Rodriguezia, perhaps venusta
I had a white Rodriguezia, which I think was labelled venustum, many years ago ; the post-mortem probably said “death by drowning” as I had been told that it must never dry out… I cannot recall seeing one at a show, and they do not often appear here either. But when I bought a Howeara Lava Burst, and thought I was growing it well, I delved into its parentage, and was reminded of the existence of this really rather lovely genus. Since then I have collected maybe a dozen plants of this genus, under almost as many names, which perhaps represents 4 or so different species. They are of course rather small things when you buy them – maybe just a couple of bulbs not much bigger than my finger nail , although at least one of the species is a bit more robust. I expect they are capable of growing into multi-growth plants with bigger bulbs and longer spikes. Although some of these little things – often twig epiphytes, are rather short lived in nature. ( That’s my excuse when I lose one ).It has taken a couple of years to get this up to the first flowers.
Hanging them with the baby vandas, and spraying them at the same time, seems to suit ; and this is the first to flower. More to follow, I’m sure…
Labelled as secunda, but IOSPE says that is a synonym of lanceolata, and that species is supposed to have pink flowers. The white one is I think venustum , so that is maybe what this is.
I am sure – so sure ( but as you all know I am the worlds’s leading orchid optimist ) that it will do much better when it is a bigger plant. But worth showing you I think, even now.
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Originally Posted by King Kjeldz
