Ghost orchids, I found a way

[nvrbdun]

So after years of failing to grow ghost orchids, I found a way that works for me.

The first thing to consider is the size of the plant. Smaller ( 1 inch roots ) don't do as well right out of the flask. The last 2 flasks I got had 5 or 6 plants with roots at least 3 inches long, they do the best. The other smaller ones I placed on a bed of spanish moss on my lania out of direct sunlight. I was only able to keep 2 of the smaller ones from that bed of spanish moss (after about 1 1/2 months).

When you mount the orchid it must be with new growth down. The new growth will attach to your mount and grow much faster than if mounted new growth up. Once attached they will grow about 3/4 to 1 inch per month. I tie the roots down on the mount with dental tape. It is flat and seems to hold well without cutting into the roots. I have never had luck with cork mounts ( seems to dry out to fast ) . Cypress is working well. You need a hard wood to last over time. They will grow on almost anything as long as it will last over time. I have seen them grow well on upside down clay pots. When mine outgrew the original wood I screwed the original onto a larger piece of wood.

I have mine outdoors facing NE. They get good morning sun and indirect bright sun the rest of the day. I cover with spanish moss ( Maybe 35 - 40% ) This seems to dapple the early sun and keep moisture around the plants longer. I use collected rain water only. If not able you could use distilled bottled. My fertilizer is Orca ( Premium Liquid Mycorrhizae ). 5 drops per quart of rainwater in a spray bottle ( once a week ) On days with no rain They get watered 3 - 4 time a day. Don't just mist them, water them. They are hung vertically so water runs off quick. They can go for awhile without water and do okay. Mine seem to thrive with more. U.F. has their orchids on a timer for misting - 30 minutes every 3 hours, cut back to 10 minutes every 3 hours in the winter.

I am on the west coast of Florida, 1 hour south of Tampa.

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[nvrbdun]

Photos ……………….

[fishmom]

They are certainly looking vigorous, as much as you can tell with ghost orchids!

[nvrbdun]

Not a great photo, Phone camera, Have a spike, hope in a few weeks another flower. This spike had a flower 4 weeks ago. The hook above the flower is growing out another... sorry my photos are sideways

[SouthPark]

hehe. Nice! They remind me a little bit of Angraecum eburneum and related orchids, except the white part has a different shape. Nice work --- in the way you have a method for growing these ghost orchids.

[prem]

I concur with your findings - in the wild, Ghost Orchids grow with their growing tip toward their host, with new roots below older roots, relative to their host surface.

I had a number of failures until I had discovered this pattern. My latest experiment has proven more successful. I chose, however, an inorganic mount - the outside of a terra cotta pot, so that it is impervious to decay.

---Prem

[OrchidBro]

Great post and information. Also from Florida here (central - outside Orlando) and the ghost orchid is one of my wishlist orchids. I know they grow in the wild in Florida but I thought they were considered endangered and extremely rare to come by. Sounds like the ones you have gotten are in flasks but if you don’t mind me asking, where did you get them from?

[nvrbdun]

Sometimes Vendors have flasks at orchid shows. I got some at Redlands last year. I was able to look close and see how big a few of them were in that flask. E-bay has them also but again look close to see if any larger ones are in that flask. If you can get a few in the 3 -4 inch range its a good start. Here is a link to an online seller, out right now but add to your Favorites.

https://www.orchidweb.com/orchids/ot...e-ghost-orchid

[OrchidBro]

Thank you very much! I don't really trust e-bay, or should I say, the people selling items on e-bay. I have added the link to my favorites and will keep an eye out.

[ReneeFLL]

Will they only grow with rain water? I'm to lazy to keep up with plants like that. If they can grow with my auto tap water system then I would love to try some again. I tried some before, but was out of town to much back then to even keep an eye on them. I don't know if it was my water or something else. RIO always had some, but he moved to South America last I heard.