Lockhartia biserra (in bloom)

[Bud]

This orchid is a dead ringer for my other plant Lockhartia lunifera (last picture) both have such great and interesting braided leaves, some people grow it just for its foliage. It is endemic to Brazil, I grow it in intermediate to warm conditions… in a shaded location east facing bathroom window. The tiny (2cm) flowers are really festive, bright colored and cute it is also fairly long lasting. Requires consistently moist soil; I do not let it dry out between watering; in winter I give it a slight dry out between watering. It is potted in medium fir bark, charcoal, lava rock and hydroton. Fertilizer is weekly weakly with Algoflash alternating with seaweed mix. I stopped the humidifiers because New York this time of year is starting to be humid...two small oscillating electric fans on both sides of the window give ample air circulation.

[Lana]

What a beauty! So unusual! The flowers are just adorable!

[Bud]

Thank You, Lana ! I might also add that it has a faint fragrance of watermelon

[Island Girl]

Ooh it smells like watermelon? that makes it that much better! That sounds kinda unusual, is it? These flowers are so beautiful!! I love the red speckles on them! I might have to get one of these myself!...

I noticed u live in the same zone that i do (7b- which i'm in during spring, fall & winter; & sometimes some summers), i guess that Lockhartia biserra would do good in phal conditions? In the summer, i am in zone 8b... (off the coast of NC, on a smallish island, with great breezes most of the summer, & good humidity- 60-70% -ish, with Phals on a screened-in porch, facing SW, but have an area where I can get SE light) does that sound like conditions Lockhartia would like?

[Bud]

Yes, you can grow this on that screened in porch....I think you can chance upon this plant on Ebay from a seller in Puerto Rico, I saw his plants to be very robust and healthy ....this plant is endemic to Trinidad & Tobago, French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil.... Grows cool to hot….blooms anytime of the year…

[ronaldhanko]

Superbly grown and beautiful flowers, Bud. Love the Lockhartias but they're just a tad too big for me.

[flexdc]

Bud, you have such interesting plants! Smells like watermelon, imagine that?

[Bud]

Thank You for visiting and commenting, Ron ! These are very small plants compared to my Vandas...heh

Thank You, flexdc !

[WhiteRabbit]

cute blooms, and a great looking plant!

[Bud]

Thank You kindly, Sonya !