Spathoglottis culture - Orchid Board

littlefrog · #1 09-11-2008, 01:58 PM

Ok, I took the plunge and bought a lot of Spathoglottis (a few hundred...). Most of them I'm hoping to sell, but in the meantime I'll need to grow them.

So... Anybody grow these well, and if so, do you have any tips?

Dorothy · #2 09-11-2008, 06:50 PM

Tropic · #3 09-12-2008, 07:17 PM

I have a number of Spathoglottis orchids growing both outside and within my greenhouse and they definitely do need some special care at times, so suggest you sort out the different plants that prefer more shade and others that can take full sun. Some like it constantly damp and others like a short dry spell ... but they are tough plants and are survivors once they get fed regularly.

sparkle orchids · #4 09-12-2008, 07:54 PM

Little frog,
Lots of light, it is so salt intolerant so take care not to put too much fertilizer. Use Nutricote, it works like magic.
I have an article in the AOS sept08 issue about spathoglottis. Part 2 will be next month or November and it will include spath culture.

enaiecarg · #5 09-12-2008, 08:13 PM

Hi,
Based from my experience, they like a free draining soil mix, and they kinda hate excessive watering. Typhoons here in the philippines make my plicatas lose some leaves. As for the light requirements I have mine in full sun except during summer where it gets scorching hot.

Also, since these 'chids are somewhat tropical, I don't think they'll welcome frost that much...
Good luck in raising them...

Tropic · #6 09-12-2008, 08:31 PM

Sparkle orchids ... what type Nutricote do you advise for Spathoglottis? ... the 13-13-13 Type 180 is what I use. Maybe there is a better alternative.

sparkle orchids · #7 09-12-2008, 08:49 PM

That's perfect. Remember its NUTRICOTE. Osmocote is deadly to spaths. Specially in our warm climate.

Tropic · #8 09-13-2008, 12:17 AM

That is very important to know since I have used Osmocote on other ground orchids and found some unexplained problems... so far the Nutricote has proven very successful. In Guyana we grow our Spathoglottis about the garden in raised beds made of a mixture of coconut fibre, crushed sea shells and horse manure. This works very well and produce wonderful plants and flowers. In Costa Rica I grow the Spathoglottis in pots under a covered greenhouse with controlled watering and fertilize using Nutricote. Here I get better flower production and less problems with insects, fungus and lizards breaking the flower stalks.

littlefrog · #9 09-13-2008, 12:34 AM

Sparkle,

I read the article in Orchids with interest... Glad to know you are here. That is actually what pushed me over the edge, my wholesaler has been offering them for a while, but I didn't really need them until I read the article. I'd love to know where I could get hold of some of those awesome hybrids in the first part of the series...

Our climate is definitely not your climate. It will be cloudy, dark, and well below freezing outside for at least four months this winter. So these are obviously for greenhouse culture.

I'll be getting Spath. kimballiana, gracilis, plicata, and... something... parsonii I think.

sparkle orchids · #10 09-13-2008, 05:04 AM

Hey tropic, coco fibre and manure is great, sea shells is not (excess calcium, and SALTS!). I've been to Costa Rica a couple of times. A past president of your orchid society hosted me and the climate is not much different from us. I believe you should not put it under cover. It loves the rain. And again, no Osmocote!!!!! Unlike nutricote which is time release, osmocote is temperature and humidity dependent release! Deadly for all orchids (and ferns etc) in warm areas. Deadly! Deadly!
And I am not a nutricote agent.