help with basic identification - large collection

[ckube]

I am a newbie that recently inherited a collection of 156 orchids from an elderly may that propagated them for years. Very few are labeled and the vast majority are mounted on boards rather than grown in pots.

I have been 'studying' orchids to learn the basics and most of these are not in bloom so I realize it will be difficult to identify them. I am hoping to at least get to the point of realizing which ones I want to keep and which ones I can give away (or sell if they are of any value).

Would appreciate any help input that is out there for me. I am going to be uploading pictures to a Flickr page and will post that link.

Thank you in advance for any assistance, advice, suggestions!


I have not photographed all 156 but various bits and pieces I thought may be helpful in identification.

I know I have the following - based on labels
1. Bulb. Crassipes
2. Blc. Suehno de Amor
3. Label simply says 'Cattleya (fragrant) Pink w/ Lavender lip'
4. V. Blue Grig 'Chula' x V. Gorden Dillon 'Lea'
5. Dtps 'Pete's Gold'

There are two other tags that are somewhat illegible but this is what I can make out:
1. 'H ?? S-P'
2. 'C-94 W'

I have not done this before so please let me know if you are unable to view the pictures.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/150573659@N08/5QX1xv

[charlesf6]

Pictures are very viewable, excellent quality and man, that's a lot of plants!
152944_ is a Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) though not an Orchid...that one I recognize.

If you end up with any Vandas you don't want/need..give me a shout.

[ckube]

Ha! I guess that pic got in the wrong album. Told you I have a bunch of other plants as well. If I knew which ones were Vanda then I would be happy to share.

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[Leafmite]

Here is a nice site to get you started:

Orchid Identification

I like it because it has pictures of the leaves/plant as well as the flowers. I think you might have at least one Bulbophyllum, some Cattleyas, a Phal....

[AnonYMouse]

You mostly have very dehydrated Cattleya and Dendrobium alliance plants. There was a Bulbophyllum, maybe a cymbidium or two (pictured with the x-mas cactus) and a Phalaenopsis (Doritaenopsis or Dtps).

Go to rePotme. They have an ID photo gallery.

The wrinkles on the stalks (pseudobulbs/canes) indicate they need more water. The Phalaenopsis (20161227_093732) needs to get out of the sun, isolated and dry out the leaves (some secondary infection going on).

20161226_163751 looks like a Bulbophyllum.

Most Cattleyas (and the Vanda that I didn't see pictured) can handle a lot of light. The rest are going to depend on species background.

Good luck!

---------- Post added at 11:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 AM ----------

Leafmite beat me to the post.

[ckube]

So they are dehydrated? I have been watering them because I thought the same.. although I had nothing to base it on. I will continue to do so then.

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[ckube]

What is meant by 'alliance '?

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[estación seca]

There is a huge amount of basic information for you to learn about orchids - don't get discouraged! It's not hard to learn, especially when you're interested.

Orchids come from all over the planet, and have evolved into many different growth and flower forms. Related plants are grouped into alliances. Plants in any given alliance have similar plant and flower shapes, and sometimes similar growth requirements.

For example, the Cattleya alliance includes, among other genera, Brassavola, Broughtonia, Cattleya, Guarianthe, Laelia, Rhycholaelia, Sophronitis and more, and hybrids between these. Most of these need high light, drying out between waterings, and intermediate to warm temperatures. There are exceptions.

The Vanda alliance includes Aerides, Angraecum, Arachnis, Neofinetia, Phalaenopsis, Vanda and more. Most of these don't like being dry very long, and most need very bright light and warm temperatures. There are exceptions. Phalaenopsis are mostly shade plants.

Orchids are tough plants. They absorb water slowly compared to other plants. Dehydrated orchids take a while to plump up again.

[Leafmite]

I think of 'alliances' as families of plants. They are plants that are grouped together based on similarities. Once it was based on what could be identified by sight but now they are doing genetic testing. The plants in these alliances do not necessarily share the same requirements for growing.

---------- Post added at 05:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:11 PM ----------

Some of your orchids might not lose the wrinkles but may put out new, healthy growth if you are patient.

[estación seca]

I'm going to go through your photo grid, top to bottom, left to right. When I say Cattleya it includes intergeneric hybrids in the Cattleya alliance:

Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya - Unknown (Bulbophyllum?)

Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya

Cattleya - Phalaenopsis - Cattleya - Fence

Dendrobium phalaenopsis hybrid - Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya

Cattleya - Dendrobium phalaenopsis hybrid - Fence - Cattleya

Dendrobium? - Cattleya - Patio with beautiful Cycas - Fence

Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya (probably Brassavola and Cattleya ancestry)

Dendrobium? - Dendrobium? (36) - Cattleya - Cattleya

Cattleya (143) - Dendrobium? - Schlumbergera - Fence

Fence - Fence - Fence - Fence

Fence - Fence - Fence - Fence

Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya

Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya - Cattleya

Cattleya - Cattleya - ? - ?

Cattleya - Cattleya - Dendrobium - Bulbophyllum

Cattleya - Dendrobium - Cattleya - Dendrobium

Cattleya

Dendrobium phalaenopsis is one species of Dendrobium often used in hybrids. These are different orchids than the genus Phalaenopsis. They got their names because the flowers resemble those of genus Phalaenopsis. There are a lot of different Dendrobiums, and they have differing cultivation requirements. Den phals can all be treated the same.