Remounting Pleurothallis Alliance

[Longroots]

Went to an orchid show recently and picked these up, a Dracula Bella from Ecuagenera, and the andinia nummularia, Lepanthes Aculeata, Sophrontis Cernua from Spiceotics (plus a Rhynchostylis Gigantea, but that's besides the point). I also regret not picking up the Bulbophyllum Moniliforme, but I plan on ordering a Dracula Lotax at some point so may get it then. Anyway...

I think they all need freshening up in terms of medium, also the mounts aren't ideal, it's just reformed cork. However I think the Sophrontis is firmly attached so I may cut around the roots and wire it to proper cork bark. The Dracula was completely dried out, I think due to import laws, so plan on getting that into a hydroponic basket, and I think it has exactly 0 living roots left.

Do I leave them as they are whilst they're in pest quarantine, or do I refresh them now?

[Roberta]

I'd go ahead and get these into their "permanent homes". For the Sophronitis (of course not a Pleurothallid... which will make it the most robust of the bunch) , I'd just tie the mount fo a new mount. Quickly enough, the roots will escape and attach themselves to the new mount, in a few years you won't even see the old mount,most likely. Don't bother trying to remove any excess material from the old mount. Definitely give that Dracula some love. You might try soaking it for a couple of hours in water with a little bit of sugar added to help the rehydration process.

[Longroots]

I really want to get them into their permanent home (my cool growing cabinet), but I'd prefer to hold off for a little bit. The humidity in this temporary enclosure is between 70-90, and temps are between 19-23c, so they should be ok for a few weeks. I'd rather be overly cautious than risk introducing something more than just orchids!

The Dracula for sure needs some love! I just couldn't pass it for £20, plus there was no other Dracula's there that were smaller growing, so it was this Dracula or no Dracula. I'll freshen them up shortly.

[Roberta]

I think conditions will be fine for them in "quarantine". But no need to wait for remouting, potting, etc.

For desiccated imported plants, along with the sugar-water soak, I have used Wilt Stop (Here's the US Amazon page, https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wilt+stop...ltr-ranker_2_6) I don't know anything about "Wilt Pruf" but seems to do the same thing - reduce transpiration. You want to absolutely keep it away from the roots - I spray a little into a paper cup or similar container, and apply to the leaves with a paint brush or cotton swab. Unfortunately one can't buy a smaller quantity, so enough for several lifetimes since one only needs a couple of ml for the treatment of small plants. .

[Longroots]

Wow that stuff is expensive! I don't know if it will arrive before I leave for a few days. All of them are repotted and mounted freshly, the sophrontis I just wrapped onto cork bark as is, but didn't add or remove any moss either. I saw no sign of pests but you can't be too careful. Got to keep the humidity high!

Really looking forward to these going into my enclosure.

Next on the buy list is Lepanthes Pilosella, Lepanthes Calodictyon, Lepanthese Telipogonliflora, Aerangis Hyaloides, some kind of cool growing Bulbophyllum, Macodes Petola, Dracula Lotax, maybe another small growing Dracula, a small Masdevallia, and a cooler growing Chilochista such as Usneoids.

[Roberta]

I hope you got the smallest quantity (I think a bit over a liter) not the concentrate!

The Sophronitis cernua shouldn't need any moss... I grow it on a bare mount, it gets ambient humidity (where I live temps are fine for growing it outside, humidity isn't great) and it grows quite well. Fantastic little species.

I think you are hopelessly addicted ... great selection of plants!

[Longroots]

I really am! I have been for a while, but space continues to be an issue. Then I thought, why not get into miniatures? I get a diversity in a small space then! I'm planning on decommissioning my makeshift biorb into a quarantine tank, and then making a large warm growing cabinet. I'm not telling my husband this...

I really love Lepanthes though so I'm not quite ready to move on from cool growers yet.

The warm growers who need humidity seem to be a bit bigger, so it may have to be a slightly bigger cabinet... I think for that one I'll glue cork bark to the back entirely, but maybe I'm getting ahead of myself!

[Roberta]

For Draculas, consider Drac. mantissa or Drac. benedictii. Small plants, with dozens of flowers, arranged all around the plant. This is what my Drac. mantissa did this year. 4 inch (10 cm) basket.

[Longroots]

Wow that's gorgeous, you've clearly kept it happy, and I'll keep my eye out for one!

I'm always nervous about Dracula's they hate drying out, but they don't want to be sodden either. I've found my Pleurothallis Paliolata loves being WET. The roots have exploded in my cabinet, and wonder if this Pleuro is enjoying this moisture, would a Dracula appreciate the same?

[Roberta]

I keep my Dracs as wet as I can manage (they do dry out a bit in summer, when they are not very happy). I have found those baskets to be great for keeping things both wet and airy. Either sphagnum, or recently I've been using New Zealand tree fern, which I like even better. This stuff... don't know how widely available it is, but it has some terrific characteristics. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=new+zeala...tr-ranker_1_15 It is also sold as reptile bedding, just different packaging.

Dracs definitely like cool and damp. These little ones don't tend to collapse during the day like the big ones do, seem a little more tolerant of warmth (though they don't particularly like it)