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Barkeria spectabilis

Discussion in 'Orchid Species' started by Marni, May 23, 2014.

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  1. May 23, 2014 #1
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I've been growing this since 1983 or 84 and always look forward to its blooming. Over time it got too heavy and was pulling itself off of the vertical mount it had been on. A year or two ago I took it off of that and put it in an 8" wooden basket with nothing in the basket. The display is different in the basket as all of the growths are about the same height so it forms more of a cap on the plant. The first full plant image is from a bit above the plant and the second is straight on.

    b.spect.bhoff.close.jpg
    b.spect.bhoff.spike.jpg
    b.spect.specimen.jpg
    b.spect.specimen.b.jpg
     
    Kipper and nikkik like this.
  2. May 23, 2014 #2
    nikkik

    nikkik Active Member

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    Marni, that is an amazing specimen! Great growing!
     
  3. May 23, 2014 #3
    Carkin

    Carkin Active Member

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    Wow, wow, wow!!!
     
  4. May 23, 2014 #4
    chicago chad

    chicago chad Active Member

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    ITS A MONSTER!!!
     
  5. May 23, 2014 #5
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Oh, wow. That is beautiful. That is a good case study on why not to divide. You have some truly amazing specimens.
     
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  6. May 23, 2014 #6
    annabanana1987

    annabanana1987 Active Member

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    Lovely!! I see why you look forward to this bloom!!
     
  7. May 24, 2014 #7
    Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    The best I have ever seen!
     
  8. May 24, 2014 #8
    ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    That's just incredible. The presentation is perfect!
     
  9. May 28, 2014 #9
    bob

    bob Member

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    ...marni, your post couldn't have come at a better time...my Barkeria spectabilis is in full bloom now and i love it's annual visit...i have had it for many years and, like yours, it just last week pulled itself off the vertical mount it has been on all these many years...pretty surprising to me to have the whole thing just suddenly separate from its mount...i took some twine and hurriedly tied it back upright until i could find a new bigger limb to mount it on, again...i do believe i'm going to try your basket idea and look forward to what will become an even more glorious plant...would you have put anything in the basket if you had it to do over again?...did you water it even more at first to get it to attach?...is yours in a greenhouse?...mine is outdoors year around, down to 38f this winter and in the winter rains so it's obviously pretty hardy but i'm curious about a more protected environment...
     
  10. May 28, 2014 #10
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Bob, I might have put some LECA or other non-degradable material in there; I did think about it. But if I were doing it over again, I think I would leave it empty. On the mounted plants, most of the plant is just hanging out in the air anyway. I think I moved mine in the late winter before I would have started watering it anyway. This winter it did get watered a bit more than usual and didn't go completely dormant. I have it in a greenhouse that is heated to 45F minimum, but have grown it colder than that. I do water it a lot less in the winter, so it depends on where you are as to how much water yours is getting.
     
  11. May 28, 2014 #11
    bob

    bob Member

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    ...thanx, marni...happy growing...
     
  12. May 28, 2014 #12
    xmpraedicta

    xmpraedicta Prairie angraecoid nut Supporting Member

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    wow. Just...wow.
     
  13. May 29, 2014 #13
    RosieC

    RosieC Member

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    Wow, really wonderful!