Restrepia striata culture

[tbaenziger]

It's a cute plant, mounted on tree fern and gets a new leaf every three or four weeks. Had it since last October. Won't bloom. What to do?
Here's the background. I went to Indiana from Houston, Texas for business and took the time to go to Hoosier O., a marvelous place. When I explained my conditions and bought some great plants, including an extraordinary Aerangis splendida, they threw in this Restrepia for free! I refused, saying I couldn't grow it. Refusal on their part to take it away; I was stuck. "You can and will grow it", says my man. But, frustration, I can't get it to bloom. Help.

[gmdiaz]

Oh boy are you in luck. . .there are some hotty patootie restrepia growers here.

Staying tuned to hear what they think!. . ur, read what they have to say.

[tbaenziger]

May I ask a supplementary question about tree fern? I hear it can become toxic with age, but nobody has explained how I can "repot" something whose roots are in the stuff. What do I do? Should I just attach it to something and let the plant "walk away"? Or try to dig it out? Or just wait for the tree fern to fall apart?

[shakkai]

Hi Ted! Welcome to the wonderful world of Pleurothallids!!

Sounds like they were right! You are having no troubles growing this baby! From the information at IOSPE PHOTOS striata is a syn. of brachypus.

I only grow three Restrepias: dodsonii, brachypus, and guttulata. In the time that I've had them (about a year) the dodsonii has put on a new leaf and flowered once, the brachypus has grown a keiki and is just now forming a bud, and the guttulata (which I've only had since August) hasn't changed a bit. So, maybe I'm not the best one to be giving you advice!

I believe that in the next few months it is the natural season for brachypus to flower - so maybe it skipped a year last winter in adjusting to its new home? What are your temperatures like? And how often do you fertilize? From your description, it sounds like a heck of a lot of green growth to me... could it be that the plant is putting all of its efforts into making new leaves (i.e. its too happy!!) and isn't worried about reproducing/flowering?

You may also be interested in reading (if you haven't already) the article by another member, Restrepia, on how he grows his plants: http://www.orchidboard.com/Growing-P...hallid-Orchids

[Pals]

Hi,
I've also gone for restrepias and shouldn't be able to grow them according to the manuals as they are reputed to be cool-growers but mine are growing in warm conditions.
They like a LOT of water, brachypus was bought from the nursery covered in moss, the surface, the sides of the pot and even the leaves, its has so many keikeis that its beginning to look like a trailing plant and there always seems to be at least one flower on it, I water mine every day, they are in medium bark, purpurea has been flowering for a couple of months, a small dodsonii in moss put a flower out a week after I received it. I have mine in good light.
Can you try more light and water?

Pals

[shakkai]

Good suggestion, Pals... and welcome to Orchid Board!!

My Restrepias also get good light - enough so that the leaves have red tinges to them.

[Pals]

Thank you shakkai, joined today, will probably "lurk" for a while to see how things go!

[Pals]

P.S. regarding tree fern.
I personally think tree fern may dry out too quickly but it sounds like yours aren't suffering.
If you really want to move it out of tree fern, I would try to break it apart carefully with both hands and put the restrepia in medium bark and water daily or moss to water less often.

Pals

[Ray]

On tree fern, I'd water it at least daily, and keep in it your air conditioning, as it would languish in Houston temperatures.

As has been said, it is a winter-to-early spring bloomer.

[tbaenziger]

Thanks everyone. I'll read that article and try more light, and maybe I'll give it some fertilizer... just a bit.