Barkeria scandens care?

[Paul]

Well I didn't do all my homework, apparently, so now must rely upon the wisdom of others. Got a potted one today.

My most serious concern is dormancy. [I was told mine is currently dormant.]:

Just how dry of a rest does it need? [Withhold water completely? Mist once/week? ....]

Is a cooling period necessary and if so how much?

[tbaenziger]

Boy are you lucky! They are so beautiful, and I've wanted one for a long time. For the moment I have two plants of B spectabilis and two hybrids B. Glynn Marsh (not a great bloomer, but, hey, it does have flowers and every year, twice a year for nine years), and finally Barkeria Mary Marsh (naevosa x Marsh Mela). Robert Marsh talked to us in Houston about a year ago and he says they all like a) growing on a wooden mount and b) a short drying out period after the blooms fade. While in active growth feed and water copiously to feed the fat, photosynthesizing roots (on a mount! in the pot I would be very careful since I cannot see if the roots are growing). The rest period can be rather short but should be absolute: no water for a couple of weeks or more if you like. They all like high light, and in Mexico can take full sun. Some of the species can produce prodigiously long roots, I hear. Anyway, check out Bob Marsh for really expert advice.
P.S. Caterpillars LOVE the spikes... to eat.

[Paul]

Thanks, Ted!

I should have thought to mention:

I got it from Oakhill [it was really inexpensive]. It is potted in a 2-2.5" clay pot. Media appears to be fairly large bark. Judging by the dried green algae on the outside of the pot, I would assume they water heavily & often during its growing season.

Oh & I grow indoors NOT in a greenhouse [I should have mentioned that from the get go -- don't know where my brain was], so I'm unsure how radically different my treatment may have to be. Tends to be extremely dry in my apt over the winter. I had thought of keeping it in my terr but wonder if that wouldn't be too moist during its dormancy?

Btw, do they rebloom from old canes or only once / cane?

[tbaenziger]

Paul,
They rebloom off the same spike, so do not cut it. I grow mine outside during the season (March-Oct. in Houston) where it is very humid. However, during the cold months I have them inside. The one that just rebloomed (2 on 1) for one full month, is hanging from a flouorescent fixture in my kitchen/dining/living room. I have a small suite at the student residence. It is quite dry here, so evey chance I get, I mist with an extremely week 20.20.20 with one or two drops of everclear (that's alcohol). It loves it, the drying out and the getting drunk. As I say, I've had this one for nine years, on a piece of driftwood I cured from the Gulf of Mexico. It started at the bottom and worked its way up to the top over the years. BTW, it can take drying out for a couple of weeks and not suffer.
Now be careful about intrerpreting what I say. This is a hybrid, and I'm thinking your sacndens likes it cooler than Houston weather, but the basic care should be the same. Good luck.
I also like Hoosier O, but I spend too much money when I go there (Luckily, it's rare to get up there. Unluckily, they have a great website (sigh).