Eulophia petersii

[avian]

I've purchased from Yamada in the past but currently they do not have any in stock and don't know when they will stock it again due to the high shipping costs.
They do have EB Stone and Kellogg's bark available.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by avian

I've purchased from Yamada in the past but currently they do not have any in stock and don't know when they will stock it again due to the high shipping costs.
They do have EB Stone and Kellogg's bark available.

Bummer!

[stonedragonfarms]

I'll second the comment about Kiwi bark; it's better imho than Orchiata [more uniform size, easier to wet/rewet, fewer fines] & less expensive [though we had a pallet shipped, no sure what it'd break down to with a single bag]

[avian]

Originally Posted by stonedragonfarms

I'll second the comment about Kiwi bark; it's better imho than Orchiata [more uniform size, easier to wet/rewet, fewer fines] & less expensive [though we had a pallet shipped, no sure what it'd break down to with a single bag]

Would probably work better if a group of people want to purchase some. Aren't both Orchiata and the Kiwi bark that Fred Clarke sells sourced from New Zealand pinus radiata trees?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by avian

Would probably work better if a group of people want to purchase some. Aren't both Orchiata and the Kiwi bark that Fred Clarke sells sourced from New Zealand pinus radiata trees?

Both are... the Orchiata does get some treatment, the Kiwi bark not. A group purchase works with a club where there is a central place, and somebody willing to divide it up. If it were done with widely-scattered people (like Orchid Board participants) the shipping after purchase would cost far more than to just get what you want in the quantity that you want. Bark is heavy and shipping expensive.

For those living in southern California, plan a shopping trip to SVO... or place a pre-order when they will be at a nearby show and pick it up there. (They attend all the major shows in the area)

[WarrenG]

Thank you for posting cultivation notes! I bought one after stumbling upon it on the Planet Desert site; I’m familiar with a few other Eulophia from my time living in Tampa, FL, but this one was entirely new to me. Potted it up in a fast-draining cactus mix i make and it’s been SLOWLY growing ever since; today I’ve learned I’m definitely not keeping it watered enough and I’ve been sparse with the fertilizer. Thanks for the info, again

[avian]

Originally Posted by WarrenG

Thank you for posting cultivation notes! I bought one after stumbling upon it on the Planet Desert site; I’m familiar with a few other Eulophia from my time living in Tampa, FL, but this one was entirely new to me. Potted it up in a fast-draining cactus mix i make and it’s been SLOWLY growing ever since; today I’ve learned I’m definitely not keeping it watered enough and I’ve been sparse with the fertilizer. Thanks for the info, again

I talked to the pres. of my orchid club about the E. petersii and was told I should treat it like a cactus/succulent instead of like an orchid which, for the most part, means I should not be watering it frequently and that I should be waiting for the media to dry out before watering again. So, now I'm confused.

[Roberta]

Well, I grow it in gravel (which of course retains little moisture and has no nutrients) and usually put it where the sprinklers didn't hit it in winter. (It got occasional rain, but certainly nothing consistent) I did have one year with flowers. Last winter, I didn't move it, so it got watered. I also added some time-release fertilizer in the spring. Instead of 1 new growth I have three. Didn't bloom this year, but with three new growths that gives me three times the chance for next year when they mature. Since it's in gravel, it's not really growing like an orchid. But not treating like a cactus seems to have had good results for me. Will this be best in the long term? Dunno, the long term hasn't happened yet. Dry-climate plants are opportunists... they can tolerate harsh, dry conditions but respond when they do get rain.(Just because they can tolerate harsh conditions doesn't necessarily mean they like them or need them) Will long term "comfy" conditions tire it out? Only time will tell. But so far, I'm leaning toward pampering it a bit. Your mileage may vary...

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by avian

I talked to the pres. of my orchid club about the E. petersii and was told I should treat it like a cactus/succulent instead of like an orchid which, for the most part, means I should not be watering it frequently and that I should be waiting for the media to dry out before watering again. So, now I'm confused.

Cacti and other succulents get large amounts of water when it rains in habitat. They are succulent to survive the long dry winter, and they expect water during their growing season. Habitat photos people see and remember were taken of cactus and succulent habitat during the dry winter because it rains too much in summer to travel. Cacti and other succulents grow and flower better with plentiful water during their growing season. Very few people grow Eulophia petersii well because they don't water it enough.

[Roberta]

I looked up the Baker culture sheet in Orchidwiz..in habitat the rainfall pattern does have a lot more rain in summer (the growing season) but even in the driest part of winter the average rainfall is more than an inch per month (and is twice that a month before and after) By my southern California standards, that "dry" is not all that dry.(Certainly a lot wetter than our last winter) So while water can be reduced in winter relative to the growing season, I suspect that while it can tolerate dry stretches, it doesn't require serious "dry" and would appreciate some water even in the dead of winter.