Identification of plant I think is an orchid - Orchid Board

Geraldine · #1 03-22-2010, 08:44 PM

Hello all. It is a pleasure to join this group - so much
enthusiasm in the threads I've read. I love getting my hands in dirt and planting or transplanting all my plants at home and my cottage. I was given a plant 7 yrs ago and have replanted it x5. I was told it is an orchid but it has never bloomed so I need help to know what plant I have and it's secret formula.
Thanks - new girl on the block

Connie Star · #2 03-22-2010, 09:08 PM

Hi Gera;ldine, welcome to Orchid Board! I hope you will soon discover the joys of orchids, but that is not one. Orchids are monocots and as such have parallel veining of the leaves. I don't know what the plant is (very nice, by the way) but its leaves clearly have one central vein each and smaller venules radiating out from it.

Orchidophile · #3 03-22-2010, 09:10 PM

Welcome to the board! unfortunatly your plant is not an orchid. It looks like it could be some sort of tree, but I really don't know. I am sure there is somebody on the board who can identify it.

PaphMadMan · #4 03-22-2010, 09:12 PM

Not an orchid, a cactus. Genus Epiphyllum, possibly Epiphyllum oxypetalum or a similar hybrid. Commonly called Orchid Cactus, so the confusion is understandable. You should be able to find cultural instructions on the web pretty easily. Good luck.

Tindomul · #5 03-22-2010, 10:20 PM

Hi, welcome to the Orchid Board. PaphMadMan is right, it is not an orchid. The leaves are not leaves, they are stems that look and function like leaves. Actually in the Cactus family.
I hope that your interest in orchids does not wane, and that you find yourself a new niche here.

dounoharm · #6 03-22-2010, 11:27 PM

yes, epiphyllum oxypetalum....queen or the night, or night blooming cereus is what your plant appears to be....it needs strong light in order to set buds in the summer time....it will make a huge bud which will open in the middle of the nite and bloom only till dawn....spectacular plants!! enjoy! very fragrant too...

WhiteRabbit · #7 03-23-2010, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dounoharm

yes, epiphyllum oxypetalum....queen or the night, or night blooming cereus is what your plant appears to be....it needs strong light in order to set buds in the summer time....it will make a huge bud which will open in the middle of the nite and bloom only till dawn....spectacular plants!! enjoy! very fragrant too...

wow! I got a couple of cuttings of this last summer - already has grown quite a bit - um ... didn't realize they get so large

lol

Tindomul · #8 03-23-2010, 12:35 AM

Yes very very large!

WhiteRabbit · #9 03-23-2010, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Yes very very large!

yikes! well, I'm sure mine will take some time to get there.
Would actually be pretty cool

Geraldine · #10 03-23-2010, 11:33 AM

Thank you very much for your quick responses. This plant gets very lge and shoots off these very long pointed branches eg 5ft, hard to stake. I have it growing in orchid soil (bark mostly) - maybe I'll transplant again into cactus soil. I haven't given up on it yet but have been tempted many times. I'll do some research now that I know what it is. Thanks again wonderful members of Orchid Board. I have a lot to learn.