Rl. digbyana alba

[isurus79]

Very cool! I sure don't see any pigment in that one.

[WaterWitchin]

I received a small division of digbyana a couple of years ago. It's finally getting some size to it. Wasn't sure how much mass it would need to obtain before possibly flowering. This gives me a lot of hope going forward... it's easily as big now as the one shown in your pictures. Didn't realize it was such a smaller plant. WhoooHoooo!

[Roberta]

They definitely can get a lot bigger... this RL digbyana has old dead p-bulbs that are about twice as tall (still not huge... need to trim them) but when the plant came back from the dead, new growths just a lot smaller. But clearly doesn't have to be be big to bloom.

[Louis_W]

Originally Posted by Roberta

doesn't have to be be big to bloom.

I bet orchids are like fruit trees. When they germinate they take a decade or more to get to flowering age, but if you cut a whip off an adult plant which has already sexually matured it will bloom even if it's a 2 foot tall grafted tree.

[orchidman77]

Louis, that's a fascinating idea and one I hadn't considered. I was also admiring how compact Roberta's plant is and wondering how it's blooming on such a small plant. My biggest digbyana pbulb is about 10" tall so I'm sure I'll have a few years to go still.

[smweaver]

Beautiful blooms, Roberta. And I wouldn't have noticed any so-called imperfections (e.g. narrow segments) had you not pointed them out. I have found this to be a very adaptable species. It sits out in full sun during the summer (even yesterday, with highs in the low 90's it shows no evidence of burning), but all of my plants easily accept winter lows in the low 50's (as you pointed out, less-than-ideal conditions don't seem to bother them as long as they get full sunshine during their growing period). I never knew what "alba" really meant with regards to this species. So thank you for the explanation. And, of course, congratulations on the magnificent flowers.

[Roberta]

Thanks!

[PeterNL]

Here in the Netherlands it is a challenge to grow and bloom Rhy. digbyana well.
The main problem is enough light and sun in winter.
I have one, and it blooms, But only with one or two each year. The plant is in pot, but has grown way down over the edges with roots going everywhere. Ah well, it grows, it blooms, im not complaining.
It is an epic species!