Ponthieva tunguaragua

I love this species. I have bought it under at least 4 different names from Ecuagenera!

 

Well, Ann, I do have a taste for the unusual. The specimen plant is in a Marni pot, but the leaves just covered it up.

 

I grow it at both 50 and 56F nights, day temps up to 80F. Year round moisture (even when it goes deciduous) and 1/4 to 1/8 strength fertilizer, good water quality. Usually potted in moss in a plastic pot, but I have grown it in a terrestrial mix. I don't let it go dry between waterings. About the same light as masdevallias.

 

Do you mean what names have I bought it under? Ponthieva maculata (two times), Ponthieva (bella rica), Ponthieva sp and one other I can't remember. I'm a slow learner. The Orchids of Ecuador series has P. maculata with a picture of P tunguraguae, so I can't blame them on that. P. maculata is white with green spots and I'm still looking for that.

The flowers are about 1/2" wide and the spike gets up to about 12" maximum but usually shorter.

The specimen plant was growing in a 3 or 3 1/2" wide pot, so it makes a wonderful little specimen.

 

I am a potter by profession and that is what some people call my work. Abaxter knows my work and was teasing me here. Here is the link if you want to take a look. http://www.marniturkel.com.

There are also some articles I have written, I have more to post, but seem to spend my time on other things. I have just started writing for Orchids Magazine again, so after a decent interval, those will get posted too.