Hi, Tuesdays Child. Well, you had to pick a really tough orchid it seems. I can't even grow the easy ones. But I found this info on the web that may give you some ideas. "Or Crane Orchid. Because it really does look like the Japanese white crane, a symbol of health & long life & fortune, & of Japan Airlines. Also it lives in bogs where cranes nest. But in "captivity" it doesn't like to be as wet as in the wild, & its bogs dry out in seasonally, so duplicating it's wet then dry natural habitat can be a pain. Seeds almost never germinate for amateurs as they're triggered by a specific bog bacteria in their natural environment, but it should produce offsets (I think) as the old pseudobulb wears out, so will perepetuate itself. > It is also known taxonomically as pecteilis > radiata. > > Do any of you have experience growing these? I've found only two references > to culture on the web. One grower reported limited success growing in > sphagnum. Another site said part to full sun in well-drained, acidic soil > kept moist until after flowering is completed and the plants go dormant. Any > other suggestions for success? > > Except for Bletilla striata, I grow all my orchids in pots and in the > winter, indoors. On the west coast these reputedly have naturalized in some peoples' yards, but won't spread beyond the initial plantings because seeds don't germinate. The only terrestrial orchid I grow so far is a comparatively easy pleione (in full bloom right now; your pecteilis will likely be a summer bloomer), so am reluctant to suggest much, as you would already know more than I know, since you do grow other kinds of orchids & didn't restrict yourself to such an easy one. But I think the reason you're getting contradictory information is because terrestrial orchids do in fact sometimes grow in moss rather than in the ground, so that that they're encountered in the wild growing in moss atop rocks or even up in trees just like epiphytes. Soil is best (with one-third orchid bark) but with the tops of the bulb sticking above the surface of the soil then finish "burying" it with a protectie layer ofliving moss, not with dead moss. I think the only thing special about your pecteilis's needs will be its boggy spring & summer, dry autumn & winter cycle -- when it wants water it'll die the instant it goes without, & when it doesn't want water it'll rot the instant it gets watered by accident, so it's a tough balance. It sounds bassackwards for Japanese weather patterns but the bogs are caused by snowmelting off mountains rather than by rainfall & they do dry out in winter rather than summer, when the mountain snows are no longer melting off. When leaves first appear on P. sagarikii they form a funnel to catch rainwater, but in "captivity" they don't actually like to have any stagnant water in those leaves, so maybe P. striata will be the same & when watering it you'll need to take care not to fill it with water. I presume you already tried googling for info. I just now gave google a try & found nothing better than this page: http://plantsdatabase.com/go/48722/ which is minimal but does give seasonal temperatures, & notes that living sphagnum is preferred over the pseudobulb's surface; so that might be enough to get you started right. Personally I would never try this orchid cuz I'm cowardly about houseplants & I want everything to fit in the yard so that Nature helps me out & plants aren't completely reliant on me alone. When I was researching terrestrial orchids, I reluctantly decided I would probably fail with any orchid except pleine & bletilla, because they are the ones best apt to naturalize outdoors & end up taking care of themselves (pecteilis might do so if one is willing to cover them with a waterproof tent in winter). If I may judge it correctly from its photograph, the one you've just gotten has got to be one of the most charming orchids of all, so intensely bird-like. Best of luck with it, & if you can report back with future success (or tragic failure) I'd love to have your notes on it, maybe I'll even get daring if you find it easier than I suspect. ***Good luck*** It looks like you are going to need it. However, I am the kind of person who, when someone says I'll not be able to do it, I'll try it anyway! Keep us posted on your progress. It is indeed a beautiful plant. Susan

You and the garden are looking good, Carol! At my old house, "our" egret would come and peck on the back door for food! I loved it until he brought the mascovie ducks with him (and all their poop) Great pic Hester

The Reddish Egret and its stunning feeding behavior. This bird was filmed at Green Key Beach, FL. Here is a link that might be useful: Reddish Egret video

Your pictures are great! I've had only one Northern Flicker and that was about 3 months ago and I've got 3 suet feeders! Lucky you!