Set your orchid collection on fire with the Fire Orchid (Renanthera storiei)

You'll often see species of Renanthera being referred to as 'Fire Orchid' but, let's be honest, there can be only one. And that one can only be Renanthera storiei. Other Renanthera species also have red flowers, but none approaches the sheer flame-like effect that this species lends when in full bloom.

Renanthera storiei was described in 1880 by Heinrich Reichenbach f. from specimens cultivated by Stuart Low. You may see references saying that this plant was collected by James Storie, but that is erroneous; James Storie was honored in the naming of this species because he was the first to flower this species outside its land of origin, and not because he was the original collector. 

Taken from the book Orchids at Kew (RBG Kew, 1992).

The flowers of R. storiei are the largest in the genus, attaining a span of 5 to 6 cm from both petal tips and 7.5 cm from the dorsal sepal to the ends of the lateral sepals. Healthy specimens are capable of producing up to about a hundred flowers on branched, meter-long inflorescences that are held horizontally but eventually becomes pendent due to the weight of the flowers. No other Renanthera species is capable of producing as many blooms. In keeping up with the flower size, the stems too reach considerable lengths. Literature often mentions the stems to attain lengths of up to 4 meters, but since these plants do not know how to read books, they go their merry ways in the forest and scramble on the forest canopy for voluminous dimensions that defy what appears to be 'common knowledge'. In the province of Quezon, I have seen very old specimens dangling from their host's branches simply because the branches aren't long enough to support the climbing stems. These plants are suspended about 10 or so meters above the ground, crept their way into the branches, and dangled for some 3 or more meters. Do the math. I could not see the bases of the plants as the tree trunk also supported hemi-epiphytic aroids but it should be noted that R. storiei often starts out as a terrestrial then becomes fully epiphytic later in life. Plants in such situations receive filtered light and continuous air movement; some will recommend growing this species with lots of light, but that will work if your humidity is also high. Otherwise, the plants may desiccate, particularly if not yet well-established. 

So how does one grow this species? The Fire Orchid has a very wide altitudinal band, occurring from sea level to 1000 m. This means that it can be grown in hot to cool-intermediate climates. If you are in the hot tropical lowlands, give it some shade. But you can afford to give it more sun the higher your altitude and latitude are. Your main issue will be space, but this won't be too much of an issue if you grow your plants outdoors. Be aware too that it can take a few years (anywhere from 2 to 5 years, depending on your horticultural skills) before you can bloom this species, but when it does, all that patience is well paid off.

Renanthera storiei is endemic to the Philippines and occurs from Luzon (Mountain Province, Bataan, Zambales, Rizal, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon), Palawan and surrounding islands, Leyte and Samar in the Visayas, the island of Dinagat, and Agusan and Surigao del Norte on Mindanao. This species grows on mangroves, rocky coastal forests, mixed dipterocarp forests, and upper dipterocarp forests, in shade to full sun. Flowering takes place anytime from February to November.