Zimbabwean orchid

[marnus]

I just bought exactly the same plant in the Western Cape. They looked so interresting and I couldn't resist. The guy told me the exact same caring details. Keep in a half full bowl of water and small ferns will grow out of the stump, while the orchids will bloom once every year. He also said to add "orchid food" every 6 months. The funny thing is that, when I asked him how he knew which colour the flowers will be, he replied:"The number of plants on the stump determine the colour". Now theres a thought. Since you bought yours 2 months ago, please keep me updated with any info you collect as I am also in the dark about this plant.

[shadec]

the stump is definitely not a jacaranda

It looks interesting, make sure you let us knw when it flowers

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by shadec

the stump is definitely not a jacaranda

It looks interesting, make sure you let us knw when it flowers

and also not a Baobab..

if it were south american I would say it is a piece of Vellozia... but coming from Zimbawe... however it seems to be a piece os plant adapted to similar condition: savannas exposed to more or less regular fires... if you have access to this kind of information, maybe you could guess the ID.

anyway, I would keep the plant (for me a Bulbophyllum too!) on it....

Post-editing: I just found here that the family is also present in Africa... so maybe this is a good start: http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/vellozia.htm

[Viia]

So far the orchids on 1 stump are doing very well. The stump is also starting to grow green "leaves". Right now they are just little green sticks coming out of the top of the stump. The orchids on the other stump are looking wrinkly so maybe they could use some more watering.... or maybe I'm watering too much. Eek I don't know lol

Not sure if it's a Vellozia. There seem to be many types but very few images. Will just have to wait and see what the leaves look like on mine.

[Doc G]

This link shows an example of orchids at the base of trees
Woodlands (Scroll to the second set of pix, the one on the right)
The tree may be a brachystegia. It should also be noted that there are a number of orchids in Zimbabwe that grow in bogs and marshlands, which may be why you were told to keep it in a tray of water.
Unfortunately, they were almost certainly collected from the wild.

[Suzanne O'Dea]

I'm also from Cape Town; also bought one of these plants off a man on the street; was also told to sit it in a few inches of water and once the stump started showing green sprouts, I didn't need to add any more water???? He told me the plant isn't endangered, but as he's trying to make a living, that statement might need to be taken with a pinch of salt. He also told me the flowers are white with yellow middles. I can't find any info on the net. Will try the local library

[pkaccounts]

Hello all. I'm new to this site. I did a search for "orchid from Zimbabwe growing on fuzzy stump" and wal-la. I lucked into finding this thread.
So, I also bought from this exact man. I suppose his life story is not so much in question here as what type of orchids he's selling.
The one he sold me has three long stems growing out of it with two to four long leaves at the end of the stem.
He also told me to sit it in a tray of water and it will flower once a year.
I don't have small round leaves like the other posts here, but wonder if they will come. Mine looks like a plant that is endemic to the Cayman Islands, Like an ant on a banana orchid -notmytribe.com
Or so says this one website.
I'll keep you posted with any growth.
Also, did anyone buy a dormant bulb that he was selling? I'm interested what it was?

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by pkaccounts

Hello all. I'm new to this site. I did a search for "orchid from Zimbabwe growing on fuzzy stump" and wal-la. I lucked into finding this thread.
So, I also bought from this exact man. I suppose his life story is not so much in question here as what type of orchids he's selling.
The one he sold me has three long stems growing out of it with two to four long leaves at the end of the stem.
He also told me to sit it in a tray of water and it will flower once a year.
I don't have small round leaves like the other posts here, but wonder if they will come. Mine looks like a plant that is endemic to the Cayman Islands, Like an ant on a banana orchid -notmytribe.com
Or so says this one website.
I'll keep you posted with any growth.
Also, did anyone buy a dormant bulb that he was selling? I'm interested what it was?

Do you have a photo of your own plant?

[pkaccounts]

Kavanaru, Here are a few shots of the plant. The third image (without flash) shows that there is more life in the stems than it seems.

[kavanaru]

not sure what it is (looks like an Ansellia africana in bad shape) but for sure not a Myrmecophila (the plant you've showed first, from the Caribbean)