So how many have you killed is up.. but how much have you spent?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Wow, so so jealous now, LOVE bee orchid and donkey orchid, I did not even think you can get these! What about Duck Orchid - My dream:-)))))

Yeah. You can get these, (e.g. Ophrys and Diuris), just not in the US.

If by Duck Orchid you mean orchids in the genus Caleana, then I'd have to sadly say, no, I cannot find a source for them. I don't know why they aren't in the hobby, but there's probably a good reason why.

But if you meant Duck Orchid, as in Pecteilis segarikii, then they're in the US already. They're very rarely available, but they're around and pop up every-now-and-then.

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Sure with all that money why not! May I ask how much you paid for bee orchid and donkey orchid? Once I will get to your level, I would love to get some:-) Both amazing:-) Do you have any European website where these are available?

I think the Bee Orchids were a little under $24.00 USD.

The most some of the Donkey Orchids cost were about $38 USD. Usually they're around $30 USD.

The seller is from Germany, (www.myorchids.de).

I have had to resort to getting from Europe because Australia is closed for exportation.

Originally Posted by hcastil3

So King, do you just do this as a hobby, or what is your purpose for collecting all these?, I would love to see pictures some time

It is currently a hobby. It would be nice to be a true seller. At least I'd be incorporating something I love into my life rather than doing something I hate just to get by. I don't expect much, but we'll see how things go as things progress.

I currently have a rather crappy picture of Cynorkis fastigiata on Flickr. It is in the Subfamily Orchidoideae, but this species is readily available in the US. This species has a rather "weedy disposition", but I really don't care. It does have a rather unique charm to it.

Originally Posted by hcastil3

I would love to get these some day, so if you ever plan on selling some, let us know... Tommy and I can share...lol

Yeah, we'll see how things go.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

I mean DUCK ORCHID that grows only in that one park in Australia wild:-))) Anyway, thanks for website, May I ask, yet again, what are growing requirements for bee orchid and donkey orchid? I guess Miami heat won't be the winner? How was shipping, did they come safe and well packed?

---------- Post added at 01:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 AM ----------

I read somewhere that DUCK ORCHID, Caleana, can not grow anywhere else except that tiny little place in that park, there must be something about the soil, air, water, who knows:-)

---------- Post added at 01:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 AM ----------

King, thanks bunch for that website, very interesting saved. I see what you meant, these are grown similar to habenaria. Well, I think I will try first habenaria, and If I have success, I might order bee and duck, both on my list, and the prices are great, I think:-) Please, keep us posted how do they do, and once they bloom, PICS please. Thanks guys for awesome thread, heading bed now, this week's project is my miniature orchid vivarium vase, I hope to receive new babies sometimes second half of this week:-)

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

I mean DUCK ORCHID that grows only in that one park in Australia wild:-))) Anyway, thanks for website, May I ask, yet again, what are growing requirements for bee orchid and donkey orchid? I guess Miami heat won't be the winner? How was shipping, did they come safe and well packed?

---------- Post added at 01:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 AM ----------

I read somewhere that DUCK ORCHID, Caleana, can not grow anywhere else except that tiny little place in that park, there must be something about the soil, air, water, who knows:-)

If what you're saying is true, then Caleana will not be available in the trade at all. The reason they are able to live in that specific little patch of the park is because of a special soil fungus that create a symbiotic relationship with the orchid's roots. I'm guessing that that little patch of the park is where the fungus resides. Without the fungus, the Caleana is probably as good as dead - but I am just assuming this.

There is currently no strong evidence that supports that they can live on without that fungal symbiont as of yet.

If they can survive without the symbiotic fungi, then, there will definitely be a time when someone will start growing them in cultivation. That's kind of how Thelymitras and Diuris and many other terrestrial orchids started off getting into the hobby.

At first, people would believe that the orchids were impossible to grow for one reason or another. I remember when there were books that briefly mentioned that orchids such as Thelymitra, Diuris, Disa, or Satyrium were impossible to grow in cultivation. Even orchids such as those in the genus Dracula were mentioned at one point to be impossible to grow.

