Gastrochilus bellinus

[Bud]

Gastrochilus is from the Greek "gaster" (belly) and "cheilos" (lip) referring to the shape of the lip of this species. This orchid plant was discovered in Burma by Boxall in 1873. At that time, however, it was introduced to the world by the great orchid firm of Low and Co. as Saccolabium bellinum and it was much accepted under that name until O. Kuntze decided to classify it as Gastrochilus in 1891.
Its earlier name, Saccolabium, is derived from "saccus" (a bag) and "labium" (a lip). I imagine the lip to have a better descriptive adjective than belly or a bag and is one of the striking features of this orchid plant as my pictures present.
I had grown a few Gastrochilus species (G. dasypogon & G. japonicus) over the years but had never seen G. bellinus until Pupsy Dog showed this as an item on Ebay for auction a couple of years ago.
I always make it a point to cherish plants obtained from a dear friend and, to ensure plant survival, give another division to a friend - they might grow it better than you! And ever since I gave a party and had some of my miniatures stolen from me, it is always wise to know you can still get them from a reliable friend.
This is endemic or found growing in forest of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Southern China at elevations of 600 to 1700 meters.
My first experience with this Gastrochilus bellinus or my attempt to grow this species since I inherited it mounted on a tree fern slab= Disaster! I almost killed it….my environment was too dry….I looked at the strong fleshy roots so I tried a medium coarse bark mix in a plastic pot with a deep saucer of water under (making sure it doesn’t wet the roots)….the roots quickly stuck to the media and the orchid plant is now growing strongly.
I find it necessary to mist the plant twice a day in summer and I "dunk" it once a week in k-lite fertilizer and seaweed mix….this orchid plant loves my east facing bathroom window where it gets hot steamy showers with me in the mornings.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

These blooms have such a pretty mixture of the colors! I have one but lost it nearly completely, it is doing better now mounted on the cork and from nothing one new leaf is growing. Your plant is as always super healthy too!

[DeaC]

Originally Posted by Bud

Gastrochilus is from the Greek "gaster" (belly) and "cheilos" (lip) referring to the shape of the lip of this species. This orchid plant was discovered in Burma by Boxall in 1873. At that time, however, it was introduced to the world by the great orchid firm of Low and Co. as Saccolabium bellinum and it was much accepted under that name until O. Kuntze decided to classify it as Gastrochilus in 1891.
Its earlier name, Saccolabium, is derived from "saccus" (a bag) and "labium" (a lip). I imagine the lip to have a better descriptive adjective than belly or a bag and is one of the striking features of this orchid plant as my pictures present.
I had grown a few Gastrochilus species (G. dasypogon & G. japonicus) over the years but had never seen G. bellinus until Pupsy Dog showed this as an item on Ebay for auction a couple of years ago.
I always make it a point to cherish plants obtained from a dear friend and, to ensure plant survival, give another division to a friend - they might grow it better than you! And ever since I gave a party and had some of my miniatures stolen from me, it is always wise to know you can still get them from a reliable friend.
This is endemic or found growing in forest of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Southern China at elevations of 600 to 1700 meters.
My first experience with this Gastrochilus bellinus or my attempt to grow this species since I inherited it mounted on a tree fern slab= Disaster! I almost killed it….my environment was too dry….I looked at the strong fleshy roots so I tried a medium coarse bark mix in a plastic pot with a deep saucer of water under (making sure it doesn’t wet the roots)….the roots quickly stuck to the media and the orchid plant is now growing strongly.
I find it necessary to mist the plant twice a day in summer and I "dunk" it once a week in k-lite fertilizer and seaweed mix….this orchid plant loves my east facing bathroom window where it gets hot steamy showers with me in the mornings.

pilfered orchids? Keep your friends close but your enemies and orchids closer! Very nice foto as usual!

[Bud]

Thank You, Tommy !

You have high humidity and moisture in your environment so your orchid plant can be mounted....

---------- Post added at 05:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:37 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DeaC

pilfered orchids? Keep your friends close but your enemies and orchids closer! Very nice foto as usual!

Thank You for the visit!

I gave a party with most of my co-workers attending....and one of them must be a 'clepto' and for no apparent reason just pocketed some of my miniatures. I am sure the plants are all dead by now since they wouldn't have a clue how to care for it.

[Dillon123]

Very beautiful! I hope I can get mine to bloom for me someday!


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[Leafmite]

I remember you mentioning your orchids being stolen. I hope you did find replacements for them all.
What a crazy but pretty bloom!

[Bud]

Originally Posted by Dillon123

Very beautiful! I hope I can get mine to bloom for me someday!


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Thank You !

-just follow the culture....your environment is ideal for growing these kind of orchid plants.

---------- Post added at 09:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:32 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I remember you mentioning your orchids being stolen. I hope you did find replacements for them all.
What a crazy but pretty bloom!

Thank You for the visit!

-I am getting replacements for my lost miniatures one plant at a time....

[camille1585]

Just goegeous!!! I love the Gatrochilus genus, they have such beautiful flowers. I had a Gastrochilus japonicus before, and I loved it to bits. Unfortunately my first one was mounted, and like you, I didn't have the conditions for it to do well like that. After a year or so it died. So I got a new one, potted this time. A few short months after getting it it got some sort of bacterial infection that I didn't manage to control. It also died.... I have yet to get another replacement. Gastrochilus bellinus looks like it may be a good alternative as well .

You got some of your plants stolen??????? How terrible!! I was away from OB for quite some time, so missed that story.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Just goegeous!!! I love the Gatrochilus genus, they have such beautiful flowers. I had a Gastrochilus japonicus before, and I loved it to bits. Unfortunately my first one was mounted, and like you, I didn't have the conditions for it to do well like that. After a year or so it died. So I got a new one, potted this time. A few short months after getting it it got some sort of bacterial infection that I didn't manage to control. It also died.... I have yet to get another replacement. Gastrochilus bellinus looks like it may be a good alternative as well .

You got some of your plants stolen??????? How terrible!! I was away from OB for quite some time, so missed that story.

Thank You for the visit and your kind encouraging words, Camille!

These kind of orchid seem to be prone to bacterial or fungi infestations....I had inherited my G. japonica in moss and it almost died....
I have discovered sawdust mix from euplusia and it works very well for me in a pot....it is antiseptic and it is not easily prone to bug and fungi infestation.

[WhiteRabbit]

Lovely!