Eulophia speciosa spike watch
 

I was really wondering if I was going to have any flowers this year. First, I repotted and divided the plant. Then, for the winter I put it where the sprinklers wouldn't hit it but figured the "occasional" rain would be fine. Well, rain was a lot more than "occasional" this year. So the plant was sopping wet for much of the winter. I finally put it under shelter, so it did have about a month to dry out but still... Then I saw the beginnings of a new growth (or actually two) So a really good sign. Finally, a spike! And it is growing fast. I expect blooms by the end of June, maybe sooner. So now... I'll watch that spike grow. :D

is this the same genus as the invasive E graminea i have down here? looks so different, yours is a stunner and the flowers are magnificent (in the examples iresearched) i cant wait to see this

:verycool: Oh Roberta...have never seen one in person but pix online look spectacular. Such an interesting bloom shape and vibrant color. I'm on Eulophia watch now.

What a special plant! Where did you get it?

I just picked up a Eulophia petersii and I am pretty enamored with the genus at the moment.

Hows the fragrance of the flowers?

Thanks all...
I got this from another local orchid society member. Who I think got it from yet another one... so I can't give a source. You might look at Afri-orchids ... I don't think they ship to the US, but he (Lourens Grobler) does come to the 'States a few times a year and might be able to bring if he can get it. He often comes to Cal Orchid's summer open house (which is coming up soon) so maybe...

Eulophiphia petersii is also great - a very tough desert plant. Not as pretty a flower, but amazing long spikes.

I haven't noted any fragrance from Euph. speciosa... I'll sniff again when it blooms.

Same genus as Euph. graminea... but from a different location. Euph. gramminea is from a huge swath of southeast Asia into China while Euph speciosa is from all over Africa. Wish an orchid would "invade" here.

I won't be able to photograph it for some days, but the division Roberta made is also in spike. I watered it about once a month through the winter and left it outside with bright shade, occasional afternoon sun. A new growth is poking up, as well.

Eulophia and Oeceoclades are closely related, in the Cymbidium tribe. Taxonomy was confused for some time. I need to check in with a friend who hoped to cross his petersii with his speciosa a few years back.

If anybody is interested, Carter & Holmes has seedlings of Oeceoclades decaryana. I have two. Both have begun new growth. They are very healthy. IOSPE doesn't show foliage. It is very long, very narrow and hard, like plastic. It is maroon with lighter maroon and silver spots.

E graminea smells like cat pee so i am hoping it is a better scent on these

Won't be too much longer...

This is the division Roberta gave me. It probably got colder than hers last Winter, and has been warmer for some time this Spring in Phoenix. I began fertilizing as soon as we warmed up in anticipation of new growth. I didn't expect a spike at all.

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Notice the spike comes from a new growth, which then formed another new growth.

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I couldn't rotate properly with my phone. Will try later on the desktop.

Way cool! The warmer spring no doubt gave it a boost. I'm still mired in June gloom and likely to stay that way for awahile. Nice thing about those spikes, they tend to keep on blooming for a long time, sequentially.