Gongora Armeniaca - Orchid Board

ottercottage · #1 11-11-2008, 07:18 PM

I am thinking of buying a Gongora Armeniaca. Anyone with any experience with this orchid please share info./opinions. I'm currently successfully growing a Gongora Chocoensis. I grow indoors in WA state. Thank you!

orchideric · #2 11-11-2008, 09:09 PM

Dear Otter,

Gongora armeniaca is perhaps the easiest, toughest species of Gongora. Literally throw it in a basket and forget it. Repot it only when the basket is about to burst. It is one of those species you tend to find in old University collections - long after other species have bit the dust the Gongora is still both alive and thriving.

The name armeniaca means apricot colored because apricots came from Armenia in historic times.

Hope that helps, Eric

ottercottage · #3 11-11-2008, 09:31 PM

Thank you for your input. It sounds like I should be able to keep this one alive!

cirillonb · #4 11-11-2008, 10:18 PM

isn't it very large?
Nick

ottercottage · #5 11-11-2008, 10:52 PM

Yes, the size would be an issue, though I'm currently "overflowing" into my husband's new business
quarters.

I keep some cattleyas, oncidiums, cymbidiums at his work because night temps. aren't regulated like in our home. So, I guess how big and how cold tolerant would be an issue. Thank you very much for the suggestion.

betoguerrero · #6 11-12-2008, 11:23 AM

Gongoras are amazing.... and easy to grow... I have some. The spike with 10 - 15 - 20 flowers is fantastic... I´ve got a specie with 40 flowers in the spike... I wait until it opens.... I don´t know the name...

Tsuchibuta · #7 11-12-2008, 12:12 PM

I have an armenica in bloom right now with 9 spikes as of yesterday (only two spikes open now) but it just started its bloom cycle. Last year there was 15 spikes. It actually isn't that large, mine has about 40 or 50 pseudobulbs and is in a ceramic basket about 6 inches in diameter. It grows like gangbusters though adding about 10 or so new bulbs every year. I will try to take a photo today and show you. As for cold tolerant my greenhouse gets down to 55 in the winter and I haven't noticed any damage or stunted growth and it takes the heat like a champ too.. I keep mine outside in the summer and temps usually top 100F at least a few days out of the year. People say the it is suppose to have a fragrance of pineapple but I think it smells like a plastic plant. (My plant is real)

orchideric · #8 11-12-2008, 01:29 PM

I agree with Tsuchibuta, G. armeniaca is one of the 3 small-statured species in the genus - maybe half the size of G. chocoensis. Space - other than one more plant - shouldn't be a big concern. It seems to do well under intermediate conditions without an issue. I have seen it in a cool bright greenhouse in California but not for a long term. Certainly I wouldn't try and find a cool place to grow it.

Hope that helps, Eric

Tsuchibuta · #9 11-12-2008, 07:12 PM

Here is what a mature plant will look like, nevermind the leaf damage (it survived the reminents of Hurricane Ike with a bit of tattered leafs).

ottercottage · #10 11-14-2008, 08:52 PM

Thank you, everyone, for all the helpful replies. I had to make a tough decision between buying the armeniaca right now, or buying the mormodes New Zealandia. Due to budget, and also due to what we like to call "Winter" approaching in the NW, I'll have to put armeniaca on my wish list for the future. Your input was very helpful!