Ghost Orchid

[prem]

Before trying to grow a ghost orchid, I would strongly recommend trying to grow a Chiloschista species...they are much more forgiving, but still a little picky...if you can grow one of those well, then graduate to a ghost orchid.

---Prem

[Swamper]

My first attempt was out of a flask. I was doing great till I thought I could take them outside.
My second attempt is with two sticks I bought at the Redlands festival. One doesn't look so wonderful and the other looks a lot worse but they are still alive.
If I could do it over again I would start with something a little easier.
P.S. Something did survive out of that Ghost flask but not a ghost orchid. I'm still growing it. I can't wait to figure out what it is.

[dkchristi]

I would like a beautiful ghost orchid to take with me when I sign books. However, everything I read and anyone I talk to says they are impossible to keep alive and even if there is success, they seldom bloom. If they finally bloom, the blooms are scarce and tiny.

The ghost orchid that inspired my novel by the same name has no special environment. It is too high in the canopy, practically in the sun, to mimic a terrarium. Sure, there's lots of moisture in the swamp; but where it is located also is plenty dry in winter when it does not rain and the swamp floor dries and cracks. They prefer ash as hosts; yet, this one at Corkscrew is on an ancient cypress. What keeps that plant alive is as much a mystery as in the novel I wrote; and it's already bloomed giant blooms twice this year.

At the Washington, D.C. botanical garden the staff person said they had some domestic ghost orchid plants coming in (that was a couple years ago); but they were very small and fragile. I wonder if they still have them....

And are you going to bring in a moth too? Maybe some flowers are meant for the wild alone...and a picture is the closest we'll get...

[dkchristi]

Prem - have you grown a ghost orchid or known anyone with success at a decent size bloom?

[Swamper]

Cool what is the name of the novel you wrote?
There are several people here that have grown them successfully but a few out of thousands, well not very good odds. BTW these people have been growing them for years.
EDIT. I saw your novels. Pretty cool.

[prem]

DK, there have been several to grow out ghost orchids artificially...in fact, the flower used to illustrate the cover of your novel came from a cultivated plant. Check some of the posts earlier in this thread...also, check out the Wikipedia Dendrophylax lindenii article...there should be a link there to someone who has grown a multi-blooming cultivated ghost.

===Prem

[dkchristi]

I guess my concern is that in the large scope, few are successful with domestic ghost orchids comparable to those in the wild such as the ghost orchid at Corkscrew Swamp. I would be saddened to make the attempt and not succeed. I do wish for one, though, at book signings as it's so foreign to so many people and so magical to me.

Prem, you know more about my novel, Ghost Orchid's book cover than I do! Since it was designed by Linda Houle at L&L Dreamspell, I am curious how you know the exact flower she used for her composite cover. The posters of the book cover are exquisite!

[prem]

DK, the image used was the same as this one:

File:Ghost Orchid.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Only reversed, left-to-right. If you look closely at the original image, you will see that the plant is mounted on a stick and lying on a black dropcloth. Mick Fournier, the photographer and owner of that stud plant, was well known as one of the few sources of ghost orchid plants in flask, before Oak Hill came to the fore with a seemingly constant supply of ghost seedlings just out of flask.

---Prem

[stefpix]

I think taking a plant that needs constant humidity and conditions on a tour would kill it.
In a bag for hours in the dark. AC / chill / heat etc etc...
Probably a ZZ plant would be better for that!

[Swamper]

Originally Posted by stefpix

I think taking a plant that needs constant humidity and conditions on a tour would kill it.
In a bag for hours in the dark. AC / chill / heat etc etc...
Probably a ZZ plant would be better for that!

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