18" with 6-10 flowers per spike. To me the flowers look like a dragons head as it is about to take a big bite out of something.

Gongora are in the tribe Maxillarieae and the subtribe Stanhopeinae; Which just so happens to be the same subtribe as Stanhopea, and it just so happens that it attracts the same euglossine bee using the same deceptive mechanism. There habbits ranges from Columbia, Ecuador and Peru where remarkably it has been found growing in ant nests formed in trees.

Culture is relatively easy, they do best when grown in baskets using sphagnum moss. Keep them moist and keep them warm and they will do great!

Works Cited

"The Genus Gongora; Edited December 2007." The Stanhopea Pages by Nina Rach, Edited January 2010. Web. 07 Feb. 2011. <http://stanhopea.autrevie.com/Gongora.html>.

"Gongora." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 07 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gongora>.

"IOSPE PHOTOS." Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia. Web. 07 Feb. 2011. <http://www.orchidspecies.com/gongsanderiana.htm>.

Day of Rest

I have decided to take Sundays off. This blog takes a-lot of time and I love it, but with school and this I need a break day.

Ophrys vernixia

I'm not going to lie to you, I have overlooked this genus for a long time. It never really seemed that interesting to me. I often described them as being snap dragon esc. That is until I came acroos Ophrys vernixia while I was flipping through Encyclopedia of Orchids today.

Have you ever seen a flower that resembled an insect so well? To me it is truly astounding how a flower, through millions of years of evolution could come to resemble the very insect that it relies upon for pollination. So it probably doesn't surprise you that this orchid uses pseudocopulation means of pollinating itself.

Ophrys vernixia is hardy to zone 8 and does have a resting period below the soil where it has two tubers. The first is responsible for the current season growth, and the second is responsible for next seasons growth.  This plant grows in open meadows so it does like full sun. It is not commonly cultivated do the level attention required. They need a period of summer baking, which can be suplimented by relocating specimens to an alpine house.

"2008 Triarch (Conant) Botanical Images Student Travel Awards." Botanical Society of America, Leading Scientists and Educators since 1893. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://www.botany.org/plantimages/conantsta2008.php>.

Pridgeon, Alec, ed. "OPHRYS L." The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids. Portland, Oregon: Timber, 2006. 205-07. Web.

Phragmipedium popowii

 I think its about time I do a lady slipper orchid. Lady slippers really are a mesmerizing flower type. At first glance you might not believe it is a flower at all, it looks more like some sort of carnivorous pitcher plant then it does a flower. The lip of these orchids has been modified so that when an insect comes in for a peek it falls and becomes traped inside the flower. The only way that it can get out is by grasping the hairs lining the back portion of the lip and pulling its way up past the stigmatic surface, thus pollinating the flower.

Given the strange nature of these flowers I have chose an especially strange example of them. Phrag popowii (Syn.  warscewiczianum) has one of the most unique looking flowers out there there. The dorsal pedals are capably of reaching up to 3 feet long! It has a deep maroon pouch with no notable fragrance.

Popowii are native to Guatamala through Peru where it grows in the canopies of trees or on rock faces. They also have been found growing along banks of streams. Their roots are always covered by moss or some other vegetation and are not capable of growing freely exposed.

Popowii can be tricky to grow, they like a little more light then most orchids, 2000 foot candle or 400 micromoles. They are a cool grower so try to keep them around 75 degrees Fahrenheit

Angraecum sesquipedale

To me, there are 3 orchids out there that truly inspire the imaginative and intellectual parts of our being. Dendrophylax lindenii, Dimorphorchis lowii, and Angraecum sesquipedale. Each one of these orchids has some sort of amazing mechanism or morphological feature that distinguishes it within the orchid world. Dendrophylax lindenii is stemless and leafless, Dimorphorchis lowii has true dimorphic flowers. So what is it that makes Angraecum sesquipedale unique. Why has the story of its discovery been passed down for nearly 200 years?

Angraecum sesquipedale, has off white flower that is nocturnally fragrant. What makes this flower so interesting is that it has a 10-12 inch long nectar tube, with only the very end portion containing any nectar. The Purpose of a nectar tube is to attract an insect with the proper mouth parts to lap up the nectar, in this case a moth. Which really makes you wonder, is there really a moth out there with a 12" proboscis?

