Hi Everyone,

Over Labor Day weekend I acquired a Peristeria Elata. What a plant it
is! The spike measures 57" and the bulbs are the size of softballs!
It looks like a Lycaste on steroids!

I got it home alright in the Passat. A few of the leaves got a little
sunburn spots on them as it was 95 degrees and sunny on the 15 minute
drive home from the local orchid place.

As the blooms are now starting to fade (three weeks now since I bought
it), the leaves on the two bulbs are starting to fade also. Is this
normal? Should I cut off the leaves after the blooms completely fade
on the spike, or should I let them fall off on their own?

There are two large, healthy bulbs with leaves and two large, healthy
looking but leafless backbulbs. It will need to be repotted once it
finishes its blooms.

Thought I'd check with y'all first, and if necessary I will contact
George Stagi at Maplethorpe Orchids where I purchased it to see what
he has to say.

Thanks for any feedback and other growing tips on this very different
species orchid (aka the Holy Ghost Orchid; National Flower of
Panama).

Lori

Ask George what he'd do with it. All I know about them is they are huge
plants.

K Barrett
N Calif

"Lori Siegmund" wrote in message
om...
Hi Everyone,

Over Labor Day weekend I acquired a Peristeria Elata. What a plant it
is! The spike measures 57" and the bulbs are the size of softballs!
It looks like a Lycaste on steroids!

I got it home alright in the Passat. A few of the leaves got a little
sunburn spots on them as it was 95 degrees and sunny on the 15 minute
drive home from the local orchid place.

As the blooms are now starting to fade (three weeks now since I bought
it), the leaves on the two bulbs are starting to fade also. Is this
normal? Should I cut off the leaves after the blooms completely fade
on the spike, or should I let them fall off on their own?

There are two large, healthy bulbs with leaves and two large, healthy
looking but leafless backbulbs. It will need to be repotted once it
finishes its blooms.

Thought I'd check with y'all first, and if necessary I will contact
George Stagi at Maplethorpe Orchids where I purchased it to see what
he has to say.

Thanks for any feedback and other growing tips on this very different
species orchid (aka the Holy Ghost Orchid; National Flower of
Panama).

Lori

Ask George what he'd do with it. All I know about them is they are huge
plants.

K Barrett
N Calif

"Lori Siegmund" wrote in message
om...
Hi Everyone,

Over Labor Day weekend I acquired a Peristeria Elata. What a plant it
is! The spike measures 57" and the bulbs are the size of softballs!
It looks like a Lycaste on steroids!

I got it home alright in the Passat. A few of the leaves got a little
sunburn spots on them as it was 95 degrees and sunny on the 15 minute
drive home from the local orchid place.

As the blooms are now starting to fade (three weeks now since I bought
it), the leaves on the two bulbs are starting to fade also. Is this
normal? Should I cut off the leaves after the blooms completely fade
on the spike, or should I let them fall off on their own?

There are two large, healthy bulbs with leaves and two large, healthy
looking but leafless backbulbs. It will need to be repotted once it
finishes its blooms.

Thought I'd check with y'all first, and if necessary I will contact
George Stagi at Maplethorpe Orchids where I purchased it to see what
he has to say.

Thanks for any feedback and other growing tips on this very different
species orchid (aka the Holy Ghost Orchid; National Flower of
Panama).

Lori

Sounds like you have a nice plant. Mine's about the same size and we let the
leaves die off naturally. You can help them along a little by reducing the
water for its dryish winter rest. Don't let it get totally dry, but it sure
doesn't need too much water with those huge bulbs and no leaves. Repot in
the spring when new growth starts if the pot's too small. Easy and beautiful
plant.
Gary

"Lori Siegmund" wrote in message
om...
Hi Everyone,

Over Labor Day weekend I acquired a Peristeria Elata. What a plant it
is! The spike measures 57" and the bulbs are the size of softballs!
It looks like a Lycaste on steroids!

I got it home alright in the Passat. A few of the leaves got a little
sunburn spots on them as it was 95 degrees and sunny on the 15 minute
drive home from the local orchid place.

As the blooms are now starting to fade (three weeks now since I bought
it), the leaves on the two bulbs are starting to fade also. Is this
normal? Should I cut off the leaves after the blooms completely fade
on the spike, or should I let them fall off on their own?

There are two large, healthy bulbs with leaves and two large, healthy
looking but leafless backbulbs. It will need to be repotted once it
finishes its blooms.

Thought I'd check with y'all first, and if necessary I will contact
George Stagi at Maplethorpe Orchids where I purchased it to see what
he has to say.

Thanks for any feedback and other growing tips on this very different
species orchid (aka the Holy Ghost Orchid; National Flower of
Panama).

Lori

Gary,

Thanks for the feedback!
I did stop by the place I purchased the orchid. George tells me that
it might be adjusting to its new environment. Without looking at it
(only what I described to him) he thought it might be getting too much
light. I also remembered I spritzed the leaves a couple of times when
it was really a warm day... and that might have caused the leaves to
discolor.

I will follow your advice and let the leaves fade on their own. I
have to believe that is healthier for the plant. And since they are
deciduous anyway.

The last of the flowers are fading. I may go ahead and repot it as
soon as all the flowers go. It really needs to be repotted. I think
I will see if I can get the two leafless backbulbs to separate; and
then pot those up and see what happens. I promised an orchid-growing
coworker of mine those backbulbs if I can get them to come off.

Cheers!

Lori





"V_coerulea" wrote in message . ..
Sounds like you have a nice plant. Mine's about the same size and we let the
leaves die off naturally. You can help them along a little by reducing the
water for its dryish winter rest. Don't let it get totally dry, but it sure
doesn't need too much water with those huge bulbs and no leaves. Repot in
the spring when new growth starts if the pot's too small. Easy and beautiful
plant.
Gary

"Lori Siegmund" wrote in message
om...
Hi Everyone,

Over Labor Day weekend I acquired a Peristeria Elata. What a plant it
is! The spike measures 57" and the bulbs are the size of softballs!
It looks like a Lycaste on steroids!

I got it home alright in the Passat. A few of the leaves got a little

sunburn spots on them as it was 95 degrees and sunny on the 15 minute
drive home from the local orchid place.

As the blooms are now starting to fade (three weeks now since I bought
it), the leaves on the two bulbs are starting to fade also. Is this
normal? Should I cut off the leaves after the blooms completely fade
on the spike, or should I let them fall off on their own?

There are two large, healthy bulbs with leaves and two large, healthy
looking but leafless backbulbs. It will need to be repotted once it
finishes its blooms.

Thought I'd check with y'all first, and if necessary I will contact
George Stagi at Maplethorpe Orchids where I purchased it to see what
he has to say.

Thanks for any feedback and other growing tips on this very different
species orchid (aka the Holy Ghost Orchid; National Flower of
Panama).

Lori