New to orchids, inherited bulb vaginatum

[delux]

Hi All,

As a fairly seasoned gardener I've just been given a couple of "bulbs" of orchid vaginatum , however I have no experience of orchids what so ever. I have read up a little, and on my way home today picked up a bag of dedicated orchid compost but am really unsure as to what to do with them. Basically they appear to have a true leaf and a bulbish lump and some rhizoid like tendrils coming from them, but also have a think but woodish stem that has been cut. Should I pot them loosely putting the rhizoid tendrils in soil? Sorry this is probably an irritating question for you guys, but I'm really eager to start getting more into growing orchids so any pointers at this stage would be really appreciated,
Many thanks

Hello and Wecome ! Nothing is irritating to us except if you don't ask the question when you have a problem. You came to the right place. Read some of the wealth of experiences from all the members and gather important infos as you go along. I am not an expert on vaginatum but wait til somebody comes along to give you help. Pictures would have been more helpful...I don't know if you have the Cirrhopetalum vaginatum or the Bulbophyllum vaginatum...I'm not even sure of my spelling but hey... Sit back and relax, you are in good hands here.

[1joyceh]

Welcome delux!
That is on my wish list.......one day!!
Glad to have you on board

[Daethen]

Anky, I think that Cirr and Bulbo have become one. Either way, I would say that pictures would be a good thing.

You are right Jonada, they are the same plant in pictures I saw on google.

[Daethen]

I only know it because I have a "Cirr" medusae and have found out since it is a Bulbo medusae.

[delux]

Hi All!
Thanks for the warm welcome..) I took a few pics but I need to post a few more times before I can include links in these messages so Ill do so asap!
Thanks all

[delux]

981delux.com/test/PICT0083.JPG

981delux.com/test/PICT0084.JPG

[delux]

Hi, sorry http and www will need to be put before the above url's of course. Many thanks all

[1joyceh]

delux,
It took me forever to get it right, no worries!

[terra_australis]

Sure looks like a bulbophyllum (or related)

[Brooke]

Welcome to the forum Delux - I grow my vaginatums in fairly high light, grow them moist and warm. Each new pbulb produces the roots, there are no roots produced on the rhizome. Thankfully this species has relatively short spaces between each pbulb but it is still hard to contain in a pot.

I don't know the content of your orchid compost but this species really needs a constant moisture supply and will be very hard to do if it is large bark only or in a fine grade bark we call seedling bark over here.

Good luck with your new acquisition.

Brooke

[delux]

Hi Brooke!

Many thanks for your input, I'm thinking now the medium I have may be too coarse, there are many large chunks in it, so I reckon Ill pick up some finer grained material. Ill poistion in good light, water and see how we go, thanks you..) One other thing, I was going to water with rain water, but I'm not sure London rain water would be suitable, what do you think? many thanks

[katrina]

This one doesn't seem to be too picky about water. I use tap water (when Mother Nature isn't doing the watering) and mine is doing perfectly fine.