Piece of Ghost

[greg_s]

When I received my ghost orchid in the mail a piece had broken off. It was a VERY small piece of one of the root branches. I kept it in a little container and kept it watered and it is surviving. I mounted it on a piece of cork tonight.

Just wanted to put it out for anyone with experience with this type of orchid: Could this little piece grow into its own plant or is it doomed to spend its life as a fragment?

Thanks,

Greg

[jerrymeola]

there is no reason why it can not delevop into its own plant. Think of it as a division.

The Ghost Orchid is the ultimate in reverse genetics. It is a plant will all roots and no leaves. Evolution has worked in reverse on this plant and the cholophyll has evolved into the roots and the plant no longer has a need for leaves as the entire photosynthesis process occurs in the roots.

For those who have never seen one it looks like a dead piece of grass wrapped around a branch, not much of a plant to look at. When it flowers with that beautiful white flower, the flower seems to hover over the branch on which it is growing. Hence in the dark everglades it looks like a ghost floating in the air.

It is a totally protected species in florida, but there are a number of nurseries reproducing the plant. It is not a strong species and difficult to grow.

[greg_s]

Thanks Jerry. I was hoping that would be the case but this is my first ghost so my experience with it is round about zero.

On a side note, would you have any particular light recomendations for the ghost? I am nervous that I am going to give it inadequate light but I have read that a south facing window at full blast is too much.

[jerrymeola]

I do not know of anyone that has tried to grow one indoors. Here in Florida very few orchids are grown indoors.

The Florida Everglades can be very dark. Ghost Orchids are usually found low in heavy growth, so I am guessing it is phal type light levels.

The only people, that I know who have flowered them, have them in trees in a heavily planted area of their yards around streams or ponds for the higher humidity.

I have heard of others who have them on citrus trees (there is something about citrus that seems to be symbiotic with orchids, but I have not evidence to prove that).

Good luck, I have not had the nerve to try them yet on my sunny dry farm.

[greg_s]

Thanks for your input, Jerry! This is my first time trying one so I am kind of playing it by ear. I was thinking Phal light (10,000 to 15,000 lux) to Dendrobium light (15,000 to 25,000 lux) but, again, I am paranoid that I will be starving it for light. Well, if I figure out an exact number I'll be sure to post it :-)
Thanks again.

[purplegirl]

Jerry, There is a place in West Dundee,Il. that has a blossoming ghost orchid inside. It's called Oak Hill gardens. They grow it in a humid corner of the greenhouse.

[articuno75]

Hi Purplegirl and welcome to the forum!

It would be great if you could introduce yourself in the introductory section of the forum! We would love to hear about you and your orchids

[Brooke]

Learn more about the ghost from this link.

GhostOrchid.info

One of the forum members is growing the ghost inside so hopefully she will pop in and show her technique and give light recommendations. I just mounted some ghosts I unflasked the other day. I can't give recommendations because I don't know if they will live or perish.

Brooke

[psyc1210]

I just noticed that this thread was last responded to back in 06