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Caladenia/arachnorchis

Discussion in 'Orchid Culture' started by xmpraedicta, Aug 20, 2010.

  1. Aug 20, 2010 #1
    xmpraedicta

    xmpraedicta Prairie angraecoid nut Supporting Member

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    Okay so obviously the likelihood of me ever growing these successfully or even finding them is close to 0%, but I had a spare hour today to fantasize a bit, and I spent my time looking at photos of these amazing things. I realize these are 'up there' with things like thelymitra and other tricky terrestrials, and may be better observed in situ. But, given the successful cultivation of dendrophylax lindenii in recent years, I've started acquiring the optimistic belief that anything is possible, as long as the cultural secrets are unlocked.

    I figured if there's anyone in North America that dabbles in these, I'd be able to find them here. Would be curious to see if anyone here has experience with these plants that I've recently seemed to have developed a mini-crush on.
     
  2. Aug 21, 2010 #2
    Andrew

    Andrew Member

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    I don't actively collect Caladenia because they tend to be a somewhat disheartening genus to grow but I do grow a couple of species. I'm in a mild temperate climate (Caladenia grow locally) and I grow them along the same lines as what is described in the ANOS terrestrial orchid culture notes, using a sandier mix. With the possible exception of Caladenia latifolia, they're amongst the hardest of the Australian terrestrial genera to grow and a firm grounding in growing temperate tuberous terrestrial orchids is not just an advantage for succeeding with them it's almost a necessity. The people that I've come across growing Caladenia outside of Australia have usually had a lot of experience growing European or African terrestrials.

    I can't help you much with where to source them in Canada. Nesbitts Orchids in Australia does sell a couple of species although importing them is probably costly. The Australian Orchid Foundation seedbank may be able to supply seed of Caladenia, however, the only thing harder than growing Caladenia is deflasking them.
     
  3. Nov 5, 2010 #3
    xmpraedicta

    xmpraedicta Prairie angraecoid nut Supporting Member

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    Thanks for the insightful reply and apologies for taking so long to respond. I'm just trying to gauge how the field has progressed in this particular area. I hardly have the resources to even attempt growing these, but I'd like to keep up to date, so I'm read when the day comes along that I attempt something ambitious like this!
     
  4. Nov 19, 2022 #4
    xmpraedicta

    xmpraedicta Prairie angraecoid nut Supporting Member

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    Well, 12 years later, and I have some caladenia tentaculata that seems to have sprouted. Needless to say, the most difficult part is still to come. I'd appreciate any advice for deflasking.
    Screen Shot 2022-11-19 at 8.33.09 AM.png

    From my reading, some groups will flask with vermiculite inoculated with specific mycorrhiza (Sebacina vermifera complex species), and deflask into inoculated media. Obviously I won't be able to secure anything like that in Saskatchewan, Canada.
     
    Alex Shepack likes this.
  5. Nov 19, 2022 #5
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Calvin, I've been growing Caladenia picta in flask and find them very easy. I have deflasked some and gotten blooms. I don't use anything special in the flasking medium. I have taken them out while growing and the best results have been in a mix of akadama and kanuma.
     
    xmpraedicta and Alex Shepack like this.
  6. May 13, 2023 #6
    Piranhacon

    Piranhacon Member

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    I have grown the Caladenia picta that Marni sold me out of flask, and the learning curve is actually very low.

    I grew them successfully during growing season on my first attempt, and have figured out how to store their tuberoids successfully after only 2 tries!

    This particular species was not a huge challenge.

    Haven’t grown Caladenia tentaculata before, but I imagine the techniques are similar.