Barkeria naevosa
 

Super cool little species on its first bloom with insanely intense color. Robert Marsh is a Barkeria breeder in Dallas and he spoke to us at the end of 2018. He also brought some plants for sale and I picked this one up. Glad I did!

Robert says the key to growing this genus is rapidly drying roots on inorganic media. He uses net pots with styrofoam media. I'll switch this over to EcoWeb in a clay pot in spring when I kick everything outside for the season (few weeks here in TX).

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7810/...a11ea079_b.jpgUntitled by Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7826/...597715ee_b.jpgUntitled by Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7920/...19b69796_b.jpgUntitled by Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis, on Flickr

Very nice! One that's been on my list. Have you noticed any fragrance, and does Robert Marsh sell online?

I haven't noticed a fragrance and I'm not sure if Robert sells online! I'm asking around for his email address and will let you know if I can distribute.

Charming species! Need to add that one to my list.

Generally, I have found that Barkerias hate medium... the ones that have succeeded for me are either mounted (no moss) or in a plastic basket with nothing but air (contained just enough to provide something to hook a hanger to) . Only one that started in a pot that survived was one that escaped the pot, produced a bunch of aerial roots before the roots in the pot died (which they did, but the "escaped" part did fine)

What did you have in the pot with the plant? Media or was it just the pot? I'm curious to get your experience with this.

What did you have in the pot with the plant? Media or was it just the pot?

I got the plant with large bark in the pot. (As I recall it was a pot with bark surrounded by an empty pot where some roots were already growing) These things lose leaves and look fairly dead in general after blooming... but most of the dead-looking spike is alive (I have learned the hard way to not rush to cut anything... the next year when the new growth and spikes appear is time enough for a haircut!) The new growth climbs up the stem, popping out roots. Eventually the bottom part died, but by then the "climbing part" was going well. So these are not only strong epiphytes, they are climbers. The Barkeria in question was lindleyana, but other species that I grow seem to behave in the same manner, just not as vigorously.

Thanks!