New To The Ghost Orchid and I Need Help!

[flhiker]

Originally Posted by pixiedust239

I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE TO PUT A STICK IN THE ORCHIDS OR IF YOU CAN JUST LET THEM GROW ALL NATURAL.. BECAUSE I KINDA TOOK THE STICKS OUT OF THE ONES I BOUGHT BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO GROW ALL NATURAL LIKE YOU KNOW. I COLLECT RAIN WATER AND FILTER THREW COFFEE FILTERS AND SAVE IT FOR WATER TIME. BUT I AM CONCERNED MY ORCHID HAS A SPIKE THEN I REPLANTED AND TOOK OUT THE STICK IT STOPPED BLOOMING FROM THAT MOMENT ON. I WANT SO BAD FOR THEM TO GROW LIKE THEY WOULD IN THE WILD. ?

They grow naturally on trees. You had a spike or root that stopped growing? In my opinion I would attach it to a stick with a tiny bit of moss behind it and loosely tie on. Water daily, fertilize with 1/4 strength MSU for pure water weekly. And it should not receive a lot of air movement also it should stay around 50 to 70% humidity. Then leave them along. I have found that most orchids do better when there environment stay constant. Hope this helps

[Scruffy]

Originally Posted by pixiedust239

I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE TO PUT A STICK IN THE ORCHIDS OR IF YOU CAN JUST LET THEM GROW ALL NATURAL.. BECAUSE I KINDA TOOK THE STICKS OUT OF THE ONES I BOUGHT BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO GROW ALL NATURAL LIKE YOU KNOW. I COLLECT RAIN WATER AND FILTER THREW COFFEE FILTERS AND SAVE IT FOR WATER TIME. BUT I AM CONCERNED MY ORCHID HAS A SPIKE THEN I REPLANTED AND TOOK OUT THE STICK IT STOPPED BLOOMING FROM THAT MOMENT ON. I WANT SO BAD FOR THEM TO GROW LIKE THEY WOULD IN THE WILD. ?

Ghost orchids grow attached to trees. You had one in spike?...?

[SueK]

Hi Pixiedust and all you other Ghost Orchid buffs

This orchid is so amazing and intriguing. I have never heard of it in Oz and I am sure you can't buy it here. I have never even heard it being discussed anywhere. If there are any other Aussies out there, I would like to know if you have heard of it. It sounds like a lot of work to cultivate but worth the effort. Problem is you couldn't take it to Club meetings to share with others. The pics from Swamper and flhiker were great. I'm sure everyone wants a Ghost Orchid now, including me.



Sue

[peggypugsmom]

Originally Posted by Swamper

...I just got my flask yesterday from Rubeninorchids while wondering thru homestead and the redlands. I love it there. Here's a pic or 3... not to hijack or anything

Hi Swamper...Your Ghost looks so healthy!..since I do intend to learn what I can before my purchase (through Rubin's), is that amount of water necessary to have in the growing tank (or is that not water in the flask?) I may have to treat myself for Christmas..or sooner...birthday in Oct!..Would also love to see pics of the progression of your new babies. (Since the subject is Ghosts, don't think I hijacked )..thanks, Eileen

[Undergrounder]

Originally Posted by SueK

Hi Pixiedust and all you other Ghost Orchid buffs

This orchid is so amazing and intriguing. I have never heard of it in Oz and I am sure you can't buy it here. I have never even heard it being discussed anywhere. If there are any other Aussies out there, I would like to know if you have heard of it. It sounds like a lot of work to cultivate but worth the effort. Problem is you couldn't take it to Club meetings to share with others. The pics from Swamper and flhiker were great. I'm sure everyone wants a Ghost Orchid now, including me.



Sue

Hey Sue!

As chance would have it, i was at an orchid show today and a grower had a flask of Ghost orchids! Apparently it was made for someone else, but they renegged, and it went on sale, and i got it! When i bought it, i was told that the guy from Mt Beenak Orchids grows them (or at least has grown them at some stage), but that might be personally only. But he might be able to tell you if/where you can buy them.

I don't know the best way to go about it, but i think i'll put it in the fish tank that i grow my other flasklings in, and sit it at the bottom of a tall pot, so that the slight air movement from the fan in the tank doesn't hit the Ghosts directly. I'm thinking of just taking them out of the flask, washing the agar off, and just letting them sit on top of a bed of green sphag... and after that, see what happens

this thread has been a great help by the way, thanks everyone

Edit: P.S. ghosts like high humidity, little air movement, they don't need media, right? So can i just leave them in the flask for a year or two? Or even if they get to big, can i just keep replating them into bigger sterile jars? until they're like flowering size??

[peggypugsmom]

Thank you Undergrounder!...I love your Thank you..and thanks to anyone who shares their info on this Ghost thread...I am "listening" and learning!...and will take the leap when I feel confident I won't "kill" them. I think they are way too special for that... Eileen

[Swamper]

Hey, I must have dozed off for a few days. Im so glad everyone is getting more involveed with tryin to grow these at home.
Eileen...that is not water in the flask at least not in mine. It's like a jelly with all sorts of nutrients. I plan to leave it in there for as long as possible.
Undergrounder...they don't need media from what I have learrned from succesful growers. And if you keep moving them into bigger jars hmmmm, that actually doesn't sound like a bad idea. I would look at what Dave has done with his milk jug.
Sue...glad you liked the pics

[martinvermillion]

I thought about jars myself not a bad idea. Think I'll go to a complete setup primarly for GHOST only. This species moves me like no other!!!! I am going to grow these or spend forever attempting. I am keeping one alive guess thats a start. Keep us posted. So glad to have access to all this information. AINT technology great?

[Swamper]

That's great Martin, keep us posted on that exclusive growing. You must have a lot of patience.

[martinvermillion]

Patience,Thought,education,understanding and lots more are going to be required to succeed with these guy's. Can you imagine getting some to bloom what a reward! I would love to see one in the wild. Might make a trip next summer.