Good grief, Charlie Brown! It's two species and a hybrid! - Orchid Board

Orchid Whisperer · #1 05-14-2014, 07:11 AM

Here's a hodge-podge of plants that recently started blooming for me. First up is a first-bloom plant for me, Epicattleya (Guaricyclia) Charlie Brown:

Good grief, Charlie Brown! It's two species and a hybrid!-img_0319_640x480-jpg

Good grief, Charlie Brown! It's two species and a hybrid!-img_0321_640x480-jpg

Next is Encyclia cordigera, another first bloom plant. As you can see, this is quite a tall plant, taller than this giraffe:

Good grief, Charlie Brown! It's two species and a hybrid!-img_0312_640x480-jpg

Good grief, Charlie Brown! It's two species and a hybrid!-img_0316_640x480-jpg

Finally, I have Restrepia brachypus:

Good grief, Charlie Brown! It's two species and a hybrid!-img_0318_640x480-jpg

I was given this plant as a rooted cutting about 2 years ago. As the plant gets older, there are more leaves, and with more leaves, there are more blooms each time it flowers. In addition to the two open blooms, there are two more buds developing. Right now, it is growing in a 4-inch net pot in a mix of seedling-size orchiata and chopped sphagnum, top-dressed with a layer of plain seedling orchiata. The net pot sits inside the clay pot, which works as a mini-zeer to keep the roots cooler; Phalaenopsis light levels. I hope to grow this into a specimen-size plant one day. This is one of those plants that I would recommend to just about anyone; I'm not sure it is possible to over-water it, but I suspect it would react badly to being grown too dry.

Leafmite · #2 05-14-2014, 10:46 AM

All three are very nice! I haven't tried the Restrepia group yet.

Orchid Whisperer · #3 05-14-2014, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leafmite

All three are very nice! I haven't tried the Restrepia group yet.

I really wish I had more Restrepias. There are some species that are considered cool-growing, others intermediate-growing.

R. brachypus flowers several times a year for me. It is considered to be a cool to intermediate grower, but I have no problem with growing it here in Georgia, where our summer days are often in the 90s F (occasionally 100+) and nights in the 70s F. Other intermediate growers on my "wish list" are R. guttulata, hemsleyanna, leontoglossa, and sanguinea.

RosieC · #4 05-15-2014, 04:29 AM

All lovely.

I like Restrepia brachypus, mine is in flower as well just now

WhiteRabbit · #5 05-16-2014, 08:45 PM

Beautiful!

RocoCoco90 · #6 06-11-2014, 11:14 PM

Where does one acquire the Restrepia brachypus or any orchid of the Restrepia breed. I cannot find any on google and the ones on eBay look quite shady and are being sold by low rated sellers. All your flowers are gorgeous btw, great job!

Orchid Whisperer · #7 06-12-2014, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocoCoco90

Where does one acquire the Restrepia brachypus or any orchid of the Restrepia breed. I cannot find any on google and the ones on eBay look quite shady and are being sold by low rated sellers. All your flowers are gorgeous btw, great job!

Thanks! Glad you like them.

Andy's Orchids and Santa Barbara Orchid Estate are two well-respected vendors that have Restrepia. SBOE also has R. Brachypus.

tuvoc · #8 06-12-2014, 10:51 AM

Well done.

Kim

desertanimal · #9 06-12-2014, 11:17 AM

The Charlie Brown is lovely!

Orchid Whisperer · #10 06-12-2014, 12:48 PM

Thanks everybody!
BTW, although the blooms faded a week ago on the Charlie Brown, and the Restrepia blooms usually last only a few days to a week, the Encyclia cordigera is still going strong, & is still fragrant! The E. cordigera flowers have a nice heavy "substance" to them; it is moving up the ranks to being one of my favorite plants.