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EEOS Original Articles |
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The many articles in our Orchid Culture section can solve most of your culture issues. Check them out before submitting a question. |
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AOS Culture Sheets |
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The AOS Culture Sheets are very thorough guides for growing orchids successfully. Read the one pertaining to your kind of orchid before asking a culture question. |
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Ask Your Own Question |
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If the articles and culture sheets in our Orchid Culture section did not solve your problem, feel free to submit your own orchid culture question. |
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(Posted on February 20, 2004) |
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Question |
| Good evening! I read your various articles about the ghost orchid. I currently have a chance to purchase a ghost orchid grown from seed, but I want to be sure I can take care of it. Since it needs constant humidity, do you know if this orchid would do well in a terrarium type of environment? Would this be too much humidity? Would growing it in a shady place over a pot of water be better? This sounds kind of funny... What kind of fertilizer does it require? Is it a slow grower? And... do you know what is the minimum temp it survives in? Thanks so much, sorry for all of the questions. I'm a saltwater aquarium owner so I'm very thorough with all of my questions. By the way, when I was 17 or 18, a whole group of us from the FL Native Plant Society waded into the Fakahatchee to hunt for orchids too. I think we saw some ghost orchids, but there is not much to see when they're not blooming. We had a gps and still got lost, we didn't get out of the swamp until 8pm or so. hehe. |
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Morgan - Miami, FL - USA |
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Answer |
| You can try growing it in an aquarium. You would have a constant humidityand temperature. Make sure you have some air movement, since they don't like stagnant air. (Try a small muffin fan). They are medium growers and fertilize once every 2 weeks with dilute fertilizer in the summer. Less in the winter. It can take down to 45 degrees Fahrenheit without too much stress, but only for a night or two. You can also go out into the Big Cypress Swamp and see these growing conditions for yourself and try to recreate the habitat in your aquarium. |
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David Schaffter |
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(Posted on February 20, 2004) |
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Question |
| I realize that I may not be able to do this but there is no harm in asking. Where might I be able to purchase a ghost orchid? |
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Paul Benedict |
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| Paul, you might try www.rickstropica.com to purchase ghost orchids, however, I believe there is a waiting list. Another place you might try is www.oakhillgardens.com. Thanks for visiting the EEOS web site and good luck. |
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Bob Stipe |
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(Posted on February 14, 2004) |
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Question |
| What are the ghost orchid's pollinators, and how does it attract these pollinators? |
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Casey Jones - Farmington, MO - USA |
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| Casey, this information is courtesy of the Caribbean Gardens: "Although not certain, the pollinator for the ghost orchid is believed to be the giant sphynx moth. It has a very long proboscis or tongue. With its five to six inch long proboscis, it is capable of reaching into the long nectar tube of the ghost orchid. When the moth gets nectar, it also exchanges genetic material from the other ghost orchids it has visited. Current knowledge indicates that the ghost orchid cannot be self-pollinated and must be cross-pollinated in order to produce seeds. So, potentially, as the sphinx moth goes, so goes the ghost orchid." I hope this answers your question. For future reference, this information was easily found using Google. |
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Bob Stipe |
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(Posted on February 14, 2004) |
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Question |
| I have a few questions about growing a Polyrrhiza lindenii. First of all, is it possible to grow these plants under artificial light? I have a full spectrum fluorescent fixture that I currently use for my orchids. Second, I keep my orchids in a green house shelf with a vynl cover, I can control the humidity pretty acurately with a cold air humidifier at the base of the shelves. However, when I open the vynl cover for watering, the humidity will drop a fair amount (from high 70% to mid 60%) and it will take about 15 minutes to return to normal after I close the cover. Will this drop in humidity be damaging to the Ghost Orchid? |
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Dave Regan - Boise, ID - USA |
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| For such a short period of time, I don't think so. |
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David Schaffter |
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| Dave, we have very limited knowledge in growing the "ghost orchid" in captivity successfully, as is the case with most growers. I suggest you do an Internet search for growers who specialize in them. You might also want to visit our Past Events section and check out our recent trip to the Everglades in search of the "elusive" ghost orchid. If you notice, there is very little light and since there is standing water all around, the humidity level is very high. |
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Bob Stipe |
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| Dave, I'll tell you what I told the other person who wrote in with a similar question a few days ago: I don't think a regular fluorescent bulb (full spectrum or not) provides enough light for orchids to thrive in. You will probably need higher intensity bulbs if you intend to grow them solely on artificial light. The AOS (www.orchidweb.org) has a nice little book on the subject called Growing Orchids Under Lights by Charles Marden Fitch. |
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Fred Armando |
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(Posted on
