Grammatophylum speciosum var flava

[DirtyCoconuts]

i have been looking for a Gram speciosum for years and years and i finally found one with several bulbs and under 1 million dollars ...

i have a friend who is an Orchid boss and she grows this plant HUGE so i am planning to copy her culture as much as possible but has anyone else grown this monster?

my plan is a very large clay dish, more wide than tall but still at least 12" deep and to fill it with lava rock and marble chips and place it under a tree letting any leaf litter fall in as it likes.

please add any thoughts, suggestions or experiences

[Jmbaum]

The largest ones I’ve seen cultivated were massive, outside Bangkok, grown under a sparse tree somewhere between a raised bed/ giant wood wire basket. Without the ability of the plant to anchor through something structural, there’s a real risk of it falling over. Open structured containers seem to be the best way of accomplishing this while allowing a bit of air to the roots underneath keeping the core of the plant healthy.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Terrific! Perhaps I’ll make a stone basket and see how that comes out

[Jmbaum]

Keep the thread updated, would love to see the process, magnificent species.

[estación seca]

I have read of it being grown in a wheelbarrow.

I would think it would do well in the ground for you. Maybe start it in a large raised pot and let it root into the ground. This is actually the perfect use for the truck tire planter in the front yard.

[DirtyCoconuts]

It arrived and I am blown away. Four pbulbs and two new growths trucking already.

I was wondering what the thoughts are about hacking up a few coconuts and filling the space between rocks and broken pots with big chunks of coir? I was thinking some charcoal too

I will get pics of it and her new home ASAP

[isurus79]

I saw a monster growing at Kawamoto Orchids when I used to live on Oahu. Why not just attach yours to a tree?

[DirtyCoconuts]

Two reasons

One is I really don’t have a big enough tree and two is I am always paranoid about having to move and losing my babies so only divisions and NoIDs( not special ones) go into trees

[Jmbaum]

Good choice, they are known for downing trees.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i bought a 22" rice bowl...it wont be her FOREVER home but a few years....