Australian Terrestrial Orchids

[Cthulhu138]

Well, I've taken the leap into Australian Terrestrial Orchids ! I'm starting with tubers of 4 different species so I figured I'd start this thread right at the beginning........ with some photos of the tubers !

I'll post updates here as they come.

Caladenia flava


Diuris aff. corymbosa


Elythranthera emarginata


Thelymitra crinita

 

[SubRosa]

Very interesting where and how the various plants store the reserves for next season's growth.

 

[dionae]

Nice! Anxious to see how these grow.

 

[Cthulhu138]

I agree, all species seem to have a different yet similar strategy. Both Diuris species look nearly identical. I'm curious what different species in the other genera might look like.

 

[fredg]

Here's something to look forward to in the future Johnny.

I've been growing a few Pterostylis for a few years. For me they are hardy.

Pterostylis curta

 

[fredg]

Pterostylis coccinea

 

[Cthulhu138]

Beautiful plants Fred. P.coccinea is especially nice ! Hardy as in "you can grow them outside year round" hardy ?

 

[fredg]

Pterostylis fischii

Pterostylis truncata

 

[SubRosa]

Fred would you happen to grow P. grandis?

 

[theplantman]

Those bulbs are so strangely shaped....

 

[Cthulhu138]

Those bulbs are so strangely shaped....

The strangest are the Diuris. They look like little carrots !

 

[gnathaniel]

Very cool! I hope they do well for you, I've wanted to try some of these genera but am holding out until I have a more controlled growing environment.

Nice Pterostylis, Fred! coccinea is especially pretty, not one I'd seen before.

 

[fredg]

Fred would you happen to grow P. grandis?

That would be a no.

A couple of extra photos I found.

A Pterostylis fischii double header.

As most think Pterostylis coccinea is the best a trio of them having a chat.

 

[Cthulhu138]

Again, gorgeous plants Fred !

 

[swords]

Wow! I've never known anyone to grow Pterostylis, I've only ever seen them in orchid books! Amazing!

 

[anramitaco]

Gorgeous Pterostylis flowers! Cthulhu, I can't wait to see how these grow. When will they start to wake up? Are they summer growers?

 

[Cthulhu138]

They're just starting to wake up but they're fresh imports. They're still tuned in to Southern Hemisphere winters. They'll be acclimated in the same way I do my tuberous Drosera. They'll have a shortened growing season followed by a shortened dormancy. With any luck, I'll see flowers next winter.

 

[DragonsEye]

Those bulbs are so strangely shaped....

Indeed. The Caladenia flava tuber looks like a sperm cell. All it needs is to start whipping that long strand like a flagellum.

 

[SubRosa]

Indeed. The Caladenia flava tuber looks like a sperm cell. All it needs is to start whipping that long strand like a flagellum.

Which when you consider the fact that the Caladenia prefers the driest conditions of the four makes perfect sense. Gotta get that food put away where it won't rot!

 

[Seandew]

You've started your collection with some tricky species. The C. flava and the Elythranthera in particular are notoriously difficult to grow, even by the so-called expert growers down here.

Most growers here use rather elaborate substrates so it will be interesting to see how you go.

Currently I grow around 200 species\forms.