I'm sort of assuming these are cattleya type plants. Are there letters (C or Lc or Blc) in front of the name? Do you already have these plants or is she bringing them to you? I don't know what you mean when you say you've learned that you can 'loose the pot & grow outside'??? Many people grow orchids mounted on pieces of cork or planted in baskets. I live in Texas, near San Antonio and I grow most of my catt types in pots. I have a few in slat baskets or open weave plastic pots. You cannot grow these plants as other outside plants in your garden soil. Orchid roots need lots of circulating air. If you'll tell us exactly how you want to grow them, members here can give you lots of suggestions.

Sheila :)

Here is some stuff cut from another thread......Phaiocalanthe Kryptonite 'Chariot Of Fire' is half Phaius tankervilleae.

"I do not think Phaius tankervilleae grows in spag bogs so Promix/bark might be a better medium.

Here is a description of where it grows from Native Orchids of Australia by David L jones.
" This species grows in moist to wet habitats, particularly permanent swamps where it may occur in extensive patches in black peaty soil. It also colonises localised depressions and soaks in open forest and grassland and is occasionally even found growing on well drained sites."
When i grew it potted in Cymbidium mix which is denser than say Cattleya mix it thrived and flowered but it grew too big for my limited space.

Haven't answered the question except to say that spag. may not be the optimum medium. A couple of Hybrid Phaius were included in the the lucky dip plants from a nursery, they were in a Promix/bark type mixture rather than spag."

I just got off the phone with her. Aside from having a giggling fit at my expense she confirmed that the tomoko hybrid is a cattleya and added that the chariot of fire she is giving me is a terrestrial. Apparently she got them just special for me and wouldn't elaborate on anything more.

What in the world is a terrestrial?

You have to talk the talk and there is no such thing as a Tomoko hybrid. You have Lc. Little Oliver which is nice. Most likely white with a purple lip and best grown in a pot which you can suspend from a tree or a shrub in your yard. Of course this procedure depends on where you are in Texas.

The mode of growth of a terrestrial is described in my post above. Not something you can grow on a mount.

Don't know nothing about talking the talk, just know what she told me and what I have been reading on line on this forum and else where. I live in Bacliff right on the coast so moister in the air is constant, halfway between Houston and Galveston if that helps.

Suwada Orchid Nusery has the following listing:

Lc.Little Oliver ÂTomoko BS $50.00
(Lc.Stephen Oliver Fouraker x C.walkeriana var.semialba)
Compact size plant and medium large semialba flower. White with vivid dark purple lip. Blooms 2 times a year.

The purple/white flower is most likely the reason why she got it for me because I can not resist that color combo on flowers. I suspect she got the other which has lovely red flowers because my wife loves the color red, which really doesn't matter because my wife doesn't like gardening so I will be taking care of both myself.

The only time I use peat moss is when I start my tomato and pepper seeds each winter/spring.

Canaima Orchids - Palmetto, Florida has the following listing for one with a red lip instead of purple.

Lc. Little Oliver "Tomoko" BM/JGP

This beautiful s/a is an offspring of Lc. Stephen Oliver Fouraker x C. walkeriana. Main blooming season is in the fall. A second blooming season occurs in the spring, when the plant grows strong enough. Long-lasting flowers with a good substance.
Price for a 4 bulb division: $45.00

Purple or red lipped the flower is gorgeous. The more I read about orchids the more interesting they become.

I looked at a climate map of Texas some time ago, hence my comment. 'Tomoko' is a clone name of a particular plant of the crossing of Lc. Stephen Oliver Fouraker x C. walkeriana. Each seed that grows to maturity and flowers of that crossing will be different with some better than others. The plant offered for $45 is a mericlone (copy) of the original that received the Bronze Medal.

Those two plants should arrive correctly potted in appropriate material and your main problem will be finding the best place to grow them out of feline reach.

Orchid growing is not all that difficult, just different from normal gardening.

Hopefully, the locals will add to this.

That helps me understand the plant better, thanks. Yes, Persia can be a hand full when it comes to pots but she is great at keeping critters out of my garden beds so I try not to get too upset with her.

I was reading up on Phaius Tankervilleae which is what you called the other and found a wonderful amount of information. The two sites I have read so far say to plant it in the ground in partial shade for best results. How interesting.

Could you recommend an organic orchid fertilizer, I grow all organic here?

Well, you could read the posts under the thread title "Miracle-Gro Tomato Plant Food 18-18-21" to get a feel for the lengths that orchid growers will go to to get the perfect flower. Ignore the Urea free nonsense that you find there.

I do not subscribe to all organic. I subscribe to lots of organic on the garden plus some other stuff now and then.

For your purpose just use some fish emulsion and seaweed extract as per directions on the packet/container. Your orchids will get nutrition provided by the bacteria and fungi as they break down the mix and make Nitrogen and other stuff available to the orchids.

It will be interesting to see if anyone has used a 100% organic method on orchids and what sort of results they got.

I read that early this morning, thanks.

Funny you mention seaweed extract because I just picked some up today for my tomatoes.

From what I've been reading if I understand right dry fertilizers wont be of any use just liquid, right?

I've grown several different phaius. The leaves will scorch in full sun, so be sure to aim for dappled light, like under a big tree. I've grown them in sphag and promix (I believe I was part of the thread that was quoted to you). The promix has worked better for me, but mine stay indoors, they don't have do deal with the Texas heat.

Basically I would treat the phaius similarly to a houseplant that can't handle full sun. Keep it moist and fertilized. Can't help you on the other orchid. Good luck!

I was thinking the same thing about a big tree with dappled sunlight. From what I read on another site the soil/light they said to set up for growing it in the ground is exactly the same as I had to set up for growing my tiger lilies. The mid-day early afternoon sun would cook them in a heartbeat. I think if I use the the same technique with minor adjustments I can make it very happy. The Cattleya on the other hand has me a bit worried on how to deal with it.

Keep her in a pot or basket and hang from a tree branch.

Jane

I'm beginning to lean in that direction, at least persia wont be able to get to the poor thing too easily. Right now I am withholding final judgment until I see them first hand. In some ways I am hoping they are young plants rather than full grown so it will hopefully be easier to acclimate them to this Texas climate since she is bringing them all the way from Michigan where she lives. In the mean time I am trying to learn all I can about taking care of them to give them the best chance they can have.

Would someone happen to know how big the Lc Little Oliver is supposed to get? She got here today with the orchids, the cutest little things, but they appear to be seedlings to me.

She brought four plants total in 2.5 in. pots, 3 Lc Little Olivers 'Tomoko' and 1 Phalocalanthe Kryptonite 'Charriote of Fire'.

I just finished checking roots and thoroughly watered them as I read here to do. The smallest of the little olivers had some root rot so I trimmed the rotted roots off without harming the good roots, I hope that was the right thing to do. Another one has been lifted an inch above the pot by the roots which goes almost completely to the bottom of the pot. Does it need repotting?

I'm not sure what to do about the chariot of fire, there is almost nothing but roots and very little of anything else in the pot. Should I replant it to a larger pot tomorrow or let it be for now?