What is the age of your oldest orchid?

16 years ago

I sit in my little private space in my enclosed orchids and day dream of what they will look like when they get older. I know my oldest must be at least four years old, which I consider just a young little sprout.

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Comments (8)

arthurm
16 years ago
My Dendrobium speciosum and Dendrobium Delicatum are at least 35 years old.
ray_ratliff
16 years ago
My Aunt (who has been growing orchids from back in the 70's) gave me a HUGE pot congaing a Cattleya that she had identified as "C. Showy, Large, Purple" (At some point she lost the tag with the correct identification.) She claimed she had the plant for 23 years. It was in fare shape, but desperately needed dividing & repotting. I think I got about 20 or so really nice divisions from that plant.
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terrestrial_man
16 years ago
I think Age is irrelevant. Reason why is that each year a new bulb or growth arisees as older bulbs or growths wither away. Orchids are not like bulbs in the grown that just get bigger or a tree that adds another ring. So while the growth may be recent the genotype may be very ancient!
So maybe the best question should be what plant have you grown for the longest period?
phaltyme21
16 years ago
My oldest plant is BRASSAVOLA NODOSA, it was one of my very first purchases. It is now 32 years old in my collection.

No telling how old it was when I bought it. It was a mature plant then.

It is loaded with flowers every year.

Kay
petite_orange
16 years ago
I agree with terrestrial_man - I'd be way more interested in knowing what is the "newest" plant in your collection!
Cheers - Nancy
(newest plant: Maxillaria friedrichsthalii - another grower had one on display at our last 'short course' 12/1 and I was near tears with admiration. That nice soft-hearted gentleman gave me a little piece of it. A treasure)
AMYQofU
16 years ago
If you'd like to discuss a different question, why not start a new thread? I think it's interesting to hear people's stories about their long-lived specimens.
Respectfully submitted.
picotee_sofl
16 years ago
Hmmmmmmmmm-I have two that are probably close to 30 years old, having gotten them sometime during the mid-70's. One is in currently in bloom. It's a dear old friend that I purchased at the wonderful Orchid Jungle which was destroyed by H'cane Andrew.
ebbykay
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, I see your point about age and regrowth. I just wish I would have discovered the world of orchids when I was younger...I do have some huge bottle trees that are going on 30 that I purchased when I first got married and I joke at the girls that they are their inhertiance. What do you do with overgrown trees that are getting too large for their surroundings?

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What is the age of your oldest orchid?

Comments (8)

arthurm

ray_ratliff

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terrestrial_man

phaltyme21

petite_orange

AMYQofU

picotee_sofl

ebbykay
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What is the age of your oldest orchid?

Comments (8)

arthurm

ray_ratliff

Related Discussions

terrestrial_man

phaltyme21

petite_orange

AMYQofU

picotee_sofl

ebbykayOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

ebbykay
Original Author