ODD thing with Polyrrhizza

[gixrj18]

Figured I'd give you guys another update on progress. They are still doing wonderful, I just wish I would have figured this out at the beginning of the summer. Here's the nicest one (before/after pictures).

Here's a close-up:

Here's the medium one (before/after):

...and here's the one that was almost dead (3 weeks ago/after)

[calvin_orchidL]

I'm following this thread closely - thanks for the great updates, Jasen. I'm hoping to try one of these sometime soon and this will all be very valuable...it seems you're finding that higher light is preferred by these guys...

[flhiker]

[gixrj18]

Originally Posted by calvin_orchidL

I'm following this thread closely - thanks for the great updates, Jasen. I'm hoping to try one of these sometime soon and this will all be very valuable...it seems you're finding that higher light is preferred by these guys...

Yes, I think they are even classified as vandaceous.

[Swamper]

Jasen I read somewhere also that they are classified as vandaceous as well. Great job. I wonder if the reason we don't see them out in the sunnier areas in the wild is that maybe they were all poached making me belive that they didn't like the bright sun areas.

[calvin_orchidL]

I did a bit of searching on the classification of these and they are indeed vandaceous. I've always had a sneaking suspicion since they look so reminiscent of some sort of angraecoid (I mean come on, they're white and have elegant spurs). I found out today on wikispecies that they are in the same sub-tribe as several other equally fantastic and lovable genera, namely the angraecums, jumellea and aeranthes...

Something else interesting to note; according to wikipedia, in the 1800s the plant we know today as Dendrophylax lindenii was once named Aeranthes lindenii as well as Angraecum lindenii.

(that said, some vandaceous orchids do prefer relatively shady areas, so the rule that all vandaceous orchids are sun lovers may not always be true)

Swamper - that's an interesting theory re the poaching of the ones growing in lit areas... I wonder how the poaching situation is like these days, with the recent increase publicity and awareness. I can imagine that on the one hand this would encourage conservation efforts, but on the other hand, might also increase poaching.

[martinvermillion]

Mine seem to do increasingly better as I slowly have been giving more light also went to a large tank,fogger,all new lights and a small fan. I am waiting on a digital timer that takes care the humidity & temp. Will get some new pics. soon! I have been working so much havent had time lately to post much.-Martin