Polyrhizia lindenii (ghost orchid)

[susiep]

This is one of the longest living threads on OB! I just re-read all 12 pages. I love it! Here is my Ghost story.

I also wanted to try my hand at a Ghost. Since I live less than an hour from the Fakahatchee, I thought I might could do it. So, about 2 years ago I bought the "little wad of root chips on a stick" from Oak Hill. I got it for $12.50 in Apr 2009. It was just a slow decline from the day I got it until it died after about 3 months. I decided to try again, so this time I called and talked to Andy at Andy's Orchids and he picked out an established plant and sent it to me in Aug 2009. This time I spent $28. Roots were really attached to the stick and it was about 2 inches across. I kept it in the house for about 6 months where it remained healthy but didn't seem to be doing much. At the end of winter here (about Feb) I put it outside in the shade house. And then in about April it took off growing! It loves the heat and humidity and has aclimated perfectly. It gets watered with the hose (regular city water) daily. I don't fertilize too often (practically never). It is hanging about 3 ft above the floor which is medium sized gravel over dirt. This is what keeps the humidity high in the shade house. The temps can get up to 105 or more at mid day so that is when I water. I spray down all the plants then soak the screens, wood, and even the top screens. This brings the temp down to about 90 for a while. This closely mimicks the natural temp and humidity of a regular summer day in the Fak. For instance it is now 1:47pm and it is clouding up and thundering. We will have a downpour like you wouldn't believe in about 10 minutes. Will last for maybe 20 mins. Then the sun will be out again in about an hour or two.

To summarize, very bright, but shaded light. Daily watering, very high humidity (like 90%) and temps of 80-100. This is what is working for me. Mine has 4 new roots and has grown out about 1 inch in width since March. Here is a recent picture.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

SusieP, your Ghost Orchid looks very much like how I see the orchids growing in the wild, from the myriad of pics that I've seen posted by other members who visit the Fakahatchee in search of them, here on the OB.

Good job. Nice plant.

[Lars Kurth]

Thanks for the link. Spanish moss certainly thrives in my greenhouse, and I have it growing in between some Vanda roots. Will need to get the plant established first.

[fotofashion]

In my very humble opinion your success with the elusive ghost has a lot to do with starting with an established plant. Of course, your culture adds to that. If I ever get up the courage to try again, that is what I'd like to do. I, too, got plants that were nothing more that little pieces tied to a piece of grapevine. They didn't last long.
Please keep us posted on your plant's progress.
Beverly A.

[flhiker]

Nice Job Susan. Just came back from the Strand and since it's Ghost Season, guess what we saw? lol.

[susiep]

Beautiful! What is your opinion of how big a plant has to be to bloom? Minimally, how many inches long, starting from the center of the plant, are the roots on a blooming sized plant? The roots on the one pictured above must be 12-18 inches, right?

[flhiker]

Originally Posted by susiep

Beautiful! What is your opinion of how big a plant has to be to bloom? Minimally, how many inches long, starting from the center of the plant, are the roots on a blooming sized plant? The roots on the one pictured above must be 12-18 inches, right?

Some of the roots on that plant are 2+ feet long. I seen them flower with short roots. If I remember correctly they are 4 or 5 years before they flower. If ever.

[Swamper]

Dave i was out there too. Too bad we missed each other. Maybe next time.

[flhiker]

Originally Posted by Swamper

Dave i was out there too. Too bad we missed each other. Maybe next time.

Yea I wish I knew. Where did you go? And more important, what did you see?

[britbloke]

Jeffg, recently posted about Keith Davis's articles. I found the first article "A Ghostly Pursuit", but can't locate the second "How to Grow the Ghost Orchid", does anyone have a link?