Constant bloomers?
 

Ok folks, I thought a list of orchids that are either constantly blooming or almost always in bloom would be a great idea :)

From experience I can say Pleurothallis hypnicola is one such plant, it has been in bloom since I had it, for over a year now.

Any others?

Phal yellow noid is my endless bloomer.
Phrags like longifolium tend to be always in bloom once they reach a good size, though I don't have one yet.

All Phalaenopsises

I have a Dendrobium Auriculatum that blooms almost all the time. The only time it isn't blooming is when it's putting on a new leaf cane.
Also, my two Psychopsis Papillo's bloom endlessly when they are happy campers.

I find that most Pleurothallis species (and segregates such as Acronia, Acianthera, and others) can stay in bloom through the entire year. They grow VERY fast, and mature quickly. Some species of Brachycladium (the traling Lepanthes segregate), Zootrophion, and Scaphosepalum can also bloom constantly from the same growth, while maturing other growths. Most other Pleurothallids tend to have a "peak" season in blooming (usually our late Winter and Spring), but can bloom twice or multiple times per year.

Some Epidendrum species can produce flowers at all times, such as Epi. nocturnum, Epi. ilense, Epi. cristatum, Epi. ibaugnense (the true species), and the other common ground Epi. hybrids...

Spathoglottis plicata is a common, easy to grow ground orchid species that is constantly in bloom.

Also, Phal. cornu-cervi can have a single flower remain for months, while having the same spike for a couple years...

These are to name a few... :)

-Pat

are any of these easy to grow

Pleurothallids typically aren't the easiest to grow, unless you have the proper conditions. Most need little light and higher humidity, while having cooler temperatures. There are a few lowland species that can tolerate warmer temperatures and more sun (Pleurothallis gelida to name a VERY common one).

Epidendrum are easier to grow and can tolerate different conditions.

Spathoglottis plicata can easily be grown. It LOVES water and shadier conditions over drier, sunnier conditions. In shade and wetter conditions, plants can grow leaves 2+ feet long. In sunnier conditions, plants are much shorter. They grow quite well, and form large clumps in little time.

The Phal. cornu-cervi is easy as well. Treat it the same as other Phal. plants. I kept mine a little drier, but never let the leaves shrivel. :)

-Pat

From what I've read, I got the impression that Prosthechea cochleata will also bloom for long periods of time and is fairly easy to grow. Can't speak from experience as I've only had mine for a short while.

Awesome responses! :nod:

I'm glad I started this thread, as it's a very good resource for beginners faced with the overwhelming selection of possible orchids to grow, to choose from, people with limited space and those of us who want more constant blooming blooms! :D

Hi Pat,
I have P. matudiana, P. turekheimii, P. hypnicola, P. platystachya, P. linariifolia, P. groybi, P. tribuloides, P. cardiophylla, P. palliolata, one that is possibly P. No. 7, one that is possibly P pubescens and another NOID [the labels came off, got mixed up, waiting for them to flower].

I have all of them mounted on either cork bark with moss or treenfern, except for the tribuloides and groybi; potted, and the palliolata which is in an open mesh basket made from gutter guard, in scoria/lava rock [they're new and I will probably mount them too].

Most have grown in one or another fishtank but I did have the 3 NOIDs in my hobby GH and in summer the temperature got up to 35 degrees celcius maybe 3 times [one of the reasons why I want to build a proper GH] :shock:

I was watering the mounts twice almost three times a day and wetting everything down but anyway NOID 1's leaves started turning black and dropped off.

I moved it to my 3ft fishtank with only 4-5 leaves, it lost another 1-2 leaves and I could have sworn it was going to die :( but it has actually put out a new leaf :)

The other 2 Pleurothallis NOIDs, on the other hand didn't seem bothered by the temperatures, at all. One has only put out a new leaf, but it only had 3 leaves to start with and has etablished a very good root system on the cork and the other one has more than tripled it's original size :banana: .

