Cryptostylis erecta

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Bloomin_Aussie

Yes, I thought that was probably the case. So do you grow them yourself? I assume that if the plants do not readily divide themselves that the colonies found in the wild come about from germination of seeds?

Perhaps that would be one way to share them around although I'm sure they are more difficult to raise that way than the average genus.

I grow Cryptostylis subulata. RE: dividing, they do send up new shoots for the roots and form clumps in the pot so clumps of plants in the wild can be propagules from the same parent plant. The problem with dividing them lies solely with their dislike of root disturbance, which often results in the plant collapsing soon after repotting. They can reshoot after disturbance but it can take several months for new shoots to appear and if they do the plants are set back. It's not a plant that is well adapted to the orchid nursery trade.

Seed's a possiblilty although I don't know how well seed germinates in flask. In vitro culture of Australian terrestrials has come a long way in a short period of time but it is still in the trial and error stages. Realistically, the most reliable way of getting hold of the Australian members of this genus is to find someone local who is already growing them who has a pot to spare. This is probably of no help if nobody in your area is growing them.