I have a seedling Encyclia cochleata coming. Other than basic care is there anything I should know? Quirks? Like don't ever repot before you see new growth, Dead roots might be white (as I learned with chocolate orchids), etc.
This is considered in the Cattleya alliance, and is now called Anacheilum cochleatum by many botanists. You might find information under that name. Another related species is Anacheilum / Encyclia radiatum / radiata; you can look that up, too.
This group doesn't like to get dry, but it also doesn't like to stay soggy. It might be time to repot the seedling when you get it if the medium is old. Seedlings can't tolerate as strong light as adults need. Regular light fertilizing helps.
They do well in pots. I would definitely not grow a seedling of this on a mount if you are a beginner. Save that experience for a mature plant of something else.
__________________ May the bridges I've burned light my way.
This is considered in the Cattleya alliance, and is now called Anacheilum cochleatum by many botanists. You might find information under that name. Another related species is Anacheilum / Encyclia radiatum / radiata; you can look that up, too.
This group doesn't like to get dry, but it also doesn't like to stay soggy. It might be time to repot the seedling when you get it if the medium is old. Seedlings can't tolerate as strong light as adults need. Regular light fertilizing helps.
They do well in pots. I would definitely not grow a seedling of this on a mount if you are a beginner. Save that experience for a mature plant of something else.
Thank you! The media (all New Zealand slag moss). Looks ok, and the pot size is plenty big. I'm planning to repot once a new bulb starts growing. About how large do they get before they are blooming size? I think this lil guy is 2 or 3 years away from blooming. I have it about 3 inches from the fluorescent light - I'll move down so it gets less light.
Maybe filling a 3" / 8cm pot before blooming? Cattleya alliance plants grow well in lower light, but they don't bloom. Seedlings are easier to burn, so I keep them in lower light than mature plants, since they can't bloom yet.
__________________ May the bridges I've burned light my way.
Late to the game, but I'm gonna say if the seedling was just deflasked, it'd be about 3 years before it blooms for the first time. I'm sure you know by now that these guys are tough as nails and grow pretty fast. No real quirks to worry about. It should be fairly easy to grow particularly if your seedling was large.