Gastrochilus japonicus in Bloom

[unhappykat]

Hello All,

This is a cute little plant I obtained from Oak Hill nursery while they were closing up their operation. The whole plant is only 7.5 inches across and has a light fragrance during the day.

I have been growing it like a phalaenopsis and given it water year round so far without any issues of spotting or leaf loss. It is currently holding 6 inflorescences and the last time it flowered the blossoms were present for 6 weeks before the last few faded.

Does anyone else have this little guy? I haven't seen it up for sale very often and when I got the chance to purchase this I jumped on it, hopefully I can find a second to make some seed pods with.

[estación seca]

Does it not take if you self-pollinate it?

[wintergirl]

Really nice. Hope you find your second plant.

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Does it not take if you self-pollinate it?

This particular plant does not seem to be self fertile. The plant was originally purchased and had a set of seed pods that were the result of selfing it by the Oak Hill nursery. They were sent to a laboratory but the resulting embryos were poor and there was not enough germination to justify taking the flasks past the first stage.

I will be attempting to make another selfing on the current flowering and hopefully will get enough for a small flask set, a second plant would just make things a little easier for propagation.

[MattWoelfsen]

You might want to contact Marni Turkle. I think she had this plant. She is relatively close to you...Santa Rosa, CA.

[WhiteRabbit]

Wow! Fabulous!
I have one, but it bloomed a couple months ago

[RosieC]

Love it!

I have one that's not been blooming for a few months, but it generally is in bloom for a lot of the year. I water and fertilise year round and have done since I got it a few years ago, no problems doing that as far as I can see.

[Jade]

Amazing! I have one too. I bought it at O&M (germany), and is in bloom now. It seems you have three plants mounted on the same cork slab, am I wrong?


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[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by Jade

Amazing! I have one too. I bought it at O&M (germany), and is in bloom now. It seems you have three plants mounted on the same cork slab, am I wrong?


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Looking closely this is a single specimen with several growths attached to the mount. They all share a common stem that is not seen from the photo as it is hidden by the foliage.

I have only been able to flower it 2 times since obtaining it, it seems to like the extended heat of the summer and fall seasons. Hopefully I can get it to flower more often as it is quite a charming plant.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

Looking closely this is a single specimen with several growths attached to the mount. They all share a common stem that is not seen from the photo as it is hidden by the foliage.

I think this one will often grow that way, mine certainly does. I bought it with one crown, now it has 5 all growing well and I can hardly tell which was the original one.