Project 2023 Spring Sarcochilus

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by OrchKid

So my Sarcochilus olivaceous came yesterday!

They were nice enough to send a care sheet, too... although the care sheet says it shouldn’t be dry for more than 24 hrs - and they wrapped it in dry newspaper for a three-day trip.

This might be over before it started.

For now, I’ve soaked it and will see what happens.

The roots and plant look good, one episode of drying out isn't going to cause long term damage I don't think, orchids are tough.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I've been repeating the advice to water frequently. That's why I couldn't keep them alive. Weekly is most certainly not enough in my conditions.

Not even in S/H?

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by MateoinLosAngeles

Not even in S/H?

They drained the reservoir in a few days.

[tmoney]

hey all, your plants look great! we wanted to participate this year, but for several reasons decided to watch from the sidelines however, came across this video this morning that you may find interesting...

https://youtu.be/9hejSEuhdNY

happy growing!

[ArronOB]

I want to be in this one.

I’m hoping I have an unfair advantage.

This is my little collection of sarcochilids. I bought these about 6 months ago. It was one of those bulk deals so I doubt they were their best stock.

Flowering should be in about 4 months - although I’ve been keeping them in excessively low light so I may miss out on flowering this year. I can’t see any flower spikes starting.

These came from Barrita Orchids, which is about 30km from us. They are further inland and somewhat more elevated although conditions should not be that much different. That has me hoping I should be able to grow them by sticking fairly close to Barita’s culture sheet.

They came in a mixture of perlite, polystyrene, charcoal and sphagnum, and they had a dense mat of living moss on top so they must have been kept very moist. The moss died off fairly quickly so I guess I’ve kept them drier.

I see sarcos growing wild when walking (very ocassionally) and always in deep, dark, ravines beside streams - usually on the permanently moist boulders streamside, or the lower trunks of the trees nearest the stream. However I note that Barita says that mimicking those conditions is not an ideal way to grow unless you want a lot of lush growth and very few flowers. I’ve always assumed that mimicking natural conditions as closely as possible is the best cultural practice but perhaps I need to rethink that.

Looking forward to seeing all your results. I’m not sure what blooming time to expect across the various cultural practices and hybrid backgrounds so it will be interesting.

Cheers
Arron

I also included a photo of Baritas potting mix, with the living moss long gone.

[estación seca]

When he spoke to our society he said the hybrids are mostly derived from the species that get a lot more light. He said they water 365 days out of the year.

[Dalachin]

You must certainly do have an advantage!

What varieties? Species or hybrids?

Originally Posted by ArronOB

I want to be in this one.

I’m hoping I have an unfair advantage.

This is my little collection of sarcochilids. I bought these about 6 months ago. It was one of those bulk deals so I doubt they were their best stock.

Flowering should be in about 4 months - although I’ve been keeping them in excessively low light so I may miss out on flowering this year. I can’t see any flower spikes starting.

These came from Barrita Orchids, which is about 30km from us. They are further inland and somewhat more elevated although conditions should not be that much different. That has me hoping I should be able to grow them by sticking fairly close to Barita’s culture sheet.

They came in a mixture of perlite, polystyrene, charcoal and sphagnum, and they had a dense mat of living moss on top so they must have been kept very moist. The moss died off fairly quickly so I guess I’ve kept them drier.

I see sarcos growing wild when walking (very ocassionally) and always in deep, dark, ravines beside streams - usually on the permanently moist boulders streamside, or the lower trunks of the trees nearest the stream. However I note that Barita says that mimicking those conditions is not an ideal way to grow unless you want a lot of lush growth and very few flowers. I’ve always assumed that mimicking natural conditions as closely as possible is the best cultural practice but perhaps I need to rethink that.

Looking forward to seeing all your results. I’m not sure what blooming time to expect across the various cultural practices and hybrid backgrounds so it will be interesting.

Cheers
Arron

I also included a photo of Baritas potting mix, with the living moss long gone.

[ArronOB]

Originally Posted by Dalachin

You must certainly do have an advantage!

What varieties? Species or hybrids?

All hybrids. Seedlings not mericlones. Mostly crosses of various hybrids with ‘Kulnura’ in the name.

[Dalachin]

My Sarcochilus has arrived! Sarcochilus ceciliae from Peter at Diamond orchids. He sent one in bloom! A division of his awarded one.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

I'll try to add a sarcochilus or two to my next SVO order. Anyone attempting the project in S/H?