oddity orchids

[turock]

So many bulbos are weird and wonderful for their wacky shapes or their rotten meat smells. They're so varied and (in my experience) easy to care for.

And of course, don't forget the fascinating Dracula 'monkey' orchids. Cyann on this forum grows these very successfully. Unfortunately, i can't grow them without special equipment. T_T Some day, when I have a whole lot of time and money laying around, I will try my hand at them!


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[Trollsvans]

A bit of namedropping:
More or less anything from the Bulbophyllum, Catasetum, Coryanthes, Stanhopea and Pleurothallis families.

To mention a few specific species:
Bulbophyllum:

• binnendijkii
• lemniscatoides
• medusa

Pleurothallis gargantua, Lepanthes calodictyon, Restrepia and Psychopsis are worth having a look at.

Then again, as stated by theloyalplum, it depends on your definition of weird, and how blasé you are about a few common but rather complex flowers like Paphiopedilum and Cattleyas.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Skycat

Oh no, it's so fuzzy and cute! Now I want one!

I have one and let me just say...it's not an easy one to grow. At least it isn't for me. Mine is growing...not great...but it's hanging in there. I've struggled w/this one more than any other den I can remember. I'm thinking it'll be a miracle if I ever see a bloom.

The cuc is waaaaaaaaaaaaay easier than senile. Well, it was for me - I gave it away last fall.

[Optimist]

I have a few "unusual" orchids now. It is really funny, but they are doing better than the more "well known" orchids I have. I am still killing oncidiums left and right, but grosourdia appendiculata and haraella oderata? No way. I just got my first pleurothallis. It is kind of oddly shaped like mini bamboo. I am not sure what to do with it.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Optimist

...grosourdia appendiculata....

Sounds like you need to go to the hospital right away if you have that.

[Leafmite]

Depends on the collection. Lately, the Cattleyas are starting to look like the odd ones in my collection. :|

Yes, it does seem to depend on what you think is ordinary and what is odd. To get an idea what is out there, you should look at J&L Orchids and Andy's Orchids.

I think my favorite 'odd' orchid is the Mormolyca ringens. The flower just amuses me for some unfathomable reason. Even better, it has a nice, sweet fragrance.

[Optimist]

I am also a "novice," though I think I have gotten the culture of phals and some ordinary orchids down to an art. I am branching into terrarium miniatures, bulbophylums, and paphs. I think the bulbophylums have the oddest looks. Medusae, Elizabeth Anne Buckleberry, Cirropodiums all are interesting to me!

[DeaC]

Bromhedia,Chelonistele,Sievekingia. Other than the first one,second grows like Coelogyne only smaller and last one grows like Stanhopea only smaller. Brom. has mini flowers lasting ~1 day but interesting leaves.

[Kevinator]

I'll have to add all of the leafless orchids to this list. Chiloschista and Microcoelia are definitely worth checking out. Any of the stanhopeas and coryanthes could qualify and are easy to grow, though i seem to be struggling with the latter.

[Luizacft]

I think psychopsis are beautifully weird. And the ghost orchid is totally odd - Leafless? Really?