Many people believe Angraecum sesquipedale was discovered by Charles Darwin, however it was actually discovered by a Frenchmen name Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars in 1798. It wasn't until 1862 that Charles Darwin published any work on the species. This is where things get exciting (if you're a nerd like me). Darwin was sent several flowers an asked to analyze them. He developed a theory that their was a moth in existence that has a long enough proboscis to reach the nectar in the bottom of the nectar tube, and then pollinate the flower. This was the only logical conclusion, for moths that could not reach the bottom would simply not seek out the flower, there for the species would not continue to exist in the wild.  unfortunately at the time no such moth was discovered leading to a large amount of skepticism, even from his own followers.  But wait there is more! In 1903 such a moth was discovered and identified as a subspecies of the African Hawk Moth! Is your heart beating as fast as mine? Granted I probably have a little help from all the caffeine I have been consuming. It was given the name Xanthopan morgani praedicta. The epithet praedicta in honor of Darwin's prediction of its existence. This discover was considered to be a triumph of the theory of evolution and has been used a specific model for co-evolution ever sense.

Works Cited

"Angraecum Sesquipedale - Star of Betlehem Orchid - Angraecum Encyclopedia." Genus Angraecum - Angraecum Encyclopedia. Web. 03 Feb. 2011. <http://www.angraecum.org/Species/Angraecum/Angraecum_sesquipedale.htm>.

"Xanthopan Morgani." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 03 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthopan_morgani>.

 

Vandopsis gigantea

As an enthusiast I go through periods of time where my focus is devoted to a specific orchid group. Right now I am obsessed with vandaceous orchids. Vandaceous orchids are plants that reside in the Tribe Vandaeae.  So on my journey from orchid site to orchid site reading about all these wonderful specimens I came across this burly beauty! 

Vandopsis gigantea, a native to malay and extending into parts of china. the name alone gives you a pretty good idea what this plant is about. There are stories that some collectors were unable to move their specimens even with assistance of an elephant! It's probably an exaggeration, the stems rarely reach any longer that 12" with a leaf reach of 24" when cultivated. All Vandopsis are epiphytic, and lithophtic.

Gigantea have yellow leaves with brown splotches, and they are fragrant.

They like it warm, 85-90 degrees Ferinheight with humidity around 65-70%. They can be grown bare root in baskets or in bark mix. In the wild they grow pendant, meaning that they grow downwards. So they will need support if you intend on growing them vertically.

Works Cited

Fischer, Jerry. "Orchid Web: Vandopsis Gigantea." Orchids Limited. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://www.orchidweb.com/detail.aspx?ID=2685>.

"IOSPE PHOTOS." Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://www.orchidspecies.com/vandopsisgigantea.htm>.

Nationaal Herbarium Nederland. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/pubs/orchidweb/genera/Vandopsis/Vandopsis.htm>.

Pridgeon, Alex. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids. Portland, Oregon: Timber, 2006. Print.

"Vandopsis Gigantea Culture." Orchid Culture -- Charles and Margaret Baker. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://www.orchidculture.com/COD/FREE/FS3.html>.

Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana

I'm not really a big fan of Phals, but these lueddemanniana are pretty radical. They are native to the Philippines where they grow epiphytically in the canopy's. 
They have very pleasant petite pink and white flowers. Unfortunately they only produce 3 or 4 flowers per spike. The flowers are slightly fragrant, but nothing to brag about (Gina).  But what makes these plants so super duper cool is the rate in which they produce "Kiekis"!  Seriously, I have never seen a plant produce so many babies. They form off of the flower spike and remain connected until they reach the same biomass as the mother plant. They will also produce their own keikis, soo young... Kiekis of this species will often produce spikes and flower while still on the plants, which is really a spectacular site when one plants has several keikis.

This can be a problem though, since a plant, when flowering will devote most of its energy to the flower and not to the growth. So these lil plant buddies with remain adorble and little until removed.


Like most phals, lueddemanniana is really easy to grow. Just stick it in some sphagnum moss and it ought to do just fine. You probably should remove any keikis once they get to size. If you don't they will suck up all the plants sugars and stunt its growth.