February 10, 2004) |
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Question |
| A previous question mentions an article regarding the ghost orchid, does anybody know what article Clayton is referring to? Also, can anybody give me exact methods for growing the ghost? I am currently attempting their culture and am wondering what exactly other growers are doing. I keep mine in a 20-gallon aquarium which I maintain at about 80% humidity. I regulate this level of humidity by using a cool mist humidifier which also circulates the air within the aquarium. The orchid is mounted directly onto a piece of grape wood (not sure if that is the proper name). I mist it ounce daily and grow it under a mix of aritificial and natural light as the sunlight's intensity is dwindling here in Utah. Any critiques regarding my cultural techique would be greatly appreciated. |
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John - Utah, USA |
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| Sounds like you are doing the right thing, but don't let it get too cool. Remember, it grows in the swamps of south Florida where the summer temps are 85-92 degrees. If you try to duplicate our weather, our winters are cooler 50-70 degrees with a little less humidity. |
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David Schaffter |
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| John, lighting is another consideration. Although the ghost orchid grows in the Florida swamps under shady conditions, it still receives more light than the average fluorescent bulb can provide. The AOS (www.orchidweb.org) has a great book called Growing Orchids Under Lights by Charles Marden Fitch. If I'm not mistaken, AOS has a videocassete on the subject as well. At only $12, you might want to pick this book up to aid in your attempts to grow the ghost orchid under these conditions. Keep us informed of your progress and good luck! |
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Fred Armando |
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(Posted on
February 5, 2004) |
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Question |
| I have noticed that if I lay tissue paper on the ghost orchid and then spray that tissue paper so it is soaked and leave the ghost that way for 1/2 hour or so, the roots turn a bright green color. The theory is that the wet paper is in contact with the root and thus gets it nice and wet. I have also submerged it in water for 1/2 hour but that does seem to work as well. Any comments? |
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Joe - Ringwood, NJ - USA |
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| Joe, there is a good reason the "ghost orchid" is so rare. If one wishes to cultivate it out of their natural habitat, then one would have to mimic its natural surroundings very closely. Please take the time to visit our Orchid Culture section and read the articles on the Ghost Orchid written by our members. We also have a small pictorial on the Fakahatchee Strand, in which a few of our members participated in search of the "elusive" ghost orchid. You can see it in the Past Events section. Please let us know if your method works, so we can share it with others. Thanks for visiting the EEOS web site. |
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Bob Stipe |
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(Posted on October 5, 2003) |
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Question |
| I just finished watching Adaptation and was curious as to whether or not the ghost orchid actually contained mind altering chemicals. It seems to be based on actual events, however Native Americans trudging through the Florida swamplands for a quick fix seemed a little far fetched to me. But what do I know. |
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Amanda - Pittsburgh, PA - USA |
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| Amanda, I too saw "Adaptation." As an orchid lover, I was disappointed, but I did enjoy the movie. I don't have any experience eating the ghost, but if you read the book "The Orchid Thief," you might get more information on this. It's the book the movie was based upon. A few of us from our orchid society recently made a trip to the Fakahatchee recently in search of the elusive "ghost." You can check it out in our Events section. Thanks for the question and for visiting the EEOS web site. |
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Bob Stipe |
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| Don't be a victim of Hollywood hype. There is no medicinal value from consuming the ghost orchid as far as I know. Kind of like rhino horns - The rarer something is, the more it becomes in demand, regardless of its true benefit. |
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David Schaffter |
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(Posted on August 27, 2003) |
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Question |
| Okay, I think I'm ready for the Polyrrhiza lindenii, from what I have read from your article on the ghost, it gave me a idea. Could I take a cold frame with lid to make stale air, and some plastic shoe boxes filled with water to keep up the humidity? And then feed once a month with daily heavy misting. I only use R.O. water by the way, does that help? I try to get rain water, but it's time consuming though. Well, anyways, I want to grow the ghost. |
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Clayton - North Tonawanda, NY - USA |
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| You could try. Remember, they like a constant, high humidity and you might run a fan to keep the air from becoming too stagnant or still. Check our Events section for the article about going into the Fakahatchee Swamp looking for the Ghost Orchid. We have some pictures of what they look like and how they grow on the trunks of trees. Remember, they grow over water, so they have a constant, steady humidity most of the year. |
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David Schaffter |
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| Clayton, I don't know well "stale" air would work. The natural habitat of the ghost is the swamp, with little light, but there is still air movement. My only suggestion would be to try it and see what happens. It seems the only correct way is what works for you. Check out the Internet and see what other growers are doing. Thanks for the question and for visiting the EEOS web site. |
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Bob Stipe |
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(Posted on July 31, 2003) |
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Question |
