Chiloschista usneoides (Asian Ghost Orchid)

[nabakov5]

And for my second post for the day....
I have my eye on an Asian Ghost Orchid. I want to buy it (i'm fascinated by these leaf-less orchids), but I'm concerned about how to care for it properly.

Do you think this might be an orchid to try in a terrarium? I've been aching to try that out, and have recently bought a small terrarium that would work. Do any of you have any experience in cultivating this type of orchid? Is it as hard as it looks?

[orchid-man]

for what I have read any of the leafless orchids are very hard to grow ,as the roots are also the leaves.

Seventeen to 23 small mostly leafless epiphytes make up this warm growing genus from India, S.E. Asia, Indonesia, and Australia. They are best mounted on wood or cork and need high humidity, moderate shade and regular water, but they like to dry out between waterings and, after growth has stopped, less water is required.

[Tindomul1of9]

I suppose its possible to grow them in terrariums. But since they like to dry out make sure they get lots of air, either by adding a fan, or having an open top or screen top if you wanna keep animals.
Also you wanna think about how much light they need. If they need full sun, then they could get cooked in a terrarium.

[orkidlady]

Hi there,

I am new to the forum as I was doing research on two ghost orchids that I have which are:

Chiloschista Usneoides and a mini called Polyrrhiza Lindenii

I do not fuss with these at all and they are both mounted. I have them hanging above my kitchen sink and they are getting light from a skylight in my kitchen and a west facing window.

I spray them with a product called UltraGrowth and they are thriving. They only get sprayed once a day. Actually the Chiloschista Usneoides is sending something out and it looks like a leaf but these are leafless so I am hoping it is the beginning of a spike as I believe June is around the time that they flower but it looks like it will be a while before I see what it is.

I just sprayed them the other day with an organic OMRI biobizz fish-mix and so far no reaction from them.

I thought they would be hard to grow but so far I am having great success with them and like I said I don't fuss a lot with them. I have only had the mini since last fall and the Chiloschista Usneoides I bought this winter. The Chiloschista Usneoides had no new growth before I started using the UG.

Orkidlady

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi there,

I am new to the forum as I was doing research on two ghost orchids that I have which are:

Chiloschista Usneoides and a mini called Polyrrhiza Lindenii

I do not fuss with these at all and they are both mounted. I have them hanging above my kitchen sink and they are getting light from a skylight in my kitchen and a west facing window.

I spray them with a product called UltraGrowth and they are thriving. They only get sprayed once a day. Actually the Chiloschista Usneoides is sending something out and it looks like a leaf but these are leafless so I am hoping it is the beginning of a spike as I believe June is around the time that they flower but it looks like it will be a while before I see what it is.

I just sprayed them the other day with an organic OMRI biobizz fish-mix and so far no reaction from them.

I thought they would be hard to grow but so far I am having great success with them and like I said I don't fuss a lot with them. I have only had the mini since last fall and the Chiloschista Usneoides I bought this winter. The Chiloschista Usneoides had no new growth before I started using the UG.

Orkidlady

Orkidlady. Enjoy.

Cheers,
BD

[Ron-NY]

I grow a couple of Chiloschista species. I find it an easy grower and it blooms reliably for me. I do have mine growing in a greenhouse though. Mine is mounted on a plastic mesh. It gets watered during hot weather on an almost daily basis. It will occasionally develop a rudimentary leaf. Mine blooms in late winter, early spring. I give it some sun but it has bloomed for me in bright shade as well.

All orchids in a terrarium need good air movement. This plant should do fine in a terrarium.

Polyrrhiza lindenii is not an easy one to grow or bloom.

[KC C]

I got a Chiloschista usenoides August of 2006 mounted on a very smooth piece of drift wood. It is a first time bloomer currently in spike, looks like it is going to have 3 blooms. During the winter it was in my bathroom and sprayed with distilled water every day, on Mondays with half strength fert. Mid April it went outside and has been hanging in dappled shade, drenched with the garden hose every day and sprayed with Miracle Grow every Monday.