White Egret Orchid

I received today my very small tubers of the white egret orchid; they are about the size of a peanut. The instructions that came with them says they should be planted in specialist orchid compost, or make your own mix with 3 parts fibrous peat, 3 parts co**** grit, 1 part perlite and 1 part fine charcoal. I have a bag of orchid mix, but it looks like bits of coconut or bark with the bits that to me are much too big to use with these tubers. The instructions also say that once the plant has developed, it can be grown outdoors in the garden during the warm summer months.

My question is, does anybody know where I can buy a suitable mix for the 4 tubers, please?

Thanks

Trevor

 

It appears to me to be a terrestrial orchid, so its possible that the really c o a r s e orchid compost that is sold mainly for the epiphytes may not be really suitable.

Not grown it myself so only guessing, but a compost of the mixture you describe I have bought in the past, in small bags, for orchids.
Its a matter of looking around, I have a bag of Leavington orchid mix but its of the lumpy type.

Think I would buy a small bag of moss peat and some grit and mix my own, avoid anything with artificial fertilizers.

 

Hi Gofotit

I have also received my rasin sized bulbs!!!! I got a bag of the Orchid compost from the local garden centre and it is very large bits of moss, bark, etc. (it wasn't expensive, so I didn't mind buying it even though its way too much - but it will be used on other plants)
The main thing I thought from the instructions that came with the bulbs was to keep them moist (ie like the rain forest) but free draining. But not soggy in the winter if left outside (hardy to -5ish)
I have potted mine and left them in the unheated greenhouse - I'm pretty certain this will be ok. If they do what it says on the packet, they will be spectacular!! I am keeping them in a pot to go on the patio table - so they will be in full view!! I will just keep a close eye on them next winter - most likely putting them in the greenhouse overwinter.

 

Just like to add that in my experience T&M tend to overdo the hardiness of the plants it sells.

It helps sales I presume to say a certain plant is hardy to minus 5.

If you read where it originates from I doubt it would take much frost for long.

 

I have potted mine and put them on the kitchen windowsill, where all my orchids do really well.

The instructions don't give any guidance as to the temperature for starting off growth. What is everyone else doing?

 

I've just got mine sat in the unheated greenhouse with everything else. I find my plants do much better if I leave them as much alone as possible!!

 

I'll be interested to hear how you all get on as I ordered these yesterday

 

Sorry I've been so long in answering, thanks for the advice all.

My local garden centre had a special orchid weekend last weeked, and spoke with an orchid expert, I showed him the instructions that came with the tubers of the white egret orchid, and he told me to use bulb compost. I bought a small bag, went home and planted them, I think it was the right formula because the bulb compost all ready had perlite in it.

I've kept the pot indoors on a windowsill that gets plenty of sun.(When it shines...lol)

So it's fingers crossed, I'll let you know how they come on.

Gofoit2

 

At the moment I am puttng mine in the greenhouse during the day when it is warm, and bringing them back in at night. No sign of any growth yet though. I don't know how much water to give them - the compost is moist but I am worried about the bulbs rotting if they don't start growing soon.

 

Wow !! I don't belive it, I planted mine on the 16th March, and I've kept them on a south facing windowsill, and when I looked at it today, two have started sprouting, one is about 1/4 inch long and the other almost 1/2 inch.

As to how damp to keep them I'm only guessing. I did put the pot into another pot which was almost full of water then pulled it out and then left it to drain before I planted them so all the soil was damp, since then I have given them a small amout of water every third day, but not enough for it to run out of the bottom of the pot.

Going by how they have sprouted already I must be doing something right...lol

I'll keep you posted,

Trevor

 

I forgot to say, when I opened the plastic container the bulbs were in, there was what looked like damp blotting paper in there and all 4 bulbs had started sprouting roots, I had not noticed this and I did not open them for about 2 weeks, I had just kept them in the envelope they came in, when I did open them the paper was dry, but the roots looked OK, so I went ahead and planted them.

So if you get yours by post, be careful and check them straight away.

Trevor

 

One of mine has thrown up a little green shoot now too! No sign of the others yet, but I imagine they will come up soon.

 

Still waiting for mine to be delivered :snz:

 

Well 3 of the 4 are now showing, I might have lost the 4th one because I never opened the packet for 2 weeks, I did not realise they had started growing on the damp blotting paper, by the time I opened it, it was bone dry. If it don't show thats my own fault, I'll be happy with the 3.

 

Yes! all three are now peeping through!


More cultivation information here on the Thomson and Morgan website.
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/plants1/group/orchid.html