Chysis limminghei Orchid Species
 

Can anyone tell me about this orchid? I saw this from a seller i have bought from before and it looks very pretty. But I am not so sure if it will do well here in my Texas heat. I dont want to buy something that wont survive or do well here with out a entirely new set up of some sort....

Thanks!

I've never grown this one but it looks like it need heat to me: IOSPE PHOTOS

---------- Post added at 05:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:02 PM ----------

Also: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...lp-please.html

Oh thank you.
I read through the thread and it showed high humidity. That wont work for me here with out a new set up. Rats it was interesting to look at though. Thanks!

I have one Kindra, growing outside, it seems to like it, that means, heat and high humidity, treating it pretty much like Catasetum but not keeping that wet!

See its the high humidity. I think of masedvalias(sp?) And the dracula orchids as high humidity and I cant pull that off...I tried. I failed.

Masdevallia and Dracula needs much more humidity than any other plants, definitely this is not the plant that needs so much humidity as Masdevallia. I still think you could grow this:-)

Hmm. Well I do like the flowers. I will have to take it off the mount though. The only plant I have mounted is my bulbo and it has done well. Lol. Okay I will give it a shot. Youve twisted my arm.

I think you will do just fine with it! I love the blooms on this one, hope it will spike for me this year!

These look considerably smaller than prob what yours is. So I will swing and say next year it will bloom I hope. It shall be a interesting ride w a new species. I originally thought that it was a cymbidium. When it popped under my saved ebay searches.

I saw those plants and they are very small. You'll have a few years before you see blooms. I'm growing several species of Chysis and they are not a hard plant to grow. Humidity is not an issue but it requires a different thought process around watering.

During active growth they need a LOT of water. And I do mean a LOT of water. During the dormant period (which for most, isn't all that long) they need less water but it's not a totally dry period because most come from areas that receive a fair amount of evening dew. So, when you water during this period, think "evening dew" and water later in the day and don't water quite as heavily. You never want to totally dry these guys or you'll lose them. My humidity drops pretty low in the winter (Ohio winters!) and I don't have one ounce of trouble w/them.

One of the main keys in success w/this entire group is very, very bright light. The thin leaves can burn if exposed to too intense light so you want some protection from direct sun but they do need a LOT of light. I have mine in an area that is receiving the higher end of catt light.

One final note...these plants do best mounted as they are very pendant in nature AND most get very large. My bractescens is a second year bloomer this year so still a young plant and it's blooming growths this past Spring were nearly 2' long. The next set of growths might get a little longer but 2' is about right for a mature one. I have another one (can't remember the species right now) that when it's mature will end up being over 2' long in growths. And, forget about trying to make them grow upwards in a pot...they must hang. Just a couple of things to think about before you purchase. I love the group but they definitely don't fit neatly in w/those orchids you can grow on shelves in pots.

I took some pics of my bractescens this past spring (still on my camera because I haven't taken the time to sort any of my spring pics yet!)...if you'd like...I can post up one or two so you can get an idea of what you're dealing with in regards to size. Let me know if that's of interest to you.

BTW - the listing says it's a Ctsm relative which is not true. The only relation to Ctsm is the fact that it's an orchid. Chysis are in a totally different subtribe...they are more closely related to bletia.

BTW #2-- don't know if you noticed the note on the listing but the pic of the flower is not limminghei....it's aurea. I have a seedling aurea...still a few years away from blooming and it'll be another big one.