Pleurothalis species

[MattWoelfsen]

Waiting for the weather to change, it finally got warm enough for me to order some plants from Tropical Orchid Farm in Hawaii. I am confident growing Masdevallia--so I figured I would grow Pleurothallis. Looking at these plants' pictures on the Internet, I was impressed with their alien looking leaves or flowers. I bought these three Pleurothallis:

Pleurothallis corniculata: the flowers looks like a bird's beak. The leaves like Masdevallia.
Pleurothallis perijaensis: the leaves with its flowers looks like King Penguins
Pleurothallis sarracenia 'Natural World': the flowers look like two upright flowers forming a heart.

They should be here in Fort Wayne by this Thursday 05/15/14. I'll post pictures when they arrive

[rangiku]

Matt, how do you keep your Masdies cool and humid in the summer? Somehow four managed to hitchhike a ride home with last night after Darrin Norton of Mountain Orchids spoke at our OS...

[MattWoelfsen]

Hello Adrienne. I actually keep them in my eastern facing window inside my breakfast room. There is a central A/C vent right above them. Plus, I'm running an oscillating fan to keep air circulating. One of my Masdevallia is starting to spike. I also keep them just slightly moist. I think they are okay with 80*F temperatures but anything above 90*F will stress them out. These Pleurothallis have similar warmth, light & humid culture like Phalaenopsis. That is what I've read, but if other Pleuroistas grow theirs differently, I hope they would share their growth habits.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Matt, I have corniculata from TOF, it is actually warm growing and it seems to enjoy the outside in Florida just fine, I do keep it under the table, so low light, and good air movement, moist, it did bloom for me for weeks last month. This one is definitely doing much better in heat that any Masdevallia I have outside!

---------- Post added at 05:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:00 PM ----------

Pleurothallis sarracenia - JUST CHECKED THIS ONE, LOVE IT, on my list it goes:-) Let me know Matt how BIG is this Pleuro please, it looks actually pretty small and the leaves look like these on Pleuro leptotifolia, which is awesome!

[MattWoelfsen]

Hello Tommy. My Tropical Orchid Farms order arrived today. Here are the Pleurothallis. These are my first Pleurothallis I have acquired.

Pleurothallis sarracenia 'Natural World'. This is a very small plant. The leaves are about an inch in length.


Pleurothallis sarracenia 'Natural World' by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Pleurothallis perijaensis. Compared to the other two plants, this one looks more Pleurothallis-like in leaf structure. But unlike "normal" Pleurothallis its leaves are elongated.


Pleurothallis perijaensis by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Pleurothallis corniculata. This plant looks more like its cousin Masdevallia. But very small. The spikes come from the base of the plant and not from the center of the leaf. Which is also like Masdevallia. I wonder if this plant is a Masdevallia?


Pleurothallis corniculata by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

And three Pleurothallis. In the background, upper right of this picture is my Masdevallia Cheryl Shohan 'Red Hot Momma' (xanthino-veitchiana x Redwing).


Three Pleurothallis by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

[Leafmite]

It appears you received very nice, healthy orchids!

[MattWoelfsen]

Pleurothallis longissima

At Roberts Orchid Supply from Columbia Station, OH Open House, not only did they have a good sale on supplies, but they also had a large selection of small Pleurothallis. I wasn't intending to buy any plants, but this one was so inexpensive, healthy, and unique, that I bought it.


Pleurothallis longissima by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr


Pleurothallis longissima by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

This will be my fourth Pleurothallis. There seems to be different leaf styles for Pleurothallis--I wonder how many styles?

[MattWoelfsen]

I just acquired another Pleurothallis. This is Pleurothallis grobyi. It is a miniature plant. ISOPE indicates this grows well mounted. It is in a pot. When it arrives, after a month in quarantine, I'll try my first mount.


Pleurothalis grobyi by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr


Pleurothalis grobyi by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr