I think my Bletilla striata entered the growing phase

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I remember seeing these in bloom in the Chinese garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St Louis. They seem to be hardy there, but they were right next to a pavilion, and maybe they get a deep winter mulch.

[Selmo]

we live on the west side of Missouri and get completly different weather than St. Louis. We grew them outdoors at the beginning and mulched heavy on the southwest corner of the house. they did not do well. We are right on the hardyness line of where you can grow them. we are zone 5b and I think striata is zone 6. it seems to work best for us to grow them this way.

[rbarata]

Update on this one...it shows a classic sign of dehydration (curled leaves). The humidity here has been consistently in the 22% most of the day and part of the night so I guess I must water it more. Usually in Abril is the most rainy month around here but this year it almost hasn't rained (only 3.4 mm).



Today as I was "inspecting it", which is something that only the orchid lovers do, I've found this... so that you can have an idea of its size, in case you haven't noticed, the previous photo has a red arrow.

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Great!

By the way, the small white-spined cactus in the pot with Sempervivum is what is often sold as Mammillaria fragilis. It will grow in the hottest and brightest sun you can give it if you water it once a week. It will have tighter spines and give a much better display with this kind of light. They clump and form a mound before long.

[rbarata]

By the way, the small white-spined cactus in the pot with Sempervivum is what is often sold as Mammillaria fragilis. It will grow in the hottest and brightest sun you can give it if you water it once a week. It will have tighter spines and give a much better display with this kind of light. They clump and form a mound before long.

I have two bigger cactus of that. Sometimes, when litle pieces break I throw them, literally, to a pot of some other place with soil. In few months they establish and grow. This piece must be one of those cases.

Don't know why but can't login in photobucket so can't post pics of the cactus.
Thanks for the info, ES.

---------- Post added at 02:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:40 PM ----------

Now I can post a photo...

[Selmo]

It looks like you could have second plant starting. When you got the first one did you plant it or was it already potted. I ask this because, striata bulbs look like flatten Hershey chocolate kisses. They form a raft of connected bulbs growing in all directions. Hope this is what yours is doing. Ours do most of their growing and putting on new plants early as they break dormancy. They seem to create new bulbs for the next season during dormancy. They can put on new plants late in the season too. Ussaully they don't do much dividing during the growing season, the plants just get bigger/mature. Striata does have pleated leaves, length ways. I did not see signs of dehydration that you mentioned in photo, it just looks like a small/immature plant. It seems to be liking what you are doing for it, putting out new growth, just be patient, blooms will come. Here is a an updated photo of ours from Friday, it has been raining here since then, 4.5" and still raining now. The white one is called Blettilla striata 'innocence', the purple one is just B. striata. Good luck with yours, and keep us updated

[rbarata]

I repoted it the day after I got it. The old pot was much smaller than this one, less than a half. But I believe, considering what I see, it was a good decision.
The new growth today is noticeable bigger than yesterday which is great. Today it rained but next week we expect temps over 30°C. With such conditions and adequate watering I expect great growings.

I can't remember but I think there were two pbulbs, one of them with a new growth that died (bought in the begining of the dormancy period but due to the high temps at the time it started new growths).

If they have pleated leaves, then it's good news and not dehydration.

Congratulations on your Bletillas, they look great.
BTW, mine is an alba.

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Originally Posted by rbarata

I have two bigger cactus of that. Sometimes, when litle pieces break I throw them, literally, to a pot of some other place with soil. In few months they establish and grow. This piece must be one of those cases.

Yes, that is it. You will be surprised how much sun and heat this will enjoy.

[rbarata]

Update on this one...so far it's looking good.

[Selmo]

looks like you have two good little strong plants. may not bloom this year but should get bigger and stronger as warmer days come. keep it outside until frost this fall, then keep it cool and dormat until next spring. and a good chance for blooms then. thanks for the up date, they look good and healthy.