Polyrrhiza (Ghost Orchid) - Initial Success - Orchid Board

4accord · #1 07-17-2011, 09:51 PM

Seems a while since there was an active Ghost thread so I thought to start a new one. Would love to see a dedicated Forum group for this species (hope I'm not missing something as a still-wet newby).

Anyway, after killing my first Ghost (from eBay) in 14 days, while gaining some experience and doing lots of Net research, I tried again and ordered 5 from Oak Hill. 18 days later all are doing great and I'm starting to feel an ounce of confidence. I no longer believe the ghost orchid is as difficult as seems commonly accepted. I think, instead, it's just a matter of isolating the key variables and giving it what it needs. Would love to compare notes with others who love the challenge and unique features of the ghost.

So far, here's what I have learned - all humbly submitted in the hopes of being helpful and inviting discussion...

They seem to do well placed on a bed of sphagnum and Spanish moss in a wire "cage" suspended in a vase over heated water. They cannot be kept wet or they will develop mold and fungus. Misting once a day and dunking in weak fertilizer once a week seems to be working great. Not only are they still alive but showing good color and evident growth.

They can tolerate immersion in store-bought 3% hydrogen peroxide as an antiseptic/antifungal. They also don't seem to mind a light spray with brown Listerine or equivalent. These were done as a remedy for some decline and mold that was evident after initially keeping them too wet (by keeping partial covers on the vases).

I've been keeping them at about 80 degrees with the water below them at about 85, using a $5 candle warmer as a heat source (same as a mug warmer, available from craft stores). The warmer is regulated with a dimmer available from Home Depot for $10. Without the dimmer, the water gets very hot - about 200 degrees! The heat maintains air flow and humidity, but if too high, moisture will form on the glass and mold or fungus will soon form on the plants. Also, if the vases are covered, visible moisture appears and again the problem of mold and fungus arises.

Daily misting is working well with just RO water, pH about 6.8. Feeding is weekly by immersion for about 30 seconds. I use filtered water to which I add much-diluted sulphuric acid (battery acid, $4 from any auto parts store) but be extremely careful with this stuff! I add 1 part acid to 9 parts water (never water to acid!), and then, with a baby-feeder syringe, add 2 ml of this mixture to a gallon of water. For me, this brings the pH down to about 6.2, but this would vary, of course, with the pH of the original water.

I then add Jack's Classic or Miracle Grow 30-10-10 in a weak dilution and then add 3 drops/gal of Superthrive. I have also sprinkled a tiny amount of mycorrhizal fungi which may be very helpful and at least does no harm that I can see. I keep the orchids in a south-facing bathroom window where they get bright but indirect light and extra humidity from the nearby shower.

What I found to be clearly harmful is keeping them wet and/or misting more than once a day. I also see problems with mounting with fishing line, as the roots can be constricted or even cut as the plants grow. I carefully cut my orchids off the grapevine mounts they came on and set them as pictured on moss in a wire mesh cage.

So far, I am thrilled to see new growth and nice color. I attach a couple pictures and welcome any response.