Other Native Orchids?

[yathkin]

I'm just wondering whether anyone out there is working on propagating more of the bog orchids?

I know Bob Yannettii worked out a propagation protocol for Arethusa, and then released a huge number of hybrids (including hybrids between arethusa and calopogon.) Although I keep hearing of some of those hybrids floating out there in in some people's collections, I think they've mostly been forgotten now.

It seems alot of attention of propagation work so far has been on the slipper orchids, instead of the bog orchids, even though there are several that I suspect would be as easy as pogonias if someone could get the proper permits and do the appropriate work to propagate them. Cleistes seems like a genus that someone should try, but I've never heard from anyone who has.

I think this propagation work is rather important since, just like CPs, we're losing all the wild populations of bog orchids.

[fred]

You might want to check out the terrestrial orchid forum (which I own, spamming not intended):
forum.terrorchid.org/

It's filled with plant nuts who propagate terrestrial orchids - among which bog orchids. My personal main interest is symbiotic germination of orchids, many of the devotees use it as a reliable technique to propagate bog orchids.

[yathkin]

Hey, is that the same "Fred" of Fredsbog" on Garden web?

If so, then nice to see you on this forum. If not, then FredsBog was one the other few people I've encountered that seemed to really be trying out new orchid species in the bog.

thanks for sendng the link to the other forum, I'll check it out!

[fred]

Howdy,

no - this Fred isn't on GardenWeb.

[royal]

Hey, I'm brand new to the ICPS, my first passion is orchids. I had the same thought that since habitats are the same for some orchids and CPs here in East TX, saving one would save both. You're exactly right about all the focus being on slippers, I'm guilty too. Our Cyps do need hlep but so do more "common" orchids. Pagonia, Calopogon, Platanthera, and many others would make cool CP companions, and propagation for use in cultivation would surely reduce some of the collection pressure and increase awareness of our bog species.

I've been germinating orchids from seed for about a year now and I'd love work with some native seed. I'm using asymbiotic techniques, germinating them in vitro but many terrestrials will come up when sown symbiotically - just at a lower germ rate.

It's cool to see some orchid discussions here. This is really inspiring to me. What's been done, and what is still needed in this area? Remember, I'm only an orchid guy just beginning to see the CP light.

[jfowler]

For what it's worth, I grow Calopogon tuberosus, Platanthera ciliaris, and Spiranthes cernua in my front yard bog garden. Here is a link for some photos I took of it last year:

www.pbase.com/jimfowler/frontyardboggarden