Stenorrhynchos speciosum

[Roberta]

This is the perfect house plant! It grows in potting soil, doesn't need much light, likes the same temperatures that we do, and has beautiful foliage so it's attractive even when not in bloom. After blooming, leaves die back, but the new growth starts almost immediately. I'm surprised that more people don't grow this one. There are some related genera that grow under the same conditions and are just as attractive... I'll post as they come into bloom over the next month or so.

[jcec1]

The foliage is really nice, and I love the red blooms they are so vibrant. I need one - now off to find a European supplier.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by jcec1

The foliage is really nice, and I love the red blooms they are so vibrant. I need one - now off to find a European supplier.

Hahaha, it got you! S. speciosum is the Poinsettia of the orchid world. Those big beautiful red things are actually bracts not blooms, which are rather non-descript on this one. I don't know what I did to kill mine, but another is definitely in the plan!

[Dollythehun]

I saw these at Hausermann's last year. I think the word "huge" stopped me from bringing it home.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I saw these at Hausermann's last year. I think tgecrird "huge" stopped me from bringing it home.

Size actually isn't bad... this one is in the same 6" pot that it was in last year. Maybe it's a little fuller, but does not seem to multiply that much.

[Dollythehun]

Their's had a grayer foliage too.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Their's had a grayer foliage too.

This one came from Orchids Limited. Got it, as I recall, a year ago late fall in spike, bloomed about 4-6 weeks later. It seems to like life at my house,having going through a full cycle..

---------- Post added at 07:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:36 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Hahaha, it got you! S. speciosum is the Poinsettia of the orchid world. Those big beautiful red things are actually bracts not blooms, which are rather non-descript on this one. I don't know what I did to kill mine, but another is definitely in the plan!

Well, the flowers are red too,with white lips, and big enough to see... if it weren't for the red bracts they wouldn't be as interesting for sure, but they are a good bit more significant than Pointsttia flowers.

[Ray]

I grow mine in straight sphagnum, and it is actually on its way out now, having been in "full bract" for Christmas.

I combined a 2-growth-, and single-growth plant in a 6" Air-Cone pot last spring, and they really put on a show!

[No-Pro-mwa]

It's beautiful.