| I have a Polyrrhiza (Polyradicion) lindenii / Ghost Orchid -leafless that I bought. I live in MN so I can't keep it outside. I'm going to keep it indoors. What would be the best thing to keep it in and feed? I can also get lighting if needed. What do you think I should do? Thank you. |
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JD - Ham Lake |
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| The ghost orchids are very tough to take care of. They grow in swampy areas, usually on pond apple trees, and are almost always growing over water. You need to grow it in a lot of shade (Phal. conditions), keep it in high, constant humidity (like over a swimming pool or large body of water). Then you can fertilize it lightly once a month, and keep it warm during the winter. Even here in South Florida, when you take them out of their natural swampy habitat, they slowly go downhill. |
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David Schaffter |
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(Posted on April 27, 2003) |
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| I have a tiny ghost orchid mounted on the flat side of a piece of sanded cork bark. I am in Orlando so the conditions it receives are fairly similar to its wild Fakahatchee habitat. What conditions should I give it: light, water, temperature, humidity, etcetera? How do I get the little thing to actually grow? Any info would be great. Thank you. |
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Michael - Orlando, FL - USA |
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| Michael - Ghost orchids (Polyrrhiza lindenii) are usually found growing on pond apple trees in swampy habitat. In my experience on observing their surroundings, I found their enviroment to be partially shaded, a constant high humidity, especially in the summer, good air movement, and seasonal rainfall (mostly in the summer). Pond apple trees have a medium textured bark, so cork should suffice as a growing medium. These trees also grow in standing water part of the year, so the orchids are never subjected to extreme humidity changes. Temperatures can be warm in the Fakahatchee, but in shady conditions, not too hot. Winters are cool, but not real cold and dry. Try to replicate the conditions of their natural habitat and you should be successful. If you see the roots growing and attaching to the cork, then it is growing. Remember, these leafless orchids have no water storage capabilities, so they are pretty unforgiving if they are subjected to any severe variation of their natural habitat, even for the shortest period of time. |
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David Schaffter |
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(Posted on April 27, 2003) |
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| I recently received a leafless orchid as a gift from a friend of mine. She was told by the vendor that it was a ghost orchid and that it had been brought over from Jamaica, since it is illegal to collect them here in Florida. The orchid is in a clay pot with some coconut fiber. My questions are as follows: 1) Is the name "ghost orchid" used for a group of orchids or is it the common name of one particular species? 2) Is it legal in Florida to own a ghost orchid if it has been brought in from another country? Is one required to prove that such orchid is imported? 3) How should I care for my ghost orchid? What kind of light conditions does it require? 4) I'm thinking of taking it out of the pot and mounting it on bark for two reasons: it looks a little precarious in the pot (not firmly attached) and to save room in my already crowded orchid balcony. Is this wise? If I do mount it, how often should I water it? Can it be watered every day? 5) Finally, how would one mount a leafless orchid? Thank you in advance for your help. |
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Fred - Miami, FL - USA |
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| Ghost orchids from Florida are known as Polyrrhiza lindenii . They are a leafless orchid found in the Fakahatchee and Big Cypress swamps. Their favorite habitat is growing on the bark of Pond Apple trees that are standing in water for part of the year. Hence, they require a constant, high humidity. It's very difficult for a grower to replicate these growing conditions, so many of these orchids in the hands of novice orchid growers die. It's legal to own a ghost orchid in Florida as long as it's not collected from it's habitat. Some commercial growers grow them from seed and sell them. That's OK. If your orchid was brought in from Jamaica, then the required paperwork would be needed, unless it was smuggled in. You should try to replicate the growing conditions as closely as possible to its native habitat in order to ensure its survival. Try tying your orchid to a branch of medium-textured bark-type native tree and make sure the orchid has a fairly high constant humidity with shade. Look up and research other areas for more detailed information. |
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David Schaffter |
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| Although the nickname "Ghost Orchid" primarily calls to mind the leafless orchid Polyradicion lindenii , "The Flying White Frog of the Fakahatchee," which was featured in the film "Adaptation" and the book "Orchid Thief," it has been extended to cover two other Jamaican leafless orchids. What you have been given is probably Dendrophalex funalis , which is actually easier to keep alive than Polyradicion. It was probably technically illegal to carry it across national borders without export papers, but there are lots of this species already in the US and no Plant Police are likely to sniff out your plant and demand import documents. It would have been more illegal if your plant was one of those illegally removed from the Everglades. Polyradicions, artificially propagated, are now legally available in the US and those are legal to possess; no one has yet figured out a procedure for interrogating any given plant and requiring it to reveal its birth circumstances, which sort of makes a mockery of the whole legal plant convention. I wouldn't remove it from its pot if it is at all attached. I suspect your plant came from Hamlyn Orchids and the empty pot mounting is a system he has had success with. If it is not at all attached, and you want to remove it, I would tie it to a treefern plaque on top of a cushion of sphagnum moss. I would keep it in bright light, but not direct sun, and water it every day. It needs lots of humidity, but in South Florida, this usually poses no problem. It might have to be protected against desiccation during winter cold. |
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Dr. Bert Pressman |
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