Sarcochilus

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Lovely plants Roberta!! How long have you had the big one in the fourth photo (Kulnura Warmer)? It's gorgeous!

I have never had one, but love all the Sarcochilus I see in photos. It's one genus I'd love to try, and might pick one up at a nursery in Belgium next weekend since they do a lot of breeding with this genus. Do you know anything about requirements for blooming? I read they need coolish winters much like Neofinetia, but can't find much information sadly. I can get my Neos and cool resting Den just cool enough to get some blooms (not a big show but enough to make me happy) so I'm hopeful for the Sarcos.

Thanks! That one I got in 2016. From a society raffle table (probably supplied by Sunset Valley Orchids) I strongly suspect that it would do fine with the Neos. And some of the more recent hybrids may be even less picky about "cool" ... Sarco. ceceliae (really pretty pink) comes from more northern areas in Australia, doesn't even like cold. Where that's in the background there would be even more warmth tolerance. But I think it would be well worth the try!

A suggestion for blooming, a little drier in winter helps. A local semi-commercial grower said that the Sarcos that were away from the sprinkler system (and didn't get manual watering very often) bloomed better than those toward the edges of the area, where they did get water from the sprinklers. I don't dry mine, but they do get cold, and probably would bloom better if I did water them less. (I have good years and less-good years... this one they got lots of rain but also longer chilly weather, whatever, they liked it)

[Keysguy]

i probably bought the one that needs to live on a cold volcano in space.

LMAO DC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jmoney]

great pics Roberta! I got a bunch of sarcs from the aforementioned Tim Culbertson last year (some hybrids from Barrita) and he finds them to grow like weeds. So far I have found the same, although to be fair they were robust to begin with. He uses a bark mix, I moved them to moss (tightly packed, water squeezed out, like for cattleyas).

Blooming them is kind of hit or miss for me. Maybe a third of mine bloomed this year. Tim told me to give it a good chill to the 40s/50s in Oct/Nov. Barrita says 6-8 weeks in the 50s I believe. I left mine on the deck (shaded by a table) last fall. I suspect some of them don't necessarily bloom every year, and I also suspect they didn't like me repotting them. I'm hoping to leave them alone for a while and maybe getting more blooms. Cute things, and the flowers all have that 'diamond dust' texture!

[SADE2020]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Sarcochilus is an easy-to-grow Vandaceous species that is 'way under-represented here, so here's a modest attempt to remedy that shortcoming...
!

Thanks Roberta. Beautiful ❤️

What is the medium you use ?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by SADE2020

Thanks Roberta. Beautiful ❤️

What is the medium you use ?

Thanks! I use medium bark (smaller for seedlings). Basically, these are little Vandas... they do like some moisture, but also need air.

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Jmoney

great pics Roberta! I got a bunch of sarcs from the aforementioned Tim Culbertson last year (some hybrids from Barrita) and he finds them to grow like weeds. So far I have found the same, although to be fair they were robust to begin with. He uses a bark mix, I moved them to moss (tightly packed, water squeezed out, like for cattleyas).

Blooming them is kind of hit or miss for me. Maybe a third of mine bloomed this year. Tim told me to give it a good chill to the 40s/50s in Oct/Nov. Barrita says 6-8 weeks in the 50s I believe. I left mine on the deck (shaded by a table) last fall. I suspect some of them don't necessarily bloom every year, and I also suspect they didn't like me repotting them. I'm hoping to leave them alone for a while and maybe getting more blooms. Cute things, and the flowers all have that 'diamond dust' texture!

Along with the fall chill, consider cutting back on water in the winter to facilitate blooming. Not bone dry, but having a chance to dry out between waterings. (Actually, pretty much what's prescribed for Neos.) This year, when I got lots of rain (I don't have them protected) some bloomed really well, others just sat there. So I guess "it depends"...

[Jmoney]

good advice Roberta! I'm going to try harder this fall/winter. They are sit together though, it seems they take turns blooming each year. Heard they don't like being repotted so hopefully I can leave them alone for a while...

Speaking of neos, I've been lax about chilling them but then again for most of them the blooms are not really emphasized...(I have even removed a few spikes last year, I guess now I'm a "real" neo grower)