Odontobrassia Pisgah Recluse: need culture info +trip to Carter & Holmes :)

[ElenaMarie]

Hi Everyone!

I've had a DNS error for the past five days that prevented me from accessing the board. I finally got it resolved and now desperately need your advice.

My mom and I went to Carter and Holmes' open house last Saturday and I received an Odontobrassia Pisgah Recluse as a bonus plant. I know nothing about its cultural needs and I can't find anything online about how to keep this particular orchid healthy, happy and eventually blooming.

It's in a two inch pot. The plant has two full pseudobulbs, one developing pseudobulb, and one leafless pseudobulb with what looks like a new leaf emerging--it's large enough that the plant tips over if not in a larger supporting pot. Given that, though, there are no roots coming out of the bottom of that little pot. Does this orchid like to be root-bound? Should I transplant it now or wait? Help!!!

For those interested, I had a great time at the nursery! They have some drop-dead wonderful plants and if I didn't have space, money and skill limits I could've dropped a ton of coin there. The people were very helpful even though the place was fairly packed. I got to walk through six of their greenhouses.

In addition to the Pisgah Recluse, I got:

• Phal. Mistral's Sunrise Flame 'Mendenhall'
• Phal. Carolina Yellow Fantasy 'Golden Showers'
• Miltonia Berries n' Cream (I have high hopes for this one!)
• Dtps. Taiwan 'Red Cat'

And all at 20% off too!

Thanks in advance for your help with the Pisgah Recluse.

[The Mutant]

*steals the Phal. Mistral's Sunrise Flame 'Mendenhall' and the Dtps. Taiwan 'Red Cat' and runs off madly cackling*

Sorry I can't be of any help to you, but wow what beautiful chids you got!

[The Mutant]

Oh, found something that might be of assistance to you: New Brassidium - Orchid Forum Orchid Care

[ElenaMarie]

Originally Posted by The Mutant

*steals the Phal. Mistral's Sunrise Flame 'Mendenhall' and the Dtps. Taiwan 'Red Cat' and runs off madly cackling*

Sorry I can't be of any help to you, but wow what beautiful chids you got!

Thank you. The Red Cat and the Mistral's Sunrise are in bud and I'm looking forward to seeing them open!

I did find out some fascinating information about the Taiwan Red Cat. I selected mine from one of the greenhouses and while checking out, was told that this orchid is a clone of a mutation. Oddly, not all of the clones are displaying the picotee and if mine doesn't, I can return the plant for a refund or exchange. They brought in experts to examine buds for indications of the picotee and those that they believe will have the picotee were moved to a small case in the front of the nursery. The one I'd selected was one that the experts suspected would not have the picotee, so I changed it out for one of the three left in the case. Good thing we arrived early!

I found it fascinating that the clones aren't always carbon copies of the original. Learn something new every day!

[ElenaMarie]

Originally Posted by The Mutant

Oh, found something that might be of assistance to you: New Brassidium - Orchid Forum Orchid Care

Thank you! I read it and would love to know if it's the same plant. They're using Brassidium, C&H says it's an odontobrassia. Are those the same thing? I would assume so but. . ..

[The Mutant]

I know I had a thought behind that link. Your odontobrassidium is a cross between Odontocidium and Brassidium, or have I gotten it wrong? I searched for the cultural needs (or just "care") for Brassidium with that in mind and since the thread says that Brassidiums are cared for the same way as Odontocidium, I thought I had a winner.

Hopefully someone a bit more experienced will chime in and help you out, since I could be completely wrong.

Nope, I have no clue about any of these genera, but I thought I should give it a shot and see if I could find anything for you anyway.

[ElenaMarie]

Aww, you're so sweet Mutant! Thank you for looking for me. I'm going to see if I can find a pic of the flower mentioned in the thread you referenced. Perhaps that will solve the name mystery.

[ElenaMarie]

I decided to move the Pisgah to a larger pot. I loaded the bottom of the new pot with ceramic shards to give it some weight and reduce the overall volume of the new pot.

Here it is before repotting.



Here it is after repotting.



Fingers crossed I did it right!