I had purchased this Leopard Orchid ( Grammatophyllum Scriptum) from the Orchid Exhibition.
After bargaining - I got it for RM20.00 a fair price for a nice sized plant
(Purchased plant at the last picture)
These are small ones - sold for RM15.00 (top)
And the big ones for RM25.00 (below)
There is a lot been said about this orchid in the internet concerning this orchid.
Basically this one is a native in my place and so they are more likely accustomed to the climate in my region.
Few things concerning this care of the orchid.
1) Root system - there are two type of roots here.
The normal ordinary ones and the surface roots.
The normal ones grows down deep into the pot and function just like any other orchid roots.
The surface roots - looks like the hairy fine roots that grows upwards like spikes should not be forced into the pot.
In the natural element - these roots capture debris like barks and semi-decomposed leaves and it feeds the plant.
2) The Old Pseudobulbs
The unique thing about these psedudobulbs is that this orchid discard its center bulbs and they way they do it is by rapidly rotting in the centre of the healthy plant.
Leaving it alone - the rot will eventually turn into dry shell. In any case - you don't have to worry about it thinking that it got a fungus or viral attack.
a) Old Pseudobulb turning yellow (top)
b) Old Pseudobulb turning brown & rotting (below)
3) Backbulb propagation
I'm not very sure whether it works with just one bulb.
As you can notice - a minimum setting it requires in a singular set plant is at least 4 bulbs both active and passive ones.
So - removing any of it for propagation factor may be a high risk.
This is the sample of the orchid flower of the plant that I had purchased.
It is wise to take the pictures of the flowers displayed when you purchase a small plant.
By the time this plant grows big & bear flowers - it might take few months to years and one may not actually remember how the flower actually look like from memory.
I for one - would not able to determine the difference between species of this flower (if any) by memory. And so photography helps a lot.
This is my plant - repotted with charcoal in a hanging pot.
Do share any of your experiences or insight concerning this orchid.
I wish I did have experience of this fantastic plant James. I will content myself with the information you give and with the pictures, you will know what to expect.
ReplyDeleteLikewise Alistair..
DeleteNoticed that most of your garden plants are also beyond my expertise.
Guess we are gardeners of the opposite zones.
Hi James, that is a good buy. Be sure to take of it well, haha!
ReplyDeleteTaking care of it the best I could.
Deletehahahaa...
So many flowers from this orchid. I think it is a good buy too and this one is rather unique.
ReplyDeleteYes - many flowers that will last at least about few months.
DeleteThank you so much for this very informative post! I may have killed several of this variety by cutting out the center brown and rotting old bulbs AND trying to stuff the top roots into the sphagnum moss. (silly me!) I will buy another one since they are not really expensive, and this time I will do it right :-)
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention - if possible, try to do without the sphagnum moss - use other medium for Sphagnum Moss tend to retain a lot more water and chances of root rot is very high.
DeleteHi James,
ReplyDeleteJust share from my experience.
1. Try to replant you orchid in the small pot as possible. This plant need to have full roots in the pots before get 1st blooms. If still have space in the pot, she never want to bloom.Once she blooms every year you will enjoy the flower, normally they will get blooms between end March to end June.
2. Don't ever over watering the plant, especially during dormant time. During this time the plant easy to have rots.
3. Let the plant over pot, so the airy roots will help them to survive. You will know the plant need to re-pot, when all the leave become yellowish even the from new bulb.
4.Try to practice less watering 1 month before flower season, you will enjoy more than 1 spike of the flower. Be sure before that you frequently give the fertilizer before that time. My Grammatho, ever blooms with 8 spikes! And I ever won the Best plant of the show with this orchids.
Good Luck to you!
Thanks Makarimi
DeleteLooks like I need more than luck this time to see this one start blooming.
Got few questions for you:
1) Since now is the blooming season.
Should I continue to water everyday (usual) or stop watering.
2) Fertiliser - should I spray fertiliser now - once a week without watering?
What you suggest now I should do to see the blooms to start showing?
Thanks for your suggestion.
What a gorgeous plant!
ReplyDeleteThanks Vesna
DeleteHi James,
ReplyDelete1) Your plant not matured yet, just watering as usual. Stop watering means, not watering them for a week, then watering once for 1/2 day(s) and then stop again for a week, repeat again and again.
2) Every time you want to fertilize your plant you should watering them first. Twice a week. As I said, this plant will start blooming when the roots grow full pot, unless you get them fasting for few weeks without watering and fertilizing. This is really high risk, maybe you can see just 1st and the last blooming and then this plant will gone forever.
Hi James,
ReplyDeleteI purchased a large plant with 4 horns that hung over the pot. I repotted it into a 10" pot and two growths grew right away and a smaller growth grew in the middle. The roots have stopped growing along with the small middle growth.
I repotted in fur bark and moved it to the center of my green house, so it gets more sun. Why has it stopped growing?
Sometimes the plant is experiencing shock and they are adjusting.
DeleteWhen this happens they won't grow but stay stagnant for months.
Just continue the routine on your orchid care - watering & feeding.
Just watch out for root rot - if there is none - then its Ok.