Renanthera storei

[Dorsetman]

Maybe my favourite Renanthera - prolific bloomer - produces a spike every 2 or 3 pairs of leaves, and since it produces 4 or 5 pairs a year., that means two spikes a year too. Doesn't seem to mind the season - has flowered in December, March, July, February etc.....and the colour - if you are a Brit., I'd tell you pillar box red - but maybe you don't even have pillar boxes ! Its a colour which - in a good light - comes out and hits you in the eye - zing !
Also big flowers - 7 cm high, maybe 36 on this spike. The plant now some 75cm high.
Could get too tall,but since it has leaves all the way up from the pot , I can't shorten it by potting deeper. Since it produces some new roots at intervals all the way up, I suppose that I might have to nerve myself and cut it in two - with lots of roots above the cut, and hope that the bottom half will shoot again for a second plant.

[Lars.Kurth]

I can't shorten it by potting deeper. Since it produces some new roots at intervals all the way up, I suppose that I might have to nerve myself and cut it in two - with lots of roots above the cut, and hope that the bottom half will shoot again for a second plant.

The bottom half will definitely shoot again (probably several shoots), but likely will not flower for a couple of years. The top will be fine. It's better to do this in spring though (aka after this set of flowers has faded).

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Thanks Lars for the information. And Geoff - what a beauty! Lovely red Renanthera orchid. I want one just like it.

Cheers,
BD

[pavel]

That's vivid!

[swtheory1986]

Stunning red Geoff, I'm sure the old one will shoot again under your care!

[ajamarie]

really stunning! what a great shape and color

[catttan]

Just beautiful, Geoff. I consider Ren storei the best ever and yours is definitely an exceptional clone!!! Is it an awarded clone?

[gavstang]

Lovely renanthera..keeping an eye out for one !

[bdb22]

Very nice, but for me it doesn't look like a storiei. Rather a philippinensis or a hybrid.

[Lars.Kurth]

bdb22 is right: I over time bought several plants that were labelled storiei and turned out to be hybrids (e.g. Scarlet Yuka (imschootiana x philippinensis)). Almost all plants for sale tend to be philippinensis or philippinensis hybrids. I only ever saw one real storiei as a show plant at Peterborough International Orchid show before (3 years ago).

Storiei flowers are much chunkier, and the plants are very big. Leafs are 15-20cm's long and the plants get very tall. Here are a few examples of storiei:

storiei 2

storiei 3 (yellow)