Peacock Orchids?

15 years ago

General opinions on them? Got a set of 25 bulbs... do I plant them now? Thinking about them as a pond edging... how long do they bloom for?

Thanks!

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Comments (11)

sleeplessinftwayne
15 years ago
I have tried them many times and have never had any luck. They must be for zones warmer than zone 5. At best they are a tender bulb. Sandy
pondmaster101
Original Author
15 years ago
Shucks. Guess I'll try to return them!
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sleeplessinftwayne
15 years ago
No harm in trying them if the label says they work in your zone. Maybe you are a better gardener than I am. Sandy
garyfla_gw
15 years ago
Hi
Assume you are refferring to Acidanthera (Gladiolus callianthe) and not Pleione orchids?? Both are commonly called Peacock orchids though the bulb type is actually a member of the Gladiolus family.
Both are extremely cold intolerant. yet require long growing season to flower well.
i have trouble with the required long hot DRY rest peiod for the bulbs. Got the heat and long but not the dry lol. You could start them indoors and then move them out to extend the growing season. I grow them in pots and move them indoors during summer to avoid the rains gary
sleeplessinftwayne
15 years ago
If you are in Florida and still need to do that, its no wonder I never got any blooms. Thanks for the tip. Sandy
pondmaster101
Original Author
15 years ago
They're going back! Theres just too many, easy plants to grow that look great!
sleeplessinftwayne
15 years ago
But what about the challenge of it? Sandy
garyfla_gw
15 years ago
Sandy
i have that problem because I'm in 10. Not enough chill to cause them to recycle. Heavy rains cause the bulbs to rot during summer.
i believe the bulb type peacocks are rated for 7 or 8
Can be just treated like Glads in lower zones dug and stored during winter.
PM You do know these are NOT water plants??
Where do you live ?? Would help to make suggestions.
Do you want something to grow in the water beside it or overflow areas?? gary
pondmaster101
Original Author
15 years ago
I originally thought these were some kind of iris, so I could plant it in the marginal area. Maybe I'll hold onto them for a container for the challenge... I like things that bloom throughout the season, or earlier so I could cut off the foilage. It sounds to me that these bloom later or in the fall. I'm in southern pennslavania im kinda confuses about zones though!
vanessaa
15 years ago
I ve heard these can naturalize quite easily. Does anyone know if this is the case?
sleeplessinftwayne
15 years ago
Until the American Horticultural Society gets their act together and makes some decisions, everyone is confused about their zone. Sandy