Rhynchostylis Gigantea Red var Rattana
 

This orchid plant is not actually red but has a dark wine-colored hue as seen through the naked eye. The overcast snowy Manhattan sky brings out dark purple petals. This monopodial, warm to hot growing, vandanaceous epiphytic orchid plant scented like hyacinths. I should have taken pictures two weeks ago since it is now starting to wither. I give this bright light on the south facing window and water it every other day but I hold feeding it fertilizer until spring. It is in a drilled glass vase with clay pellet media.

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Well, I have three of these now, none growing much or blooming. I am beyond envious, Bud. This flowers are gorgeous!

Thank you for the visit. You need to be patient, Dolly....this orchid plant is more than five years old and the leaves and roots take a long time to grow. My white, peach and the other speckled ones have not bloomed this time but I will wait for it next year perhaps....

Great colour and the scent is a bonus. It seems quite small - I only see six leaves - it must be verrrryyy slow growing.

Thank you!

The glass vase is 8 inches diameter. It is 14 inches from the widest leaf. Its just the angle up the cinder block fence that it looks small. Yes, it takes soooo long for roots or leaves to grow on these kind of orchid plants. Yet you may see the pencil thick robust roots through the glass.

No choice but patience, Bud. I have each of the potted differently but, all are slow.

Lovely bloom as usual. You shot this outside? Or else custom wallpaper by a sunny window? I can smell it from here. Stay warm!

Lovely rich color.

Thank you for the visit! I shot this just before the blizzard began....

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Thank you, Shannon!

Hi Bud,

Beautiful plant!

I am an old hand at houseplants, but rather new at orchids and I happen to be a new owner of a Rhynchostylis Gigantea "spots", so I'd love to get your feedback on tips for growing a Gigantea in the home.

My Rhyncho is still in the greenhouse plastic pot as it is in bloom and I don't want to repot until blooming is over, but I'm trying to plan out my re-potting approach now. I'm in Denver, CO, and with the very low humidity putting this in a hanging basket is pretty much out of the question. I'm thinking of either a plastic or glass slotted vase/pot with a chunky inorganic medium (like you have) or full semi-hydro with LECA. I've heard conflicting accounts on whether Rhynchos like S/H or not, so still not sure whether that is a true option. If you have any experiene with that, please let me know.

Additionally, I'd love to hear about what avg. daytime/nighttime temps you have where you grow yours along with what kind of humidity levels you have. As it's winter right now, our inside daytime temps are around 70 and they fall to about 63 at night. In summer, it gets hot so I'd estimate those temps change to 75/70. I have a humidifier running near this plant and it keeps it around 55% humidity now in the winter, but I'll probably increase that to around 65% in the summer (can't go above that with my dinky humidifier).

Also - in reading the cultural notes on Rhynchos it looks like they go through a pretty severe dry period during winter, so I'm wondering how often you water and/or mist yours in wintertime.

Sorry for the laundry list of questions, but I really love this plant and want to give it the best start I can!

Thanks!