Need help on Grammatophyllum

[mollycart1]

My friend just gave it to me. I have been wanting this plant for a while, but now I am not sure what to do with it. It is just HUGE! Maybe I let it sit right next to my Neos.

I think it needs to be repotted ( may not be the right time ) and not sure what's wrong with those black spots on leaves.

Thank you.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

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[peeweelovesbooks]

I have a speciosum. It's a runt but growing. 20 million years from now, when it flowers, I'll post a pic.


I have it in full sun, water it daily and it grows happily in 100% hydroton. I don't know about the spots on the leaves, as mine doesn't have it. I fertilize regularly and well, did I say it was growing? it's put out 2 new growths all of a sudden...and gotten way taller...


Well, let me not wax on interminably... What type is yours?

[V_coerulea]

I had a nice one larger than yours. Its medium went south before I new it and the roots went with it. Spots like you're showing showed up as well. I saved 3 pieces which are now doing well. THe spots don't show on the new growth so I think its a sign of stress and lack of water. Maybe yours will be just fine if you repot it larger. And be ready to give over half your house to the plant when it really gets going. As KoOG said, it's one of the largest orchids plants known. In the wild, plants can grow a ton or more in weight. I think I'll divide mine before that.

[mollycart1]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately, it did not come with a name tag. I think I am going to divide it in half to keep it small.

[orchidsamore]

I grow hundreds of Gramms and there are several points you should know.

The leaves are very thin and soft. They damage easily and black fungal spots are common. Fortunately they are hardy plants and it seldom causes a problem.

The leaves will all fall off if the plant gets too cool. Again this seldom harms the plant long term.

These plants are very aggressive growers and when grown well you can re-pot every six months. I had a 5 inch pot go to 6" to 8'"to 12"in one season.

The roots above the plant are not really roots and never put them below the medium. When you re-pot you will find the roots in the pot to be thick and growing down like all orchids. The thin ones growing up on top of the medium are to catch leaves and debris that feed the plants as they decay. They will rot and die if buried but again it will not kill the plant.

Overall they take a lot of water when growing. You will find the roots in the pot to be so tight they can not be separated. They will look much like Cymbidium roots.

They also take a lot of fertilizer. Slow release is the easiest.

And they need high Vanda type sun to flower best.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

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[mollycart1]

I will reconsider whether or not I want to keep it. It was very spontaneous. Thank you for the warning. I mean it.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I would reconsider dividing them to keep them small if I were in your position.

You would most likely never see a single bloom if you kept them smaller than what you've got now.

The smallest I've seen them be in bloom is actually two to three times the size yours is.

If you can't handle how large these get, I think you may have to consider either giving it away or selling it.

This is no joke...they get big! I mean, I've heard they can potentially get to be 6 ft tall! I've never seen one that tall, but I've seen one in one of those gigantic pots people use for growing small trees or shrubs, and it easily filled that pot up.

[Doc G]

Here is a little help on whether or not to keep it.

[mollycart1]

Thanks, Doc G. When I saw it at one of the houses during "The Street of Dreams," it was presented beautifully. Of course, since the house itself was large, the size of the plant was not an issue. It was spontaneous. I didn't think that I would find it so quickly. I will keep it for now.