Meet the Sarcochilus Hybrids
Would you like like to meet some charming, attractive Australians? Sarcochilus orchids are brilliant Aussie gems. They’ve been hybridized Down Under for a while, but until recently, there weren’t many hybrids available in the USA. Increasingly, I see more of them on sale and at orchid shows. This post includes 15 different varieties which were displayed at last spring’s Peninsula Orchid Society Show. The photos represent a sampling of the colors and markings that hybridizers have created so far. They boast crystal whites, bright yellows, stunning reds, and rich purples. Some have dazzling spots, and others have artistic splash patterns.
It’s no surprise that these plants resemble small Vandas, since they’re related and can hybridize. Most of these crosses are made from only a few species, including the vigorous Sarcochilus hartmannii, which I’ve grown for years. (I don’t breed or hybridize mine. I’m just happy that it blooms.)
Sarcochilus orchids are compact growers. In the wild, they live as air plants (epiphytes) or rock plants (lithophytes.) They enjoy cool temps, high humidity, good air movement, regular watering, and morning sun. They’re great for growing outdoors in mild, foggy climates like the San Francisco Bay Area, and can do well indoors on a cool windowsill. They must grow very well in the little town of Kulnura, Australia, north of Sydney. I’ve heard that an important Sarcochilus hybridizer lives there, and that’s why lots of these beautiful orchids bear this town’s name.
Explore posts in the same categories: Cool Growers, Growing, Photos, Watering
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