I got my first orchid !

[Kali Hibiscus]

I would also like to add that I did more research on that other forum ( since someone else has the same plant ) and many AU members claimed it to be a cooktown orchid. Again I am just saying what I am reading.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Kali Hibiscus

WOW Whiterabbit thanks for the picture ! I do like the look of it mounted

Mine came in a 2 inch pot so I am not sure if its wise to mount it now or now ? I am so scared to over water it so I been eyeing it for a few days. The media its in is dry, but the leaves are firm and upright. I failed last night to collect rain water It was raining but in so cal it was a light drizzle ... So nothing was really collected in my container. I think it should rain today.

I do have a ro/di unit I used to use on my aquarium then I used the water for my Hibiscus. I will start collecting this water again in my 5 gallon jug and use it on all my plants.

My other question is this. I collected perfect mounting wood in our local forests. I want to know how do a cure it ?

I have 3 pieces of wood

I do love how it looks too!
I haven't done much mounting myself, this one came mounted. I would think that the ideal time to mount it would be when there is new growth, like for repotting. If your collected wood is raw, probably best to season it outside. Then soak in physan, or some other solution, to kill anything that may be living in it; scrub off bark. I haven't done this myself, so hopefully others who have can chime in - start a new thread with that question if you aren't getting advice here.

Do you know what type of wood it is? I think wood from conifers has tannins that may prevent orchid roots from attaching, tho the wood is very resistant to fungus. It can be used, but I'm not sure how it should be treated prior,to help get rid of the tannins. Hopefully some others know.

I only allow my potted Den-phals to completely dry in-between waterings in winter, tho I think others may allow theirs to dry regularly Tho I guess this mounted one dries out pretty much daily during summer here - I drench it daily in summer - not much moss at all on this.

Mine all get tap water.

gl!

Originally Posted by Kali Hibiscus

I would also like to add that I did more research on that other forum ( since someone else has the same plant ) and many AU members claimed it to be a cooktown orchid. Again I am just saying what I am reading.

ah - I believe "Cooktown orchid" is the common name for Den bigibbum, tho it's possible some people could apply it to any Den hybrid that looks similar. I would suspect that many (most?) Phalaenthe type Den hybrids have bigibbum somewhere in their heritage. I would see no reason for a commercial grower to tag a species with a different name. Seems bigibbum, at least in the US, isn't a hugely popular species for hobby growers. I don't even see it for sale from many online orchid vendors.

I have another small growing Den-phal - blooms look practically identical to my bigibbum, tho the canes look a bit different, and the name it came with, Mini Zengyo, appears to be unregistered - there's probably quite a few like that.

[camille1585]

I don't understand why you want to call it Den bigibbum if the tag says it's Den Zeschia lynn?

Phal type Dens like this don't need a winter rest at all, they need the same type of care year round. I also have some sort of bigibbum hybrid, and it blooms pretty much year round, and is growing with my Phals.

[glengary54]

Has anybody been able to find out anything about this plant? I searched Orchid Wiz and the RHS data base and there isn't anything remotely close to this name.

[Kali Hibiscus]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I don't understand why you want to call it Den bigibbum if the tag says it's Den Zeschia lynn?

Did you even look at the link I posted ?

Someone claimed they found what it was. I have no clue what it is I just assumed it to be bigibbum from that thread. No need for you guys to get upset or confused. I am new to orchids so its not like what I say means anything at this point LOL

[camille1585]

Probably a trade name. Commercial breeders name their crosses, and then instead of registering the name with the RHS they trademark it to keep people from using it. Sometimes an orchid actually has both. Ex: Phal schilleriana x stuartiana = Phal Wiganiae. But if it's produced by a commercial grower it's called Phal Philadelphia.

[ryrycochinco]

Pretty here it is......

[RJSquirrel]

good find a live plant at Home Depot half off and with a name tag . they usually dont mark them down here till they are dead dead dead..I even told the man the plants they selling were dead dead dead.. He says they arent dead they were just resting.

but if you have just one them now we see you next week with your hands full......you will soon find Home Depot ultimately can not support the orchid habit.

Good luck

[Kali Hibiscus]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

good find a live plant at Home Depot half off and with a name tag . they usually dont mark them down here till they are dead dead dead..I even told the man the plants they selling were dead dead dead.. He says they arent dead they were just resting.

but if you have just one them now we see you next week with your hands full......you will soon find Home Depot ultimately can not support the orchid habit.

Good luck

I got this one from Lowes LOL The company is a local Orchid farmer called Gubler . All of there orchids have tags and you can order from them directly

Here is the picture of the plant for 10 bucks this is a big one.



Of course I will keep checking to see if the ones I want go out of bloom and buy them haha. I remember the tags on the ones I wanted. So I hope no one buys them and I can get them on sale.

The Home depot by my house had a Renanthera and I wanted to get it but this is before I dived in the world of orchids. I had a good gut feeling I should have bought it but I didn't, now I regret it because Renantheras are harder to find and expensive. All well hopefully they get more in in spring.

I am only messing with these Home depot / lowes orchids to see if I can keep them happy. The ones I want cost a lot so I need to save up.

[Merlyn]

Good luck with your Den. !!!