Welcome to OrchidsForum.com. We are a friendly online community for Orchid Growers all over the world. If you haven't joined yet we invite you to register and join our community. Hope to see you on our forums!

Barkeria spectabilis

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

Tags:
  1. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,623
    Likes Received:
    3,420
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    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. nikkik

    nikkik Active Member

    Messages:
    146
    Likes Received:
    58
    Location:
    Metro Detroit, Michigan
    Marni, that is an amazing specimen! Great growing!
     
  3. Carkin

    Carkin Active Member

    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    32
    Wow, wow, wow!!!
     
  4. chicago chad

    chicago chad Active Member

    Messages:
    599
    Likes Received:
    94
    Location:
    no longer Chicago
    ITS A MONSTER!!!
     
  5. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    6,552
    Likes Received:
    2,346
    Location:
    Redding, California, USA
    Oh, wow. That is beautiful. That is a good case study on why not to divide. You have some truly amazing specimens.
     
    annabanana1987 and Marni like this.
  6. annabanana1987

    annabanana1987 Active Member

    Messages:
    999
    Likes Received:
    153
    Location:
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Lovely!! I see why you look forward to this bloom!!
     
  7. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    5,515
    Likes Received:
    420
    Location:
    U.S.A
    The best I have ever seen!
     
  8. ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

    Messages:
    1,429
    Likes Received:
    161
    Location:
    Exeter, PA
    That's just incredible. The presentation is perfect!
     
  9. bob

    bob Member

    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    9
    ...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. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,623
    Likes Received:
    3,420
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    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. bob

    bob Member

    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    9
    ...thanx, marni...happy growing...
     
  12. xmpraedicta

    xmpraedicta Prairie angraecoid nut Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,744
    Likes Received:
    588
    Location:
    Saskatoon, SK
    wow. Just...wow.
     
  13. RosieC

    RosieC Member

    Messages:
    265
    Likes Received:
    17
    Location:
    UK
    Wow, really wonderful!