Ophrys ariadne

[JPMC]

I purchased this in 2012 with other members of this forum who participated in a group order from Germany. When I received it, the tuber was dormant and the size of a grain of Arborio rice, uncooked. It grew during the winter of 2012-2013 but was only 1 inch across with no blooms. I kept it dry over the summer and started watering it in October this year. By October, the tuber was about the size of a pea. This is the first bloom and I think that there may be another 2-3 buds to come.

I grow it in 100% seramis in a 4 inch clay pot. I keep moist from October to about May and spray once a week to moisten the surface of the seramis in the summer and I let it get hot (> 80F) during the summer too. I fertilize weekly while growing with urea-free fertilizer at 125-150 ppm. I also added a few granules of pellitized garden lime this year. It is under LED plant lights (36 inches from a 100W fixture). The day temps while growing are 70-80F and the night temps are about 60F.


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[WhiteRabbit]

Awesome! Good growing!

[annak]

Great! I love them!!!!

[naoki]

That's great! I've been interested in European terrestrials, but I have imagined that Ophrys may need pretty strong light. It's good to hear that they can be grown under artificial light (of reasonable size).

Did you get other plants at the same time? What is the survival rate from that import?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Wow wow and wow, these are my dream to grow, but they would not grow here in Miami! This is awesome, great growing, and absolutely amazing "bee" bloom! Congrats!

---------- Post added at 07:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:02 PM ----------

I'm reading your post and I am very excited. I always wanted one but thought they would be difficult to grow here, however this Ophrys is in switched cycle and in active growth during the winter. The temps you are providing are very "doable" during winter here, these are pretty much our "regular" winter temps for most years. I would love to try one for sure, may I ask when did you order from Germany to receive the dormant tiny tuber? I assume summer time? Many thanks for info.

[naoki]

Tommy, I'm guessing he got it via
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ds-europe.html

and here is another group order in 2013
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...l-orchids.html

If Philip isn't organizing one this year, maybe you should organize!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by naoki

Tommy, I'm guessing he got it via
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ds-europe.html

and here is another group order in 2013
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...l-orchids.html

If Philip isn't organizing one this year, maybe you should organize!

naoki I did join FB orchid growers from my old country, Czech and Slovakia, there is great selection and they can get so many species we can't. I am pretty sure I will be able to ask someone from that group to get me one "rice grain" and ship:-) Many thanks for info, I'll check the older threads:-) They do grow these species regularly.

[JPMC]

Originally Posted by naoki

That's great! I've been interested in European terrestrials, but I have imagined that Ophrys may need pretty strong light. It's good to hear that they can be grown under artificial light (of reasonable size).

Did you get other plants at the same time? What is the survival rate from that import?

Yes, I did. All but Ophrys lutea survived. I also added to my collection with another order this past year. This is the first to bloom.

---------- Post added at 05:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:46 AM ----------

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Wow wow and wow, these are my dream to grow, but they would not grow here in Miami! This is awesome, great growing, and absolutely amazing "bee" bloom! Congrats!

---------- Post added at 07:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:02 PM ----------

I'm reading your post and I am very excited. I always wanted one but thought they would be difficult to grow here, however this Ophrys is in switched cycle and in active growth during the winter. The temps you are providing are very "doable" during winter here, these are pretty much our "regular" winter temps for most years. I would love to try one for sure, may I ask when did you order from Germany to receive the dormant tiny tuber? I assume summer time? Many thanks for info.

The tubers were received dormant in late summer.

[euplusia]

I am so happy about this post. What amazes me is the time for flowering. Normally I see them on the meadows of our Swabian Jura Mountains in early spring April-May.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by JPMC

Yes, I did. All but Ophrys lutea survived. I also added to my collection with another order this past year. This is the first to bloom.

---------- Post added at 05:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:46 AM ----------



The tubers were received dormant in late summer.

Many thanks! I'll try to get one "grain" from Europe somehow:-)