Japanese terrestrials 2023 - Orchid Board

estación seca · #1 03-22-2023, 08:36 PM

I got my Kusamono Gardens order today: Hemipilia/Amitostigma keiskei or plover orchid; Pecteilis/Habenaria radiata or egret orchid; Hemipilia/Ponerorchis graminifolia or grass leaf orchid; Spiranthes sinensis or spiral orchid. They ship dormant tubers or plantlets with some slightly damp sphagnum. I put them into the refrigerator for now, but will pot them up soon. I plan to take photos and show the progress.

These are bog or wet rock crevice plants. I've found they do well for me in a mix of mostly pumice with some sphagnum moss. Once they get growing I stand the pots in pure water so they stay wet, but with good aeration thanks to the pumice.

I've had problems in the past with pack rats eating my plants. This year I'll take precautions. I might even set up some lights and keep them inside a terrarium in the house for rat protection.

I have flowered the egret orchid, Pecteilis/Habenaria radiata, but not the others.

Roberta · #2 03-22-2023, 10:39 PM

I'll definitely be watching your progress - I have a similar order from them that should show up tomorrow (if I can believe USPS). For me, first time for all. I plan to pot them in kanuma - I use it in my mix for the Australian terrestrials with other stuff (pumice and potting soil), but it seems to be highly regarded by itself for the Japanese terrestrials . When do you plan on potting yours up? I was thinking of doing it right away, nights are still pretty cool here. Or do you think that they need more time in the 'fridge?

estación seca · #3 03-23-2023, 01:03 AM

I'm going to pot mine up in the next few days. We're having an unseasonably cold spring. Nights are still in the 40s F / 5-10C and days in the 60s / 15-20. I hope for them to make roots before it starts warming up a lot.

I'd probably do the same if I were growing them in Orange County. You should be getting some warmer days before long.

By comparison one year in the late 1980s we had 100 F / 38C the first week of March and it got hotter every day from there.

MateoinLosAngeles · #4 03-24-2023, 02:56 AM

I read this and rushed to get what they had still in stock. Got myself a Amitostigma enomotoe and a Ponerorchis graminifolia.

I've been looking for terrestrial orchids for a long time so I'm excited to learn more about these particular species and to watch both of your progress along the way.

DirtyCoconuts · #5 03-24-2023, 12:43 PM

i have also been eyeing these guys for a while- i will watch this thread and save this vendor.

any chance i could pull these off in SoFla?

ES, i am not using my a24 rat traps right now...do you want to borrow one?

Amazon.com

Roberta · #6 03-24-2023, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

i have also been eyeing these guys for a while- i will watch this thread and save this vendor.

any chance i could pull these off in SoFla?

Take a look at Tarzane Group They have a couple of Ponerorchis species - and they are located in north Miami. And they are still in stock. I got some from them too, tubers sprouting.

estación seca · #7 03-24-2023, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

i have also been eyeing these guys for a while- i will watch this thread and save this vendor.

any chance i could pull these off in SoFla?

ES, i am not using my a24 rat traps right now...do you want to borrow one?

Thank you... I have plenty of traps.

Your summers would be great for these. They need a very cool winter dormancy but not freezing. People usually unpot the tubers and store them barely moist in a tiny container in the refrigerator crisper drawer.

Leafmite · #8 03-24-2023, 11:27 PM

Good luck with them! You could also make cages out of chicken wire and clamps/wire and grow your orchids inside. I had a very nice bunny cage made out of it when we had our rabbit.
I would be interested to know if pack rats would eat Artemisia absinthium and rue. Both are so bitter that nothing eats them here but pack rats seem quite the nightmare. Would be a fun experiment.

Subrosa · #9 03-27-2023, 10:45 AM

First Ponerorchis graminifolia of the season:

MateoinLosAngeles · #10 04-01-2023, 05:04 PM

Got mine! I sent an email to Kusamono about whether to put them in the fridge or potting them up and they recommended to pot them.

Testing two mixes of kanuma with other stuff and I will be reading on Dahlia tuber divisions to learn more about how to transition these little guys into their winter rest later on. A total first for me so we'll see how the experiment goes.