Orchid life span?

[flhiker]

I was wondering if there is a list for the life span of orchids. Why I ask is, I was told that Ionopsis have a short life span. And I know of someone who has had Dendro's and Catt's for more then 30 years. Just curious, Thanks

[mayres]

Not sure about the particular species you are noting, but many orchids can in theory live forever..(some call them "immortal")..one portion of the plant is dying while the other part is growing - so the exact same "portion of the plant" does not live forever. Often what eventually kills a plant is some disease organism.

[Roy]

Not all orchids live for ever, there are a number of genera that seem to have a life span that is much less than Humans such as Odontoglossum. From a similar question asked of a specialist Odont grower about a certain Odont flowered about 50 years ago he said that it died of old age at about 20 years and the last 5 years it was only just going. On the other hand, some Paphs & definitely Cymbids are growing in collections today that are divisions of plants collected in the wild from the late 1700's.

[SheilaJ]

How about phals? What is a "typical" lifespan for them, if there is one?

[Cym Lover]

We have a Den. here that is about 30 years old. Hasn't bloomed for 25 of those, though.

[Roy]

Originally Posted by Cym Lover

We have a Den. here that is about 30 years old. Hasn't bloomed for 25 of those, though.

I bet your going to hang onto it till it flowers again though, aren't you.
Been there, done that and continuing.

[ChasWG]

Great, now I have two things tat have long life spans.
The orchids and a box turtle. 30 to 45 years on the turtle...