Eulophia petersii growing and flower in situ

[Orchid killer]

Eulophia petersii - this is one curiously robust semi terrestrial African species. From the attached pictures, you can see it growing in cracks and crevice amongst granite kopjes (rocky hills) in exposed hot sunny locations.
I believe there are roughly 200 species of Eulophia worldwide, and we have about 70 odd species growing naturally in my country, Zimbabwe.
Eulophia petersii is a good orchid for the novice amongst us – it can take a hammering of abuse and still flower. In fact I have seen huge specimens of petersii caught up in bush fires and I’ve gone back some months later to find it spiking. It has thick succulent leaves and is a robust species.
It has been recorded that during the dry season in Africa, when water is in very short supply, wild animals, monkeys and baboons have been seen eating the leaves and pseudobulbs of petersii and other orchids such as Ansellia in order to source moisture.
Sadly some native species of Eulophia are threatened, local African tribes people use some species for traditional medicines and it has now been over collected in areas.
Eulophia petersii is still quite common in it’s range and has no know medicinal properties that I know of but sadly the granite woodland in which it grows is very much threatened (too many people in this world).

[WhiteRabbit]

Awesome!

[mikemh]

HI Orchid killer - very nice to see these photos. sbrofio ID'ed a non-flowering orchid I posted as E petersii, and having seen your photos, I'm sure they're right. I've been amazed at its toughness; now I want to get it to flower...

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by Orchid killer

Eulophia petersii - it growing in cracks and crevice amongst granite kopjes (rocky hills) in exposed hot sunny locations.

This is cool, Eulophias seem to be tough.

[sbrofio]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

This is cool, Eulophias seem to be tough.

Yes they are. Mine is mineral soil (like my cactus and succulent plants), full sun, dry rest period. Very heat and cold tolerant. (almost 40°C til 5/6°C - 104°F til 41°F). Theplant is very tight: leaves are very hard to touch.

[tarev]

Thanks for posting your photos! I have always loved to try Eulophia petersii. It will nicely complement my succulent collection, and something that will do nicely here in our ever so dry area.

[mikemh]

Sbrofio, can you give me a rough idea of the composition of your "mineral soil" - orchidkiller shows them growing in crevices on granite domes in Zimbabwe - I imagine a mix of coarse quartzitic sand with a little weathered feldspar? Do you put some clay in there?
Thanks for any info - my E petersii is currently in a coarse organic compost...
Cheers
Mike

[sbrofio]

Hi Mike, for sure I can! Here the pic with my finger
Soil is composed by: lava rock, perlite, quartzitic sand and pumice.
As it starts with growinf I go with heavy feedings and keep going with water for all summer until september/october. In northern Italy in the middle of October tempes goes dows to 8/9°C (46°F) so I start letting it dry completely and at the end of November stop watering till the spring (more or less this months). Just 1 or 2 very light watering or mist if it shrivels too much (it's inside my home and at 15-20°C (59-68°F) it could happens).

Have a nice day

Filippo

[RosieC]

Cool!