Medinilla

[katrina]

I'm very excited about getting this to bloom! I got this plant as an "after bloom" special in 2014. It didn't bloom last year and I suspected it might be a light issue so when the plants went outside I put in a brighter (but still no direct sun) and in the fall I put it more directly under the lights. (last year it was off to the side of the lights) Viola! I have blooms this year!

This is a Philippines native and it's an epiphyte and it grows on trees like orchids. Great orchid companion plant! Brighter in the winter, bright shade in the summer, water well then let dry between waterings, no fert when blooming and weak fert every week or two after it blooms and through the warmer months.

Very cool flower in person and now I'm hoping I can improve the growth and get it bushier.

[silken]

Very pretty. Congrats!

[katrina]

Thanks, Silken!

[Orchid Whisperer]

That is AWESOME!!
I've never seen this before. The one you have, is it a species or hybrid? Do you pot it like a Cattleya, etc?

[gngrhill]

Beautiful. Unusual.

[WhiteRabbit]

Wow! That's fabulous!

[AnonYMouse]

Gorgeous!

[katrina]

Thanks everyone!

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

That is AWESOME!!
I've never seen this before. The one you have, is it a species or hybrid? Do you pot it like a Cattleya, etc?

I had never heard of them until a local nursery (that I visit frequently!) started carrying them a few years ago. They were pretty pricey initially and not knowing anything about them I would just pass them on by. Still, every time I saw these gorgeous blooms, I wanted one. Lucky me! One day I stopped in and there was one sitting on the "sale" rack. It had finished blooming so it was put w/the non-bloomers and discounted. I grabbed it up fast!

Mine is a Medinilla magnifica var Dolce Vita...it's the only one the nursery carries and I think it's because it's a "double flower" variety that has much fuller thicker bloom clusters.

Currently it's in the same pot that I bought it in and it's a pro-mix type medium. I plan on repotting after this bloom and I haven't yet decided exactly what I'll use but it's either going to be the mix I use for my habenaria/cynorkis (bonsai mix w/seedling orchiata and a little chopped sphag) or it'll be that w/some cactus/succulent soil mixed in.

Of course, I've never seen the roots on this plant so I could change my mind when I unpot it. The blooms last a very long time but I can update when that time comes, if you're interested.


Thanks for the comments everyone!

[AnonYMouse]

Yes, please update!

The genus caught my eye a couple of years ago but the plants I've seen are too big for me to keep. Under the right circumstance, I'm willing to make an exception to my "4 inch pot rule".

[katrina]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

Yes, please update!

The genus caught my eye a couple of years ago but the plants I've seen are too big for me to keep. Under the right circumstance, I'm willing to make an exception to my "4 inch pot rule".

I read these can get up to 8' in height when in the landscape/native habitat so I definitely won't have room for a full size one...I will have to keep it pruned back and I understand they take very well to pruning...when done correctly (still need to research what that "correct" means though). We have a couple of plants that require a dolly to move in and out of the house each year so I'm willing to let it get that big (I think!) but my guess is that it will take YEARS to get that large.

I'll definitely post some updates when I unpot. I am really curious what the roots look like. I have a feeling, given it's native habitat, that's it's more of a semi-ephiphyte rather than a true epiphyte. I can't imagine growing any of my cattleyas in the peat-y medium this plant is happily growing in. ?? Will update.

Thanks for all the comments.