Zimbabwean orchid

[Discus]

I wonder if the mount is baboon's tail / "bobbejaanstert", Xerophyta retinervis? I think this is quite commonly used as a mount for orchids in these parts.

[Shane]

Hi I am from Zim, The "stump" is a type of grass with a very large fiber tuft and grows on the ground in and around the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe we used to call it Bobijan stert. The orchid does not grow naturally on this grass "stump" but is placed in it by the fellers that sell them, the orchids also come from the E/Highlands (Chimanimani, Inyanga,Vumba), I have never seen them in the wild nor have I seen them flower. I too bought some from a vendor on the side of the road and repotted into 12cm pots with med Pine bark, they are under a tree in my back garden with my Catts where they get morning sun untell about 09:30 and then late afternoon sun again - have had good results so far, well they are growing and getting stronger with each new bulb but still no sign of flowers yet. I will post some pics on the w/end. Regards Shane.

[nenella]

Originally Posted by Shane

Hi I am from Zim, The "stump" is a type of grass with a very large fiber tuft and grows on the ground in and around the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe we used to call it Bobijan stert. The orchid does not grow naturally on this grass "stump" but is placed in it by the fellers that sell them, the orchids also come from the E/Highlands (Chimanimani, Inyanga,Vumba), I have never seen them in the wild nor have I seen them flower. I too bought some from a vendor on the side of the road and repotted into 12cm pots with med Pine bark, they are under a tree in my back garden with my Catts where they get morning sun untell about 09:30 and then late afternoon sun again - have had good results so far, well they are growing and getting stronger with each new bulb but still no sign of flowers yet. I will post some pics on the w/end. Regards Shane.

Very Interesting Shane and yours look like they are doing well I see 2 p/bulbs which look nice and full.
Keep us posted please!
by the way

[Discus]

Thanks for the info Shane - and as Nenella says, welcome to Orchid Board

I got hold of the OP through another (unrelated) forum, and apparently it got over-watered and died when they went away.

[Michelles]

Dear Viv
Im almost in a stress as soon as i saw your post,
Firstly for anyone in the Cape Town- Northern or Southern Suburbs, please if you see the Vendors selling the orchids please contact Cape Town Nature Conservation imediatly. This trend is getting big and the plant die!

The grass pod or in Afrikaans - Die pol, is seperate from the orchis the two plants dont even live together, The grass is mearly the vessel that the vendors use to transport the plant on, and it keeps them moist, i have grown many that i have found on the streets.

They make an insertion on the grass "polle" and neatly put them in there, they have no roots, so what all you should do is, remove them, pot them in another medium, and keep warm, they grow very quikly like this.
The grass is also special but grow that in the graden, the chances of survival when the orchids stay on the 'poll' is very little.
And please report them, in the areas you see them working in, we must combat poaching !!

[paige]

Hey I bought one in gardens yesterday from a vendor just behind the garden's centre. no idea what to do with it. eek. have potted it and will add lots of bark. i've put it in a bright but mostly shady area of my garden next to another orchid.
not sure i understand the mechanics of the instructions above.
help.

[Danica]

Detective story-like thread. i couldn't stop reading. But that grass stump surely is scary...

[Discus]

Paige - I'm hoping it hasn't been potted in normal soil - these orchids are almost certainly epiphytes and won't enjoy that at all; if they're in a potting mix, you need to get an orchid mix (these are often bark-based). Quite often, they'll be quite happy in a tree, although if they've come all the way from Zim, it's possible your garden's climate might not suit them.

[Pierre1]

Hi

I was given the attached as an orphan - looked exactly the same as the previous post.

I found an oldish pot - filled it with Bark and 'Planted' the stump in the bark base. So lots of drainage, but the stump is upright in a well shaded location with some other Orchids as well.

After 1 Week, the stump started to sprout some new 'Leaves'. It almost looks like grass stumps - not opening like a fern. So it seems to like the Bark base and it is also going more green/yellow from the original grey.

I am assuming it is curently happy.

I like the look of this strange thing in my garden - I am wondering if anyone has tips on what the 'grass' growth is (i.e. what variety of plant the stump is) and also any tips on how to care for the orphan is much appreciated

Kind Regards
Pierre1

[Bud]

A man gathering Bulbos in the wild, skillfully and neatly repotting it in grass and selling them on the roadside...what a simple way of earning a living: that is if: the Bulbo is an endangered specie declared by the govenment then hes in hot waters...he becomes a poacher...and the police themselves will be after him: selling by the roadside makes him very vulnerable to arrest, therefore the police leaves him alone because he is not doing anything illegal...
and...life goes on:
it would be very helpful to inform the man of the name of the orchid he is selling and to change the way he repots to ensure the plant's survival in his care.
If I was there, I would buy from him too....like I buy NOIDS just cause I want to save them from being thrashed