Barkeria lindleyana ssp vanneriana - Orchid Board

katrina · #1 11-13-2014, 02:56 PM

Actually, I think officially it's just lindleyana now.

Interesting deciduous species. When it drops it's leaves and the growing tips on the roots disappear...give it very little water until new growth starts back up. Some winters it's dormancy period is short lived and others it's looked like a bunch of dead sticks until spring. Definitely a rambler and would be hard to keep in a pot.

Bright light....lots of water when actively growing (but roots need to dry off fairly quickly)...and intermediate temps. For me...it's been an easy grower and not difficult to bloom.

BTW - I have 6 Barkeria species and of those that I've bloomed so far...they have all been winter bloomers.

Brooke · #2 11-13-2014, 04:23 PM

Is there anyway to keep it a pot? I am trying so hard to cut down on mounts and would love to have it captured in a pot.

Brooke

Paul · #3 11-13-2014, 05:36 PM

Love Barks! On my list of chids to try someday if I can find one cheaply or in trade to experiment upon.

WhiteRabbit · #4 11-13-2014, 07:32 PM

Lovely!

katrina · #5 11-14-2014, 08:53 AM

Brooke -- you could try but I imagine it will quickly climb up and out that pot.

Paul -- I love the barkerias and it's my goal to own all that aren't too big to grow in my house.

whiterabbit -- thanks!

nutgirl · #6 11-14-2014, 10:43 AM

Do your Barkerias go into dormancy on their own or do you create the dormant period by withholding water and fertilizer like some do with Dendrobiums?

I have a small (4 canes) Barkeria spectabilis that continues to grow all year. It finally loses it's leaves in early spring but starts new growth almost immediately. I never know when to withhold water.

Maureen

katrina · #7 11-14-2014, 03:05 PM

I don't force the dormancy but I do water less once the orchids are in the house and the lights are naturally drying so it would make sense that they are responding to the drier conditions.

Usually between Nov and Dec they will begin to lose the growing tips on their roots and the leaves start to get wrinkled and begin to change color...when this happens I go from watering about 3x a week to 2x a week and I stop all fert at this time. Once they've dropped all their leaves I never completely stop watering but I do reduce to a quick spraying once or twice a week. I get them a little drippy but I don't hold them under the water as long as I do when they are actively growing...short sprays, basically. I hope that makes sense.

I just got spectabilis earlier this year and mine is starting to go dormant now but not having grown it for long I'm not sure what to expect. Some don't seem to stay dormant as long as others but I've never had one that didn't do it for at least a short period. It's possible that your leaf drop is the extent of your dormancy period. ?? Bark spectabilis is reportedly a tougher one to grow so if yours is happy...I would just keep doing what you're doing. No sense in fixing something that isn't broke.

nutgirl · #8 11-14-2014, 04:45 PM

Thanks for the info!
Mine grows well but no blooms. I don't fertilize in the fall and winter. It's in a clay pot, bare root with a few chunks of lava rocks to keep it company. Very bright light.

I like your point about letting the plant tell you when it's slowing down, I will pay attention to that.

Maureen

katrina · #9 11-14-2014, 06:04 PM

If it's not blooming, try increasing the light. In the summer when I have everything outside the Barks are getting an awful lot of light. Where I have them it's around 4000fcs under the shade cloth and then from about 3pm on they are in direct sun.

Even in the house, one of the mount stations (under lights) is in a South facing window so, on top of the lights, most of these plants are also getting some direct sun during the afternoon. Very bright! I recently had to move the Bark scandens because w/the sun so low in the sky it's leaves were getting too much sun.

Gradually increase the light...if possible...that might do the trick for you. Good luck w/it!

nutgirl · #10 11-14-2014, 07:07 PM

I had thought about upping the light. I have it in a large south facing window now with lots of light. Next season it will go outside with my Vandas. If that doesn't move it along I don't know what will.

I was also wondering if it would benefit from a drop in temperature. I was thinking of putting it in my GH, which currently gets into the 40's at night, for a week or so.

Maureen