ID Help with "Firefly" plz!

[D&S Mabel]

A couple days ago, I received a couple dozen "rescue" orchids that I am in the process of cleaning up and repotting.

One has a label that I am unable to figure out. I get the 'Fire Fly' part but what looks like 'S mbna' has me stumped.

Here's what the plant looks like in a 2-1/2" pot and the the label it came with.

Any ideas?




Any help is appreciated!

[britishbulldog]

How about Slc.Ginny Champion "Firefly"
The only way to be really sure is TLC and getting it to flower!
Simon

[Jensine449]

No help here but TO THE RESCUE! Good luck. I am new so I wonder if you could briefly tell me how you plan to repot this in order to revive it. Thanks and I'd love to see pics once you've repotted it, too!!

[maitaman]

It's a Schombonia Firefly (Schomburghkia X Broughtonia) I believe.

[D&S Mabel]

Maitaman, thanks for the ID - I think you're right! At least I know what to look for when it blooms.

I took the following photos as I repotted - click on the images for larger photos:


First, I worked loose all the existing potting materials. I soaked the plant and pot in water to soften everything up and used my fingers and a hose to get the old mix out.


After some more soaking to soften the roots, I removed the plant for the pot. Yes, I did lose some roots but not many. As you can see from the photo above, many of the roots are dead and will need to be removed.


This is the plant with the dead roots and old growths removed, as best as I could get it. I then soaked it in a systemic fungicide before repotting.



Repot complete - I put styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of the pot, added a little potting mix, zip-tied the plant into the pot and added the rest of the mix. The biggest mistake I've learned from is to not bury the plant in the mix as this will lead to rot in my conditions.

Keep your fingers crossed that it takes off!

(I am a bit unsure as to the best way to pot this plant - I have a few Schom.'s which are all mounted and I have a couple Broughtonia hybrids which are potted. I ended up going with potted as that's how I got it but...)

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by D&S Mabel

Maitaman, thanks for the ID - I think you're right! At least I know what to look for when it blooms.

I took the following photos as I repotted - click on the images for larger photos:


First, I worked loose all the existing potting materials. I soaked the plant and pot in water to soften everything up and used my fingers and a hose to get the old mix out.


After some more soaking to soften the roots, I removed the plant for the pot. Yes, I did lose some roots but not many. As you can see from the photo above, many of the roots are dead and will need to be removed.


This is the plant with the dead roots and old growths removed, as best as I could get it. I then soaked it in a systemic fungicide before repotting.



Repot complete - I put styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of the pot, added a little potting mix, zip-tied the plant into the pot and added the rest of the mix. The biggest mistake I've learned from is to not bury the plant in the mix as this will lead to rot in my conditions.

Keep your fingers crossed that it takes off!

(I am a bit unsure as to the best way to pot this plant - I have a few Schom.'s which are all mounted and I have a couple Broughtonia hybrids which are potted. I ended up going with potted as that's how I got it but...)

I purchased one of these guys this afternoon from a local orchid grower (Grezaffi's Orchids). I've been unable to find any info. or photos on the internet. Have you had any luck?

The grower had one specimen in bloom. It had a 1 1/2' long arching spike with a bright pink bloom on the tip. It looked like a mini-catt but he said it wasn't a Cattleya and described it as a Schombonia (Broughtonia x Schromburgkia). He described the Broughtonia as a miniature orchid. Mr. Grezaffi said he could not guarantee that mine would bloom the same color as the specimen plant and that their blooms come in a variety of colors with the exception of white. He suggested that I not repot it until March and also mentioned that they take well to mounts.

[D&S Mabel]

I googled the whole name, Schombonia Firefly, and got Schombonia Firefly pictures from flowers photos on webshots and Schombonia Firefly...at least it used to be! pictures from flowers photos on webshots . I hope thats what I end up with!

I treat my Schomburghkia and Broughtonia hybrids like cats (the Schom.'s are mostly mounted or in VERY open potting mix in pots) and they seem to do well for me.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by D&S Mabel

I googled the whole name, Schombonia Firefly, and got Schombonia Firefly pictures from flowers photos on webshots and Schombonia Firefly...at least it used to be! pictures from flowers photos on webshots . I hope thats what I end up with!

I treat my Schomburghkia and Broughtonia hybrids like cats (the Schom.'s are mostly mounted or in VERY open potting mix in pots) and they seem to do well for me.

Thanks for guiding me in the right direction.

Yes, that's what I saw on the plant at the nursery except there was only one flower left at the tip of the spike. It was the same color and very delicate, but a real "eye catcher". There were several dried spikes on his plants so just imagine the visual effect these are going to have when several spikes are blooming. I can hardly wait.

The grower also mentioned that these guys generally bloom this time of year and occassionally have 2 blooming seasons. He said you can grow them in shade but they love the sun and can be acclimated to full sun exposure.