Grammatophyllum speciousum growth rate?
 

I got what I now believe to be a Grammatophyllum scriptum for free from my neighbor, but while researching it, I became fascinated by the Grammatophyllum speciosum, the world's largest orchid.

I ordered a specimen that's supposed to be well established in a 4" pot. How fast do these things grow? I do have a couple big baskets but not much in between.

Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

Not sure about speciosum, but my scriptum is going totally insane. Just to compare it, the first pic is when I got it in July, 4 growths and 2 spikes, it bloomed for over 2 months, and today it is the second picture, monster with some 8 new growths! This is in one growth season, I am sure in few years I will have to give it up, my balcony will be just too small!

Laserbeak is in a place that gets COLD COLD COLD as well....so that may hinder it some unless he has central a/c as well as a bright and sunny window

Yeah but not really in my apartment, although it probably is cooler than the plant would get in its native habitat. But it also gets HOT, HOT, HOT here in the summer during which time I can hang it outside on the building's roof so it gets full sun all day. Now it's inside and getting a mix of reflected sunlight and LED lights.

Ahh good point. Hmm it should grow well for you then.

UNLESS you have a greenhouse, I don't recommend that you buy a speciosum. (well, I see you already bought it)

They need to get BIG before they flower (at least from everything I've read). So, your plant isn't going to flower for a LONG time.

I have one that is currently in a 19 inch pot. The only reason I bought it, besides the fact that it completely fascinates me, is that I grow all my orchids in my backyard and I live in Miami. The thing grows like a weed, and, from what I understand, it's still a relatively young specimen. I see you live in an apartment, so I don't think that you will be able to accomodate such a large (eventually) plant.

I grow mine outside in full sun.

ETA: here's a picture of "Audrey II", as I like to call it, when I bought it back in July of this year. It's put out about 10-15 growths and shows no sign of stopping. I've fertilized it ONCE:


http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2893/9...acdfe41ed8.jpg

OK, I received the plant it is just one pseudobulb that has only two spindly yellow leaves. It really looks half dead. Is this something that will still grow new pseudobulbs or should I demand a refund?

edit:

Here is an image, I did put it in a small wooden basket as soon as I got it:

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/2524/rd8o.png

oh dear....I would request a refund.

I have a message into them. These Grammatophyllums are weird and this one is hard to get, so maybe this one is viable, it just has to grow another pseudobulb. I don't know.

Since it can grow to a few tons, I'm not in that particular hurry for it to grow. :biggrin:

I just want to make sure it is alive.

This place was the only place I found that sold it.

Well that plant is dead as a doornail now, I sent the picture to the grower and they're sending me a new one in a few days. They think it was exposed to cold weather during shipping. As I remember it wasn't that cold here around that time, maybe one day. But now it's really getting cold so I don't know how this is going to work.