What's this plant?: SOLVED: Some kind of orchid? Bulbs growing on a stem

Replies: 7 Views: 150

Print

Author	Comment
_renee_ Porirua New Zealand November 1, 2009 10:36 PM	Bought this wee thing from a fundraising plant sale at a local school - no one there knew what it was, just said it had been donated for them to propagate from. (One woman suggested it might be a hebe!) It was displayed with the succulents although it isn't succulent, the leaves are quite leathery. The largest leaf on it is about 3 inches long. Could it be an orchid of some kind? It has a cluster of bulbs, with roots, growing on the side of a stiff stem, and the bulbs growing in the potting mix still have the old stem attached. View Larger
_renee_ Porirua New Zealand November 1, 2009 10:38 PM	Closeup of the baby... View Larger
Bignonia Atenas Costa Rica November 1, 2009 11:06 PM	Yes it is in the Orchidaceae family. I was thinking about Dendrobium (bamboo orchid)? but the pseudolbus are swollen?
Kalpavriksha Sarasota, FL November 4, 2009 11:19 PM	In what type of media are they growing? I see what looks like rocks or pebbles on top. If these are growing in soil, dump them out and wash all the dirt from the roots. They need an epiphyte growing media (bark chips, etc.), something that dries out quickly. Those keikis (pups) can be removed & planted.
_renee_ Porirua New Zealand November 13, 2009 04:09 AM	Thanks guys, it's just growing in ordinary peat-based potting mix by the looks of it, will get some orchid mix and repot, then I suppose I should bring it inside. I really know nothing at all about orchids! but this one seems reasonably tough so hopefully I can grow it well enough to get some flowers.
kniphofia Ashington United Kingdom (Zone 8a) November 13, 2009 06:34 PM	Have a look at my plant here http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/183403/ First thing you need to do it get it out of that compost. These are easy plants and yours should thrive and hopefully flower.
_renee_ Porirua New Zealand November 19, 2009 05:23 AM	Kniphofia if my plant ever ends up being half as beautiful as yours, the dollar it cost me will be the best dollar I ever spent! Absolutely gorgeous. I think my mystery plant may also be a kingianum, some of the pics I've found online of the species look the same and it seems to be fairly common so probably a good guess at this stage. Have repotted into bark, not before time as the old mix despite not having been watered in a week was sodden at the bottom of the pot, roots looked excellent though. Found that the stem holding up the 'airborne' keiki is completely separate from the other (2 plants, woohoo) and had another keiki further down the stem that was completely buried in the mix. Pseudobulbs on that one are yellow but seem to have greened up slightly since being uncovered, and it has new growths as well. Just have to figure out those brown patches on the leaves now. My thanks to all of you.
kniphofia Ashington United Kingdom (Zone 8a) November 19, 2009 05:38 AM	Oh and did you know that the flowers are scented? :) Do keep us posted on your plant's progress please. Sue

You cannot post until you register and login.

Other What's this plant? Threads you might be interested in:

Subject	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
SOLVED: Cordyline?	GAgirl1066	3	Mar 22, 2010 3:19 AM
Know this nonclinging vine?	Kell	1	Mar 21, 2010 11:57 PM

Other Forums you might be interested in:

Flowers

Gardening Questions

What's This Plant?