New 'chids!

[kinknstein]

I am so excited. Went out on my lunch break to the greenhouse and picked up four new chids. I picked up
Helcia sanguinolenta
2X Aerangis biloba (why buy one when you can have two!!)
Wilsonara Zoes Fire

Wondering if anyone knew much about the Helcia? Any good tips for successful growing?

[Amanda L]

I'm sorry I can't help you with the Helcia. I just think it's awesome you can buy orchids on your lunch break!!!! I would never have money if I could do that!! I would also not be married anymore! Someone here should have an answer to your question, though!! Good luck and Happy Growing!

[kinknstein]

It is pretty awesome to be able to buy them at lunch. And yes, it sure does drain the bank acct!!! Best part about it was that, three of them were 30% off and the other was 40% off! My wife is not usually too impressed with my lunchtime purchases though, they seem to be filling up the house!

[Ray]

ALWAYS try Jay Pfahl's Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia

This species is from Ecuador, Peru and Colombia at elevations of 600 to 3000 meters and is a small to medium sized, cold to warm growing, caespitose epiphyte from wet montane forests that needs cool night temperatures, summer shade, high humidity and ample water while growing and a 3 to 4 week rest after blooming to enable the new growth to mature. The small to medium sized plant has 3" ovoid, elongated, psuedobulbs partially enveloped basally by imbricate, acute, scarious sheaths that are tightly packed on a rhizome. They have a single, elongated, elliptic, coriaceous , 4" to 8" [10 to 20 cm] long, conduplicate below into the elongate, petiolate base leaf that has an undulate margin. The many fragrant, long lasting, successive opening flowers occur on a single flowered, basal, arching to pendant, 3 1/2" [9 cm] long inflorescence arising on a mature pseudobulb and appear in the winter and spring.

[camille1585]

Awesome orchids! While getting orchids on lunch breaks sounds great, I'm glad I can't or else I'd be even more broke than I am now! I looked up the Helcia on Orchidwiz, and the info is similar to what Ray found.

Light: 1500-2500fc, with strong air movement
Temp: days 71-77F and nights 51-57F. It adapts well to temps 10F warmer or cooler than that, but some growers say it prefers to be grown on the cool side of the intermediate range.
Humidity: 75%+ (since it's from a cloud forest)
Watering: much water during growing season, with only slight drying out between waterings. Reduce water after growths mature.
Blooms start to appear early winter.

That sounds like a really nice plant, and the pictures I just say of it look amazing.