Neo falcata, Epi kockii x Soph cocc, Diplocaulobium tentaculatum
 

Neofinetia falcata 'kishu ryofuku' - I had wanted to try one of these, so specifically had in mind to purchase one from New World Orchids last September at the Chicagoland Orchid Festival. I wasn't sure if it would be too humid in my orchidarium, but Kristen said she thought my conditions sounded fine so I took this home. I do like this one, but fortunately, I have not developed the fever that so many people have for these! I told my husband he's very lucky, because had I caught this horrid disease, I would easily be spending hundreds on just one more of these things... Anyway, I had read somewhere that given lower light, this type will be greener. It's hard to tell in my pics, but it worked. It's not a super dark green, but if you asked someone the color, they would say green.


Epidendrum kockii x Sophronitis coccinea 'Tokio' - I purchased this one last July from Ecuagenera. A lot of the leaves turned brown and sections of them shriveled, so I was worried my tank was too warm for it since it has the Sophronitis in it, but it eventually adapted to it's new environment and started getting new growths, and now 3 blooms:) There were no pictures, so I didn't know what to expect. The blooms are around the size of mini phals you see in the grocery store. It's color is a little washed out, kind of a mauve with the naked eye. It is an interesting one.


Diplocaulobium tentaculatum (species mini) - Less than one day bloomer - booooo! I got this in August of 2020 from Andy's, so is one of the survivors of the establishment of my tank. It just sat for a long time. About 6 weeks ago, I saw a pink flower on it, and was excited until I looked closer and saw that I had missed it's first bloom. A few weeks later, I saw a spike so was watching it like a hawk. It bloomed mid day. I snapped one pic and got a phone call I had to take. By the time I went back a few hours later to take proper pics, it was done. Not sure if will start producing longer lasting blooms or if that is all you get. I will say, it did look very nice for the several seconds I saw it!

I have a Kishu Ryokufu that I purchased from NWO in March of this year. No blooms so far but the Tsushima Ryokuho that I purchased in May of this year has bloomed with one flower. There was another bud but it blasted. My Oonami Seikai which I purchased from Andy's over a year ago bloomed for the first time with three flowers. Brought it to my orchid club meeting and it was awarded first place for mini Vandas.
Unfortunately, I have developed a Neofinetia falcata and falcata hybrid addiction now.
BTW, I really like the Epidendrum kockii x Sophronitis coccinea 'Tokio' flower.

The whole genus tends to be ephemeral like this. I have Diplocaulobium aratriferum. They do bloom multiple times a year... you have to be alert to catch them in the act. What is REALLY weird is that seem to synchronize with others of the same or related species. My friend, who also posts on the Species blog, has two plants, of different but closely related species, located about 20 feet apart, bloom simultaneously on a regular basis. Even weirder, MY plant, located 30 MILES away, tends to bloom on the same random day as his. We have tried to find some factor that triggers them... Phase of the moon? Air pressure? Quantum entaglement??? Or??? , when we think we have a factor, then they'll skip the synchronizing. So this is s total mystery. The synchronizing isn't 100%, but it is far more frequent than pure chance (probably close to 80%), particularly when you consider that it all happens in the same few hours, at random times (not a particular season)

Dendrochilum stelliferum lasts longer - 4-5 days, but at least for me blooms only once or twice a year.

nice purty plants and flowers :)

Sometimes people have diseases they don't want to be cured of:) Hope you're enjoying your soon to be expensive case!


That is fascinating! I'd really like to see updated theories somewhere on this site as they are disproved, and perhaps even one day - proved. Maybe start a thread so others can post when they have blooms to see if it is happening in more than just one area?

Minds much better than mine have given up trying to find a pattern... It is probably more than one factor, which would confuse things even more. Other orchids certainly do synchronized flush blooms - I recall a hillside full of Sobralia virginalis in Ecuador. It's the extremely short time period in which the Diplocaulobiums "coordinate" that's so strange. Other plants (orchids and non-orchids) do it over a few days. But timing it over a few hours is extraordinary.

The Epidendrum kockii x Sophronitis coccinea 'Tokio' has bloomed on a different growth. It has four blooms and the color is much stronger this time. The pictures look kind of similar, but bottom lip on the first set was a kind of washed out, and this time they are a very solid color. The first blooms died last week, so they didn't last as long as I has hoped. I'm liking it a lot!

Hello! By any means you have some more pictures of both flowers and plants, and plant habit of the Epidendrum kockii x Sophonitis Tokio?
Would love to see!

ell