HELP PLEASE! SEDIREA JAPONICA QUESTION

[John D.]

Thanks

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by John D.

Should they be mounted roots up like a Phal, or leaves up?

Thanks
John

From my experience, the growth habit of Sedirea japonica is exactly like that of Phalaenopsis. They grow horizontally or pendulously from a tree. The crown faces the direction of the sun, and the leaf tips point down.

Yeah, they do grow in brighter light than Phalaenopsis.

[Leisurely]

The shriveled leaves and brown tips were not created by my culture. The plant looked like that when I received it about six weeks ago. The green root tips have developed since I got it and they were already there before I added the sphagnum.

My humidity if very high at night in the greenhouse; about 75 to 85 percent. Day time humidity ranges from 50 to 70 percent. Minimum night temps are about 58F and days range from mid seventies to mid eighties. In the winter, I fertilize about twice per month with 3/4 tsp of MSU with an occasional shot of Peters. I use four small fans that run 24/7 and the plant receives medium light sufficient to flower miniature cattleyas. I mist all of my mounted plants, including my Sedirea japonica, every day with rain water if the weather is nice.

My current thoughts are, since seeing the new root growth, that I will wait another couple of months before doing anything in hopes that the added sphagnum will provide the extra moisture needed to perk up the plant. I am also going to remove the new flower spike because it would just cause stress on the plant.

Now, what do you think?

[vmax3000]

Hey Jerry,
It sounds like patience may be the key, here. If you are getting green root tips, I'd say that's a good thing! Your humidity and temp ranges are around what mine are. I hope it thrives for you!

[bodaciousbonsai]

Hello to all. this is my Sedria japonica wich I have been growing for 8 years. I give 1500-2000 fc intermidate temps, constant air movement. I feed weekly weakly.

I have recenetly mounted this plant on a 6 " ball of tree fern. No moss anything! the roots are starting to sink right in the tree fern ball. theses plants benefit from 2-3 waterings per day. hope this helps

[mspatt]

Okay, while we're talking about how to pot the Japanese orchids, anybody every try s/h with a Sedirea? Ray Barkalow has it listed as one of those you can put into leca, but I'm leary of trying it with my one and only...Any thoughts or experiences?

[bodaciousbonsai]

I have tried this S/H culture. I personally did not like it because one you have to rinse out the media everyonce in awhile due to build up of algea. Two I dont believe you are actually micmicing their true enviroment by doing so. There are not many places on earth were it constantly raining enough to keep the medium wet to that extent.

[vmax3000]

Originally Posted by bodaciousbonsai

Hello to all. this is my Sedria japonica wich I have been growing for 8 years. I give 1500-2000 fc intermidate temps, constant air movement. I feed weekly weakly.

I have recenetly mounted this plant on a 6 " ball of tree fern. No moss anything! the roots are starting to sink right in the tree fern ball. theses plants benefit from 2-3 waterings per day. hope this helps

Great looking plant!! Mine has a big spike, right now. My gh heater is still improperly vented, so the two buds on the end yellowed, but the rest of the buds are going strong! When does yours spike and blossom? Again, really great plant.

[Kitty]

love Sedirea japonica! I also grower it a little brighter than might be recomended. Mine is now in a 8 in. plastic bulb pan, it has a 14 in. leaf span and 7 spikes this year, last year it had 5. when it comes into bloom I'll post a photo.

[bodaciousbonsai]

It varies really, Ive had it bloom in the spring,summer,fall, and winter.When its happy it sends out 4 -10 spikes at a time. Same here I will post a pic probably in the late spring