Polyrrhiza / Polyradicion Lindeni

[jkhom]

Anybody have any experience with growing a ghost orchid?
I've recently purchased one that's about the size of a half dollar mounted on a small stick which I've placed in a large plastic container.
To maintain humidity I've placed wet sphagnum moss on the bottom and left the lid open slightly. I placed a 100watt full spectrum cfl a couple of inches above the container for light.
I notice that it's developing the white coloration similiar to other orchid roots. Is this normal? Should I do something different? It doesn't seem to be doing anything, are these real slow growers?
Any advice would be appreciated.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

That's a good sign to have the roots look like the roots on all other orchid genera (silvery white with green tips). Usually "Ghost Orchids" of all genera don't come in looking like that.

I own a Taeniophyllum (another genus of leafless orchid).

Yes it is a slow grower.

Water 3 to 4 times a week. Keep humidity between 60% - 100% at all times.

If your orchid came mounted on a stick with moss on the mount, I recommend removing the moss. The moss will go bad very quickly under the conditions needed to grow your Polyrrhiza and there's a chance you might overwater it and rot it out. I grow my Taeniophyllum directly on the stick mount (I use fishing line to tie the plant on the stick). I never worry about overwatering.

I recommend buying a jeweler's loupe to see if anything bad is going on with it. It also helps to see if there's growth going on. Sometimes it's hard to see with the unaided eye if it really is pushing out new growth or not.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I water my Taeniophyllum by dunking part of the stick mount into a bucket and filling it up just below the roots and I leave it there for a couple days. The stick will soak up the water and the roots will get the water from the wet stick mount.

[flhiker]

Hi jkhom, I have a ghost orchid and grow in Terrarium. I have had a couple in the past that did not do as well. I grew them outside and I noticed that the roots were turning white and eventually died. My terrarium keeps around 50% humidity during the day and 65 at night. I bought it in Jan. 08 and it did nothing until mid April. it started a new root and now it is about 3/4 in. If you could post a picture it may help. Are there any bright green tips?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I have one other tip for growing leafless orchids. Never allow the roots to shrivel up in any capacity. They should be plump like a normal orchid root, not flat. Flat roots = not enough moisture = slow death.

I recommended a jeweler's loupe so you can catch stuff like this early. It's easier to see little wrinkles on the roots when it starts to want to shrivel up because of inadequate moisture, or see if the roots are flat. It's a whole different micro-world once you look through that loupe.

[Adriano]

Jkhom
Culture conditions

Installed on a cork bark in nursery of 100 * 40 * 30 (120L). Lighting by 3 neons (2 cold and 1 hot). The plant is placed in ten cm. The terrarium is heated by a heating cable hidden in the sand. The fogger ensures moisture that rotates between 85 and 95% to 100% view. A standard PC fan rotates 24/24 slightly. The set makes it possible to have temperatures between 20 ° C at night and 30 ° C day, the fluctuations appear according to the temperature of the room (room at the time) and the seasons.
And what really changed much, is the installation of a mist of nurseries that mark turns 2 cycles of 2 sprays in the morning and evening (dry 45 / stages), plus a contribution of water and manure in the morning before leaving for the job, millimeters or about 2 to 2.5 of water per day, or about 60/65 mm of water. What can the east, compared with rainfall in the place of origin, which is usually in September, for example, of 262 Misters But is this enough space for a closed racinaire good growth. I give a little water, less in winter.