Peristeria elata is a tough plant

[Fredmax]

It's great to hear it tolerates climates like Texas (which sounds very different to its native habitat), I visited a local grower who has dozens of them growing unheated down to 5c without heating or any humidity control in Summer. It's definitely on my list now, hoping my backbulb strikes.

Also the orchidweb specimen on youtube is huge!

[sweetas647]

I did the same thing! Bought from Ecuagenera around July, but haven't seen any changes in mine.

I've found it hard to find accounts from people that have grown this and other Peristeria species (I also have a Peristeria pendula).

Do you have any tips and tricks for culture? I have heard of the low care in winter to incite flowers - I think I'll take your tip though and water mine through it's first winter with me!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by sweetas647

I did the same thing! Bought from Ecuagenera around July, but haven't seen any changes in mine.

I've found it hard to find accounts from people that have grown this and other Peristeria species (I also have a Peristeria pendula).

Do you have any tips and tricks for culture? I have heard of the low care in winter to incite flowers - I think I'll take your tip though and water mine through it's first winter with me!

You probably got it when it was dormant since it came from the Southern Hemisphere. Check the base of the bulbs for new growth.

[estación seca]

It normally begins growing in spring, grows through the hot and wet summer, then drops its leaves when the dry winter arrives. But as isurus79 pointed out, they may have crossed the equator.

Mine came in leaf. I decided to continue watering it when it dropped its leaves because I know from reading other people's reports it will make new growth all year long if it has warmth and water. If you also keep yours warm, watered and bright, it will probably surprise you with a growth one day as well.

If you use the Search feature in the top maroon menu you can find other Orchid Board threads devoted to this plant.

[JScott]

Mine is still growing, and doesn't seem to be very close to maturing the growth. There's still leaves emerging from the center, and the pseudobulb hasn't started to swell. Is that a problem, or do I just keep growing it as I have been even if it grows all winter? It's a very small one, probably three or four years from mature, if that makes any difference.

[estación seca]

I don't cut off water to anything still maturing a growth - neither Peristeria nor Dendrobium.

[JScott]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I don't cut off water to anything still maturing a growth - neither Peristeria nor Dendrobium.

You are knowledgeable beyond what I myself can hope to be, and you have never given me bad advice, so that is what I will do.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by JScott

Mine is still growing, and doesn't seem to be very close to maturing the growth. There's still leaves emerging from the center, and the pseudobulb hasn't started to swell. Is that a problem, or do I just keep growing it as I have been even if it grows all winter? It's a very small one, probably three or four years from mature, if that makes any difference.

I think mine ended it's growth phase in late December or even into January!

[estación seca]

Mine finished growing in February. I think it's too small to flower so I kept watering. They aren't harmed by watering through winter but it keeps them from flowering.

[estación seca]

If anybody's interested, Carter & Holmes is selling seedlings of this now. If they are kept warm and watered all year they continue to grow, which is what I would do with a small seedling, until it's almost mature.