Eventually some people got bold, tried a few things, and figured it out to some degree or another; and the learning process still continues.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD NOT KNOW:-))) HERE:
If you’ve never been to the Australian wilderness, chances are you’ve never seem a Caleana major , or Flying Duck Orchid before. That’s because despite numerous attempts to grow it anywhere else, this amazing-looking flower refuses to propagate in captivity. Apparently, that’s because its roots have a symbiotic relationship with the vegetative part of a fungus which can only be found in the wild country of eastern and southern Australia. The fungus protects the flower from infections, and without its presence, it never lasts for very long. But even if you travel to Australia to see the Flying Duck Orchid in its natural habitat, you have to look really carefully to spot it. At up to 50 centimeters in height, it’s definitely not the smallest flower in the world, but its red-and-purple coloring helps it blend so well in its wild surroundings that it becomes almost invisible.

---------- Post added at 01:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:32 AM ----------

Before I hit the pillow, I really must say King, that you are really into orchids! I mean, I love them, but that's nothing compare to your love, knowledge and determination to try new things! wow Good Night guys

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I figured as much.

I started learning about mycorrhizal fungi a long time ago.

I forgot which group of orchids led me to find out more about them, but I do recall that the ones that really brought this subject matter to the forefront were the native Australian terrestrial orchids - in particular, orchids of the following genera:

- Caladenia

- Leptoceras

- Thelymitra

- Diuris

There were a few other genera of orchids that really got me to take a look at mycorrhizal relationships further, but these were the big ones - along with orchids in the genus Disa.

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

Thank you.

Good night Tom.

---------- Post added at 10:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

Forgot...

Bee Orchids grow in calcium type sands.

Donkey Orchids grow in acidic sandy loams comprised of decomposed granitic materials with clay minerals in that mix.

[GregorK]

I was wondering King of orchids... since your collection of orchids must be very big. How do you go on vacation and who takes care of them in the mean time. I am soon going for about two weeks and i am already freaking out

Regards
Gregor

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by GregorK

I was wondering King of orchids... since your collection of orchids must be very big. How do you go on vacation and who takes care of them in the mean time. I am soon going for about two weeks and i am already freaking out

Regards
Gregor

Gregor, thanks much, this is excellent question. I am leaving to California for a week in September, and than probably 3 weeks skiing December/January. That week is somehow ok, my partner hates plants, however he somehow manages to follow instructions and water them, not much but at least to survive, however 3 weeks will be extremely stressful for me, he does not see what orchid needs more water or is over. I do always COLOR MARK them with colored tags, one color means water daily one means water every 2-3 days, so far it worked. The worst is if you have no one left home to water them, I guess you must ask friends or family.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by GregorK

I was wondering King of orchids... since your collection of orchids must be very big. How do you go on vacation and who takes care of them in the mean time. I am soon going for about two weeks and i am already freaking out

Regards
Gregor

At the moment, I don't have time for a vacation.

Hopefully, I will soon.

If I were to be able to afford one and if I had the time for one I'd probably go on vacation during the winter months or during early - late spring and leave them all alone, no water, no nothing except for 5 or 6 orchids. Those I'd probably let soak in a container of water and aerate the water. They're water hogs anyways. And I'd be gone for about a week. I don't really like long vacations.

If I was gone for 2 weeks or more, then I'd hire someone.

---------- Post added at 08:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:50 AM ----------

I'll explain further...

I'd go when I know my orchids need the least amount of water and just not care. Sometimes that's what happens in the wild anyways.

If you've got water hogs, then you're in somewhat of a bind. Everything else you can leave alone.

That's why I don't buy a ton of these on purpose, if I happen to know that they are water hogs to begin with, of course.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

So true king, Years ago I left for 11 days trip skiing with my friends, from 11 days we ended up spending 21 days starting in Breckenridge, than Jackson Hole, ending on Lake Tahoe. At that time, I did not even teach my hubby how to care for my babies, nor he had any intentions to do so. He TOLD me he did water them few times when I called, but at the end when I cam back home, he came clean and said he did not even go to the balcony at all. I was horrified, only to find out that actually except few regular plants, NONE OF THE ORCHIDS died, but to my shock, many actually started spikes and bloomed within these 3 weeks! At that time I did not even know what is winter rest, it makes all sense now when I know that's what many needs anyway!

[GregorK]

Goof to know i am not the only one with this problem
My partner likes plants, but we are going together of course

I'll ask my roommate to take care of them. luckily i dont have water hogs so ill just ask her to water them once a week. it should be fine. Most of them are cats anyway