Barkeria obovata - Orchid Board

katrina · #1 02-19-2015, 06:38 PM

Bright light, I water it daily in the summer and a couple/three times a week in the winter...until it loses it's leaves. After the leaves drop I water it once a week and no fert until new growth starts up again.

I turned the tag to the front so you would be able to get a good idea of how small this little guy is.

brsucculents · #2 02-19-2015, 11:03 PM

Very beautiful orchid on a stick.

naoki · #3 02-20-2015, 02:28 AM

Wow, this is really beautiful species, Katrina! I didn't know that it is so small. Are the leaves always red?

I'm trying to learn how to grow Barkeria. When they are resting, do you keep them cooler? Approximately how long is the period between the loss of leaf to the beginning of new growth?

My grow tent isn't so seasonal, and I feel like they are not quite in sync with the season. For example, B. spectabilis is starting to lose leaves now. But B. melanocaulon started to make new growth even before the leaves fell down from the older growth about 2 months ago. It could be just variation among species. But I wonder what you would say.

katrina · #4 02-20-2015, 08:39 AM

Thanks brsucculents!

Quote:

Originally Posted by naoki

Wow, this is really beautiful species, Katrina! I didn't know that it is so small. Are the leaves always red?

I'm trying to learn how to grow Barkeria. When they are resting, do you keep them cooler? Approximately how long is the period between the loss of leaf to the beginning of new growth?

My grow tent isn't so seasonal, and I feel like they are not quite in sync with the season. For example, B. spectabilis is starting to lose leaves now. But B. melanocaulon started to make new growth even before the leaves fell down from the older growth about 2 months ago. It could be just variation among species. But I wonder what you would say.

Naoki - I didn't realize it was so small either...until it arrived a few years ago. I have whartonia too and it's also small but the other ones are much larger.

All of my barks are at different stages of dormancy/active and I haven't noticed any set time for dormancy...some are shorter than others. Basically, IME, there is no one distinct anything. Even from year to year.

I water them less at this point but even when they lose their leaves I still water a bit. As for temps...I don't make any changes...my temps right now are low-mid 70's during the day and at night the furnace doesn't kick on until 60 degrees...they have to put up w/the same conditions as the rest of the collection. Naturally, as the weather warms up outside their temps will increase but I don't give them a specific cool off.

FWIW - I have one that's completely leafless and asleep, 2 that haven't even dropped one leaf and my spectablis dropped it's leaves about 2 months ago and is already growing a new growth. All over the place.

This one's leaves are always red...the start red and get even redder when they are about to drop off.

Hope that helps.

Paul · #5 02-20-2015, 09:58 AM

Lovely! Love Barkeria though I've never tried one. Hadn't seen this species before.

Brooke · #6 02-20-2015, 03:12 PM

Very pretty! My two Barkeria both still have leaves and active root tips. Nice to know they don't fall a schedule and just do their thing.

Brooke

WhiteRabbit · #7 02-20-2015, 06:38 PM

Lovely!

isurus79 · #8 02-20-2015, 10:57 PM

This species is great! I can't remember seeing it before and its now on my list of "must haves."

katrina · #9 02-21-2015, 09:05 AM

Thanks for all the wonderful comments!

Quote:

Originally Posted by isurus79

This species is great! I can't remember seeing it before and its now on my list of "must haves."

Andy's! I checked the date on the tag and I got in 2012 but last I checked he still had this one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooke

Very pretty! My two Barkeria both still have leaves and active root tips. Nice to know they don't fall a schedule and just do their thing.

A mind of their own - for sure! Not as bad as most Ctsm but still...they don't bother w/calendars.

Paul - you really should try one! They ARE interesting and quite beautiful and long lived so they earn their space. It's my goal to collect all that aren't too big for my space. I only have 6 species right now and am always keeping my eyes open for others. I have a couple of nicely rooted, loose pieces of Barkeria scandens (cyclotella) and one of them is not yet spoken for...if you're really interested, I'd be happy to it to you when the weather warms. PM if you want it.

naoki · #10 02-21-2015, 11:38 AM

Thank you for the info, Katrina and Brook! I guess that I have to watch what they are doing.