Hello, and a question about Colmanara supernova

[Auri]

Hey everyone!

I'm (obviously) new here, and I thought I'd say hello, and then move immediately to bombarding you all with questions.

I'm basically a sucker for plants of all types, but I especially love orchids. I can't resist picking up the discounted neglected past-bloom plants at the grocery store or nursery. Some of them I've restored to health, some of them I've killed... Most of the time I have no idea what I'm getting until I get get the suckers to bloom again. It's been a fun (and relatively cheap) way to acquire a fair number of plants.

My first question involves one of the plants that I got at a nursery sale. Two of the plants had tags- one's a Dendrobium Nobile, and one's a Colmanara Supernova. The Dendrobium I can find tons of pictures of, and it looks like my plant is gearing up to bloom anyway, so the suspense will be over shortly. The Colmanara has me a little more stumped. Anyone else run into the Supernova variety? What's it supposed to look like? Any idea how it might fare in a terrarium?

Later questions will probably mostly concern said terrarium. I've got an 18"x36"x25" tank with vent holes in 3 sides. Someone bought it years ago for keeping ferrets, but I'd rather have orchids, so I'm about to convert it. I have much research yet to do, and I'm sure to have questions.

Anyway, nice to have stumbled upon you all.

[WhiteRabbit]

I'm not familiar with Colmanara Supernova - but most Colmanaras can get quite large; I don't know if it is suitable for a terrarium. The one I have (outgrowing it's 8" pot) has fairly large pbulbs, and long foliage.

[RNCollins]

Welcome from New York!

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

The RHS doesn't have a Colmanara Supernova listed, but that just means it's not been registered with them. Many are sold under trade names that haven't been registered. They do have a Miltoniopsis Supernova which is the closest but I doubt genus changes (which happen all the time) have moved it into that genus, it's possible though as Colmanara contains Miltoniopsis.

Anyway, like Sonya I think it's likely to be a bit large for a terrarium once it's mature. All my Colmanara and Miltoniopsis for that matter are reasonably large.

[gngrhill]

I also have a plant tagged Colmanara super nova. It is currently in a 4.5 in pot and is also growing a spike, so I hope to have blooms soon. I also agree that it would be too big for a terrarium. It's about 18 in. tall.

[Auri]

That's awesome Gngrhill! I'd love to see a photo once you've got blooms. Also, thanks for the size feedback everyone. I may temporarily keep mine in the terrarium, but I think I'll refrain from planting it in there on a permanent basis.

[gngrhill]

Originally Posted by gngrhill

I also have a plant tagged Colmanara super nova. It is currently in a 4.5 in pot and is also growing a spike, so I hope to have blooms soon. I also agree that it would be too big for a terrarium. It's about 18 in. tall.

I found a second spike last week when I watered and a THIRD spike this week when I watered. The first spike is close to blooming

[itrainedcold]

Hi gngrhill! Do you have any pictures of the blooms? I would love to see what it looked like. I have an orchid listed as "Colm. Supernova" and would really like to know what the flower looks like! Thanks!