What's looking Exotic in 2020

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by JWK, Jan 12, 2020.

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  1. CarolineL

    CarolineL Total Gardener

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    @PeterS I think it's odontodium/ oncidium hybrid - I have same plant. Most phals seem to be noid - I suspect Dutch growers just produce a range of unnamed fast growers. Gorgeous other plants! And @JWK that tillandsia is amazing!
     
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    • PeterS

      PeterS Total Gardener

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      Thanks Caroline - that's very helpful. I have been Googling and it appears that there are a lot of Oncidium hybrids (and other hybrids as well I presume). Given that there are over 20,000 different Orchid species, the addition of hybrids on top is not helpful to a beginner. :rolleyespink:
       
    • CarolineL

      CarolineL Total Gardener

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      Sorry @PeterS I had brain fade and finger trouble. I actually meant odontoglossum/oncidium. I have found these hybrids (from Ikea and others) much easier to grow than fancy odonts bought from specialists. One I particularly like is called Sharry Baby. Small pink flowers very sweetly scented
       
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      • PeterS

        PeterS Total Gardener

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        2020_01250002.JPG
        I could't resist. Four more Phalaenopsis for less than £10.

        I have been doing a bit of Googling and found that Phalaenopsis is the most common (and cheapest) orchid you can buy. It is also one of the easiest. One grower said that there are so many hybrids and cultivars that is usually impossible to say exactly what you have.

        As they are epiphytes (ie grow in trees not in soil) the key seems to be in potting them in coarse bark and not overwatering.
         
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        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          I think phals are getting cheaper all the time.:smile:
          I'm looking for a good coloured cymbidium at a knock:biggrin: down price.
           
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          • PeterS

            PeterS Total Gardener

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            Hi Pete - they were selling Phalaenopsis at Hampsons in Wakefield at £2.50 each, which is a ridiculously low price when you think that you can pay £8 or more for a bog standard perennial that doesn't need any special treatment.

            I have read that they like higher temperatures, a minimum at 13C to 16C (according to source) but are also happy at up to 35C - which my sun room can reach in the summer. They also like high humidity, which I can provide.
             
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            • strongylodon

              strongylodon Old Member

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              I'll have to see if there is anything special to bring back from Tenerife next week. I don't remember the markets there selling plants like they do in Madeira.
               
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              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                Well mine do ok at a min of around 10C rising during the day to at least 15C, I don't find mine like summer in the conservatory where it does get pretty hot in summer, but I probably don't have the humidity that you do.

                I've got some cymbidiums, green flowered, cant say I'm keen on the colour, so have left them outside this winter, they have been coated with ice on three occasions up to now, probably around minus 1.5C and they are still alive.

                I've had these Phals for years, most are offsets from the original plants now.
                DSC_0033.JPG
                I've got others but they are not flowering.
                 
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                • CarolineL

                  CarolineL Total Gardener

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                  @PeterS Those phals are a fantastic price! Local Home Bargains had a few at £2.99 before, but they had gone by the time my resistance had lowered... I have not found anyone selling cymbidiums at a decent price - I think that because they are a bit bigger, and don't flower so well in a sitting room, the growers have ignored them. I'm amazed yours have survived so well outside @pete
                   
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                  • PeterS

                    PeterS Total Gardener

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                    Strongy - Have a lovely time in Tenerife

                    Pete - Your Phals look really healthy - I just hope I can keep mine going that long. You have put your finger on a problem of where do you keep them when they aren't flowering. My sun room is already over full. I think your are right about humidity and high temperatures. I have a mister and can keep 80% humidity at high temperatures, but without the mister many things wouldn't survive that temperature.

                    Caroline - I have only just started to take an interest in Orchids, and have spent quite some time Googling them. I already get the feeling that Phalaenopsis is by far the most common one, and probably produced in such huge quantities that it is so cheap. I get the feeling that no other species will ever be that popular and cheap.
                     
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                    • longk

                      longk Total Gardener

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                      Both of my Cymbidium have been outdoors in a sheltered spot all winter and appear unharmed by the experience.
                       
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                      • CarolineL

                        CarolineL Total Gardener

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                        Good grief @longk - you and Pete are brave! It is very mild here, so I guess they'd be ok - apart from the likelihood that they would drown with all the rain...
                         
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                        • PeterS

                          PeterS Total Gardener

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                          Hi LongK - Amazing, I obviously have a lot to learn.

                          I have repotted my Phalaenopsis, which were in a bark material, though the original small plant plug was still in compost. I understand that this compost should be removed as it could store too much water and cause rot. So I put them in pure Orchid bark.

                          However my other two, Dendrobium and Oncidium, have much finer roots and were just potted in peat type compost. Is this right? Aren't they also epiphytes and need bark? and is this a special type of compost.
                           
                        • PeterS

                          PeterS Total Gardener

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                          2020_02270097.JPG
                          Veltheimia - a bulb from South Africa.
                           
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                          • stephenprudence

                            stephenprudence GC Weather Guru

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                            some of the more exotic stuff outside starting to flower or just looking pretty etc

                            1. Seemannia nematanthodes 'Evita'
                            2. Teucrium fruiticans
                            3. Citrus reticulata

                            92305590_10157055914035404_6418290550369157120_n.jpg 92559394_10157055914210404_1701559647745343488_n.jpg 92594783_10157055914120404_7729829578083926016_n.jpg
                             
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