Dendrophylax Lindenii (ghost orchid) in bloom
 

Here is a picture of my Ghost Orchid in bloom - flower is still opening up.

This is my engagement gift to my fiancé to whom I am marrying in June.

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/4...t20may2013.jpg

Awesome!

It looks fantastic. What can you provide in terms of culture notes? What's the rest of your setup like, and how big is the plant?

I would follow the general culture of the Ghost Orchid instructions you find on-line generally. Yes, there are other things omitted from these growing culture points on the Ghost Orchid, however I am not in a position to really advise on anything.

I am a theory of the Ghost Orchid culture which to date has proven 100% correct, but until a few other steps have been accomplished it is incomplete work and not totally proven.

I will expect in 12-18 months to be able to release a very precise guide on the orchid. I have many mistakes to make yet!

You have done, what I have been trying ever so hard and long to do. This orchid is what got me hooked on orchids. I have sought after this flower for many years. I have killed many trying to grow it and finally too have some seedlings growing happily in a net pot, mounted on cork, with a layer of sphagnum moss beneath for added moisture and humidity. They're currently summering outside in a shady corner and are wintered indoors suspended in a glass case for humidity.

Please, if there are any tips you can share or advice you'd be willing to give by posting here or sharing via PM - I'd greatly appreciate it.

Until then, I envy your success and strive to do the same under my conditions. I look forward to following your progress and learning what I can.

A lot of people drape them with spanish moss to increase humidity and reduce water loss.

AMAZING!
This is very hard to grow in captivity.
I have a couple of plants that might flower for me next year.
I am glad to know that it is possible to bloom this orchid out of situ.

Nice work! Please keep us posted as the flower opens up.

Franco and Bud, so you two are also successful in growing them. How are you growing and any tips? I tried several things, but it died after 1 year without much growth. Mine was small seedlings from Oak Hill Gardens. Did you start from something bigger?

I think the problem with mine was that I didn't provide enough heat. I glued it to several tree, RH 70-90%, 4" from T5HO, sprinkle spanish moss, watering with 50ppm N MSU 1-2 per day. But the temp was 60-80F.

Well, the flower partially opened and never was fully developed - most likely cause my attempt to force it to exist quicker than normal.

So it died off very quickly. I have since then instigated conditions to force the old flower spike to re-produce another bud (reactivate the flower spike). SO I now have a new flower bud popping out. I will have to make sure I do not attempt to accelerate growth on this one.

Of course the downside is I will be sapping more energy from the plant and will after it has bloomed spend a year growing roots and getting it's strength back up. Doing this (making ti reproduce flowers again and again) could potentially kill the plant, but it is a risk I am willing to take.

Let's see where it stands in 2 weeks from now.

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/5120/newbud.jpg