Project 2023 Spring Sarcochilus

[camille1585]

Spring is here, which means it's plant project time! A bit late this year, but better late than never.

We could go through the usual suggestion round/discussions, but as I was preparing my wishlist for a trip to Akerne Orchids next week and saw their extensive Sarcochilus selection (they do a lot of breeding), I decided that I'd really like to try growing one. I've been wanting one for years, but not knowing anything about them, have been hesitant until now.

From what I understand, Sarcos are cool to intermediate growers, and modern hybrids (especially SVO's breeding from what I read) are getting to be rather heat tolerant. Culture seems to be rather similar to Neofinetia.

So 2 questions:

1) Anyone have more cultural info on this genus and can advise if it is a good project candidate, and can be grown indoors under lights? (Many seem to be grown in shadehouses/greenhouses).

2) Anyone interested in joining me in trying to grow this genus? In the US good quality hybrids are available at SVO, and in Europe Akerne Orchids (Belgium) has a great selection.

[Keysguy]

I'm in Camille.

As I said in another thread I'm going to have access to some of the SVO hybrids via Tim Culbertson in a couple of weeks when he visits New Hampshire.

[DirtyCoconuts]

id be in


Sarcochilus

[tmoney]

fo sho, we're always up for a project!

[Dalachin]

I’d be interested! I expect I’ll be tempted into ordering from SVO this summer and it won’t take much to get me to add a sarco to that order.

[Roberta]

I think it would be a great project. The newer hybrids are not only more forgiving of temperature, I think, but also have wonderful colors. Not only pinks and reds and patterns, but yellow too. They just keep getting better. They do grow under pretty much the same conditions as Neos. Keep them a little drier in winter, likely will help blooming especially if you can't get "cool".

[Keysguy]

I need something that will grow warm and from my research on IOSPE it looked like argochilus and falcatus or some hybrid of those could be possibilities for me.

Will have to check Fred's website and see what he's got.

[StephaneL]

I'm in.

I guess it is serendipity: I am already planning to include a Sarcochilus in my next SVO order after a member of my local orchid society brought in multiple beautiful ones at last week's meeting.

[DaylightFirefly]

I would love to, but am not sure just yet. I would be interested in following this project though. It sounds like a very interesting topic.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Keysguy

I need something that will grow warm and from my research on IOSPE it looked like argochilus and falcatus or some hybrid of those could be possibilities for me.

Will have to check Fred's website and see what he's got.

Modern hybrids have gotten quite complex, and hybrid vigor is definitely "a thing". If Sarco ceciliae is in the background, that would also impart warmth-tolerance. All those colorful hybrids are still mostly hartmanii and fitzgeraldii, but just a bit of other species seems to greatly extend both the palette and warmth-tolerance.