Ghost Orchid

[Chris147]

I really want a ghost orchid, does anyone know where i could find one? Possibly from the internet, but not a well known website, but one that i can trust.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If you are fairly new to growing orchids, this is one orchid that I cannot recommend growing. Even if you were a seasoned pro, I still cannot put this orchid in high regard for a recommendation.

Perhaps there are other orchids that strike your fancy that are much easier to grow that you can choose over this one.

While you don't have to take my advice, I do suggest you give it some serious thought.

Should you go ahead and find a vendor who is willing to sell it to you (which probably won't be difficult), there is an article that you may be able to pull up during your searches here on the OB search engine that may be able to help you out.

I wish you the best.

[MT-Phal]

wouldn't be difficult to find a vendor? I thought that ghost orchids were considered endangered, and therefore illegal to sell? was that incorrect?

on the subject of growing them, i did some research... just once... and yeah, growing one is probably one of the most difficult things any orchid grower could take on.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

They're illegal to collect from the wild. They're not illegal to sell if you're a registered nursery that had somehow acquired them.

They really aren't difficult to find online. If you've been hardcore into the hobby, they're a cinch to find.

And if you're not hardcore - a Google search will pull up the sites.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Okay...

Just to prove my point.

Type in Dendrophylax lindenii or Polyrrhiza lindenii, while searching on Google.

[WhiteRabbit]

Yes, it is illegal to collect endangered plants from the wild, but Ghost orchids have been in cultivation for a bit. Getting them into cultivation will hopefully curb poaching, so it's a good thing!
However, they do seem to be next to impossible to grow outside their native habitat.

I know there have been other threads about where to purchase Ghosts - I know Oak Hill sells tiny ones. Someone knew of a vendor who sold larger plants, but I don't remember the name - I'm sure someone will be able to provide it tho ...

[got ants]

Having killed a few myself, even after trying to mimic their natural surroundings, while growing them outside in south florida, there is an article that may offer some hope for future success...

AOS | Another Ghost Story

t seems his success came from two important factors..

#1; using spanish moss draped over the plant

#2; gluing the plant directly onto the mount with super glue

I saw some nice sized plants at the Redlands Orchid Festival and about given up on growing them. Had I seen this article before hand, I would've purchased 1 or 2 back then (from Oakhill)

[stefpix]

Oakhill had them for 15 $ on a stick at the shore orchod fest.and /or Andy's too.

Well probably they grow in a terrarium. Read that they need not a real watering but really high humidity. like some water at the bottom of the terrarium but prevent the mount from sitting in water. You can find info in the Oakhill newsletters archive. It looked like a tiny phal that lost the leaves on a stick. Maybe if you get and mount a Phal equestris it could be more fun.

[stefpix]

News from Oak Hill Gardens

[leafless orchids growing advice]

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by stefpix

Maybe if you get and mount a Phal equestris it could be more fun.

I would have to agree.

Even Paraphalaenopsis spp. would do better than Dendrophylax (Polyrrhiza) lindenii. And they've got unique looking flowers.