Ghost Orchid

[Pelepel]

I saw a ceramic ghost orchid for $10,000 on eBay. For that price, it will never die!

[aaronsaxton]

I have a mature Ghost Orchid with three flower spikes at the moment. Tending adults is hard - they require precise conditions. I would try young ones first and be prepared to kill some - anyone who has a hardy adult has killed young ones in learning that these little guys are tough.

Of all the Orchids I have, the Ghost Orchid in terms of difficulty in maintaining it is in a league of it's own.

People pay thousands for exotic rare and hard to grow plants and orchids that are much easier than a Ghost Orchid.

Be prepared for to have a child because it requires a lot of attention - but the right environment will save you a lot of time - alas, the conditions a Ghost requires is a bit extreme for other orchids, thus often it is best to have a separate space for the ghost.

If you purchase 200 ghost Orchids, and manage to get just one to adulthood and flowering, you have done something against the odds.

Every year many thousands of youngsters are sold...not too many stories of them living or blooming.

It is rewarding - it is the jewel of the orchid world and possibly the plant kingdom.

[Exo]

Originally Posted by aaronsaxton

I have a mature Ghost Orchid with three flower spikes at the moment. Tending adults is hard - they require precise conditions. I would try young ones first and be prepared to kill some - anyone who has a hardy adult has killed young ones in learning that these little guys are tough.

Of all the Orchids I have, the Ghost Orchid in terms of difficulty in maintaining it is in a league of it's own.

People pay thousands for exotic rare and hard to grow plants and orchids that are much easier than a Ghost Orchid.

Be prepared for to have a child because it requires a lot of attention - but the right environment will save you a lot of time - alas, the conditions a Ghost requires is a bit extreme for other orchids, thus often it is best to have a separate space for the ghost.

If you purchase 200 ghost Orchids, and manage to get just one to adulthood and flowering, you have done something against the odds.

Every year many thousands of youngsters are sold...not too many stories of them living or blooming.

It is rewarding - it is the jewel of the orchid world and possibly the plant kingdom.

What conditions do you give yours?

[aaronsaxton]

A complex question, but essentially 4000 + foot candles, 85% or more humidity. Temps day/Night in excess of 70 F, fan speed about 1 yard per second near it, and a regime of ferts and additives daily. It really depends on whether I am attempting to grow roots and vegetative growth, or Flowering conditions - which are very different. I think Keith Davis and his PDF on the Ghost Orchid is very good. Increased CO2 always helps, too.