Eulophia Guierensis Woes! (help)

[Don Perusse]

Thanks guys for all you advice. I WILL keep it and try something different from the past to see how she will respond. I will definately take pictures (if she ever blooms) so perhaps we can determine which eulophia?

[Mike O'C]

Originally Posted by Don Perusse

Thanks guys for all you advice. I WILL keep it and try something different from the past to see how she will respond. I will definately take pictures (if she ever blooms) so perhaps we can determine which eulophia?

Don,
glad Lambelkip and I were able to persuade you not to trash it but to persevere. Here in South Africa where we have quite a few indigenous Eulophia species, I must warn you that they do not flower every year in nature. Do not know why or what triggers flowering. Some years you see whole colonies in flower and the next year in the same area you will not see a single plant in flower in the same place. Whether it is veld (grassland) fires or whether it is rainfall, your guess is as good as mine.

[lambelkip]

Originally Posted by Mike O'C

Don,
glad Lambelkip and I were able to persuade you not to trash it but to persevere. Here in South Africa where we have quite a few indigenous Eulophia species, I must warn you that they do not flower every year in nature. Do not know why or what triggers flowering. Some years you see whole colonies in flower and the next year in the same area you will not see a single plant in flower in the same place. Whether it is veld (grassland) fires or whether it is rainfall, your guess is as good as mine.

carbon dioxide from grass fires can trigger blooming in any Eulophia species, some species will generally not bloom without them. guineensis is one of the ones that don't need fire to bloom. exposure to high levels of carbon dioxide from other sources can trigger blooming, too. (the plants bloom during the spring after exposure)

australia also has a couple of orchid species that only bloom after grass fires (Pyrorchis nigricans and Pyrorchis forestii). if you find a vendor where i can get either one, let me know.