So yeah IME some can be touchy but in general with my conditions I have found them easy, but my conditions are possibly optimal for them- especially the high humidity of my fishtanks. :)

For paphs it's the cochlopetalums

How do you pronounce the 'coch' part? Is it like the same
as 'coke', or 'cook' with the second o being c? :blushing:

cock? Thats how I would pronounce it. I could be wrong with that though

Yup... it's 'cock'. :lol:

Pronunciation:
Cochlopetalum - Cock-low-pet-a-lum

-Pat

PS: for epithets and such names, there CAN be multiple pronunciations (not always though). As in Bletia, it is typically pronounced Blee-tee-uh, but sometimes pronounced Blee-shu... ;)

Is this thread going to descend into chaos too? Naughty Pat strikes again :biggrin:

...you and your chickadees... ;)

-Pat

:lol:
.....chickadees......

I have an Encyclia cochleate that is almost always in bloom:biggrin: :banana: :dance:

Chickadees? I thought we were talking about roosters :evil:

My cochleata ;) was a gift but it's good to know that they bloom for long periods of time.

Heather's Mexipedium xerophyticum has been in bloom for a long time and still blooming.

If anyone wants to sell me one...I can't seem to get it at a fair price in Canada

I think my Encyclia cochleate is going to bloom for the first time. :biggrin: It looks like a spike coming out between the two leaves. The plant is in a small pot. Does anyone know when I should repot this orchid? There are several small bulbs trying to grow out the side and there is no more room for them. Do they like to be pot bound?:hmm

chickadee orchids
 

Elena are the tits, magpies and squirrels still visiting the park?:biggrin:

Phragmipedium Titanum are large and floriferous. It's old cross that now goes by as Urgandiae(lindleyanum x longifolium). When wet, mature Titanums vigorously reward owners with captivating labellums.

Phal Titillation Pink is also an older perky cross with Queen Emma and violacea. Queen Emma gives vigor and a sensual roundness to the blooms while retaining the luscious scent of violacea.

Trichocentrum Tits (Joy Lee Siewyang x lanceanum) is also a noticably attractive, hot grower.



...i couldn't help it:lol:

OMG, rotfl, too funny :biggrin:

I would suggest leaving until after it flowers to repot it.. bu then again the only Encyclia cochleate I got died a slow miserable death! :roll:

Thanks for the info guys, I don't know why I didn't just say cock when after all it can be reffering to a rooster! :scratchhead: :biggrin:

Well, my endlessblooming orchids are surely Paphiopedilum lemianum ( in bloom against may 2006) and Keffersteinia tolimensis.

Sometimes i go so tired of see their flowers that i think difficult-flowering orchids are better...:evil:

:lol: Maybe you need a trial seperation from them? I'd be willing to take custody of them for a while :nod: except I'm in Australia! :biggrin:

OT: lovely Australia... i've been there for 15 days in 1999....

It's not a bad place to be.. talking to Shadow about living in the Ukraine in fact I have realised we have it pretty lucky here in Oz. :nod:

:) I'm here.... It depends. We pay more to the middlemen, but we are able to order from almost any farm in the world. Just need to find few people to cooperate with. It is a plus. :nod:

Epidendrum ellipticum is always in bloom (the spikes just keep getting longer with more additional flowers. If the spike is damaged it will send out a new spiklet from near the top similar to Phals.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ipticum_03.jpg

Do you have a close photo of the epidendrum? The lip looks very interesting. Is it white or light pink?

Pink:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ipticum_01.jpg

Interesting plant, this Epidendrum!!!
Also the leaves, they're such a beauty!!!:D

WOW! Now I want it. Has it got a scent?

No scent.

Well, if you are so beautiful you don't need scent to make people buy you.
:)

You're correct :) I like this plant because it doesn't demand anything. Just grows and grows and flowers and flowers. Just what I like - all in a 2" pot!