Neobenthamia gracilis

[MrHappyRotter]

Neobenthamia gracilis

I've been told before that this is now considered a Polystachya, but I don't see a lot of references clarifying on that so for now I'm sticking to what the tag says.

This is hard to photograph since it's not in a spot where I can move it. It's indoors this time of year due to the weather, but this is one of the orchids that always goes out in the summer. They like bright light and warm temperatures. I slowly acclimate it to nearly full sun once it goes out in the spring. Brighter light keeps the growths a more manageable size. I have grown it indoors in years past, and individual growths can exceed 8 - 9 feet (3m) in lower light conditions.

I grow this in a terrestrial mix of standard potting soil with some bark & large perlite mixed in, though it'll do fine in pure soil. It's a fast grower that I have to divide periodically. I usually keep a small piece and get rid of the rest.

The lovely clusters of flowers have a lovely scent to them. It's culinary in nature. I think it reminds me of butter cream with perhaps a faint dash of wintergreen mint. It's pleasant for sure.








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[isurus79]

Beautiful! Looks like you've got more flowers on yours than I get on mine.

Definitely Polystachya: Polystachya neobenthamia Schltr. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science

[MrHappyRotter]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Beautiful! Looks like you've got more flowers on yours than I get on mine.

Definitely Polystachya: Polystachya neobenthamia Schltr. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science

This blooms much better now that I grow it outdoors in full sun from around April until October each year. In years past, full sun wasn't an option due to where I lived, so this thing would get so tall I'd have to bend it down a bit to get it to grow indoors in the winter. Now it stays a manageable size and blooms prolifically.

This is 1 of 3 bloom heads currently in flower, and there have been a total of 4 bloom heads since bringing the plant indoors back in late October or early November.

[Paul]

Gorgeous pompom of blooms there!

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

I've been told before that this is now considered a Polystachya, but I don't see a lot of references clarifying on that so for now I'm sticking to what the tag says.

I wouldn't worry about it .... the taxonomists will likely change their minds again anyway.

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

Brighter light keeps the growths a more manageable size. I have grown it indoors in years past, and individual growths can exceed 8 - 9 feet (3m) in lower light conditions.

Egads! That's huge! What qualifies as "more manageable"?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Paul

Egads! That's huge! What qualifies as "more manageable"?

Gets about 2’ tall when grown in full sun.