What is your oldest orchid?

[digriz]

Negligible senescence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Many plants are this. A journal article I was reading not too long ago was talking about how trees like bristlecone pines show no signs of reduced fecundity with age.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Another widespread tree that lives on and on is the sweetgum (Liquidambar sp.). They spread vegetatively by sprouting from the roots, so it is possible to get a forest with many genetically identical trees. Individual trunks might have a finite lifetime though.

[Paul]

My oldest orchid is a Slc Jewelbox 'Dark Waters' division I recently obtained in trade. Plant is from the 1960's.

The oldest orchid in terms of length of time in my care is a Pot. Hoku Gem 'Super Spots'. Got it in the early 90's.

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Another widespread tree that lives on and on is the sweetgum (Liquidambar sp.). They spread vegetatively by sprouting from the roots, so it is possible to get a forest with many genetically identical trees.

Banyan trees (various species of Ficus like Ficus benghalensis) also can create their own "forest" as their aerial prop roots eventually grow into secondary trunks. Quite impressive to see.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Paul

My oldest orchid is a Slc Jewelbox 'Dark Waters' division I recently obtained in trade. Plant is from the 1960's.

The oldest orchid in terms of length of time in my care is a Pot. Hoku Gem 'Super Spots'. Got it in the early 90's.




Banyan trees (various species of Ficus like Ficus benghalensis) also can create their own "forest" as their aerial prop roots eventually grow into secondary trunks. Quite impressive to see.

Banyan is another good example; these are referred to as clonal colonies. Look up "clonal colony" on Wikipedia - interesting reading.

[RosieC]

My oldest is my first, not very old, just from 2007. It's a NoID Phal bought as a birthday present by my Mum.

It almost died in 2008 when I repotted in a bad batch of bark (my first orchid repotting and I didn't realise there was a problem with the bark, with more knowledge now I would never have used that bark).

But that's what first brought me here... trying to save it. It's still alive thanks to advice here, but it's never fully recovered and stays as three smallish leaves. However just now it has the most roots it's had since it almost died which is a good sign that maybe it will get going again soon

While it's not my favourite, I'm rather fond of it because it was my first, and would be sad to loose it.