Trichoceros sp O
 

This is an orchid that requires quite a bit of patience. I just love this flower's bee mimicry.

It's out of bloom right at this moment. The picture was taken about 1 month ago.

I've had this plant for about 10 years or so, and I've only seen this in bloom about 2 or 3 times. To me, when it flowers, it's a big deal! :)

Lovely! :wtg:

Excellent, Philp! What kind of temp do you use for this species? My Trichoceros antennifer seems to be spiking, too.

I grow this outdoors all year round here in Rosemead, CA, (it's an inland city in Los Angeles County around the San Gabriel Valley area).

The orchid is very temperature tolerant, (36 F - 110 F).

Photo was taken indoors. Again, I grow this outdoors without a problem.

Each pseudobulb only grows about 2 - 3 roots. Fortunately, it is tough as nails. Very drought tolerant too.

Wow, you have a lot of patience, 10 years and only 3 times blooming! It is beautiful though! Congrats!

To be honest, I almost wanted to sell it before it bloomed for the first time for me. When I saw the flowers, I decided to keep it knowing that it is kinda stubborn.

They only bloom from new growths, and the growths have to be fairly good sized. If the growths are too small they won't bloom.

I didn't know that some species of this genus can handle such high heat! I got mine this spring, so I don't know much about it yet. One is growing in 72/60F, and the other is 66/51F (next to Telipogon). The one with cooler temp seems to do slightly better.

@naoki: Many Trichoceros spp. are from nosebleed elevations in the high Andes, so yeah, I'm not terribly surprised they do better the cooler it is. They might probably bloom far more often and much more vigorously for you because you are growing them cooler than I am during the summers.

As I've said before, not all Telipogons need to be kept below 80 F. Some can take it all the way up to 80 F or 85 F. The vast majority of Telipogons cannot.

I like it. Kudos to you for keeping it around.

Great patience! Looks great :)