Terrestrial orchid id?

[Ordphien]

My friend is struggling with his terrestrial orchid... or he says it's terrestrial...
And I was wondering if you guys could give me an id based off the one over exposed photo he has..
Anybody game?

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[greengarden]

Looks a bit like a Bletilla striata to me. Hard from that angle though...

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by greengarden

Looks a bit like a Bletilla striata to me. Hard from that angle though...

I thought it did too...
I figured someone on her knew alot better than me.

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[Paul Mc]

I also think it is as well.

[gnathaniel]

Looks more like Spathoglottis plicata to me, but hard to be sure from the photo. The flowers look very different up close, so if he googles both species names and compares with his plant he'll quickly know which one he has.

Whichever it is, both are very easily grown outdoors in the right climate (temperate for the Bletilla, somewhat warmer for Spathoglottis) but might struggle for lack of light indoors. Hope this helps!

[Paul Mc]

Ooohhh, please let us know what he thinks it is! I'd be very curious to know!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If this plant is currently in bloom, it is not Bletilla striata. Bletilla striata is a winter dormant terrestrial orchid. It starts new growth during the spring, and blooms in late spring to early summer. The leaves will start dying back in mid fall and will completely die back by late fall to early winter; leaving behind a green underground rhizome.

It is most likely Spathoglottis plicata. I have seen Spathoglottis plicata in bloom right around this time of year in-situ.

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by gnathaniel

Looks more like Spathoglottis plicata to me, but hard to be sure from the photo. The flowers look very different up close, so if he googles both species names and compares with his plant he'll quickly know which one he has.

Whichever it is, both are very easily grown outdoors in the right climate (temperate for the Bletilla, somewhat warmer for Spathoglottis) but might struggle for lack of light indoors. Hope this helps!

I think it was only indoors for the duration of the bloom.
Temperate sounds like it might struggle where he lives (Miami-ish area).
I also didn't know that orchid exists... I want it.
That light that makes everything look so dim in the photo is actually a dual t5ho fixture... I'm not sure if that helps they light issue though...

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[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

Ooohhh, please let us know what he thinks it is! I'd be very curious to know!

Will do!

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[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If it is Spathoglottis plicata, the place I saw them growing is in between the crevices of rocks scattered amongst the rubble of a crumbled waterfall. It is not sopping wet, but it is consistently moist. The water running in between the rocks from the former waterfall was what provided the moisture. It doesn't need to be ridiculously humid, as the area I saw them growing in was not really all that uncomfortably humid. The place they were growing was also not very warm, nor very cold, it was intermediate in temperature; very comfortable to stay in for long periods of time. Neither was that area very bright. It was moderately bright.

The roots are hidden behind the rock crevices. The leaves and stem are fully exposed.