There are definately signs of spring in the greenhouse and this is an orchid we think of as a spring flowerer but is with us already.

The name Gastrochilus to the belly like lip on the small attractive flowers – too much food over christmas?

Gastrochilus calceolus is the type species for the genus and we have seen the species flowering in Sikkim at Tinkitam where is grows amongst Cymbidium devonianum and Coelogyne cristata as an epiphyte in large mossy trees at 2000m. It is actually found across a really wide range from the Himalayas through South East Asia, the Philippines and Borneo, and from 230m in warm forests to 2300m and cool forest. We grow our plant in our warm Asia section where it seems very happy in shade and watered all year, but in a 10cm basket as it seems to resent getting soggy.