Trichoceros sp. 'O' after clean up.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I got Trichoceros sp. 'O' from Andy's Orchids back in 2005, I think...

Needless to say, these have been with me FOREVER.

Anyone looking for Telipogon-like flowers without the problems of growing a Telipogon, the genus Trichoceros are it!

They don't bloom often, but they are tough as nails. I can't tell you how many times I've neglected them, and broke off pseudobulbs while cleaning them up, however, they've managed to bounce back from all the abuse.

I love these guys.

Photos posted are upside-down. These guys naturally grow upright.

In case it is not clear, the pseudobulb is spherical. There are 2 succulent leaves at the base of the pseudobulb and there is 1 succulent leaf on top of the pseudobulb. Pseudobulbs are separated by a long rhizome. There are very few roots produced per pseudobulb and they are thick and fleshy. Roots can photosynthesize.

I think they're attractive even when they're out of bloom.

[WhiteRabbit]

Very cool - looks tiny ?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Mature growths should be around 1" (2.54 cm) tall and 1" (2.54 cm) across. Most of the divisions gotten from the clean up are immature pseudobulbs. It'll be a few years before those divisions get back to their former glory.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Wow! My mind is blown!!!

I just found out that they are actually lithophytes in the wild!!!!

I just found out that most, if not all, Trichoceros spp. are in actuality lithophytes.

Here I am growing them as an epiphyte...no wonder they don't bloom often!

Unbelievable! I never bothered to check how this species grew in the wild for some reason. I just assumed they were grown correctly for many, many years.

Since I have some divisions, I'll try growing them as lithophytes and see if there are better flowering rates.