Encouraging Unresponsive Bulbs to Grow

[HiOrcDen]

I am posting again about my little Egret Orchid bulbs. I keep them in the fridge and humid until they sprout. They are planted, and outdoors, and no growth yet. Seller instructed to plant early Spring, but I suspect, as our previous seasons tend to linger where I live, that Spring hasn’t really kicked in yet, as it isn’t even creeping above high 60’s yet.

Would it be advisable to return the little bulbs to the fridge, until it gets warm out, or is it too late to do this? Would it be a better idea to keep them under full spectrum led’s, indoors, and also use a heat mat with a thermostat, sensor in the soil? If so, what’s a good temp, maybe 80f or so? Also, should I put them in small 1 or 2 inch pots instead of the 4” pot they’re in?

I’ve also got a Bat Flower (Tacca) bulb, which is conversely pretty massive. It is also exhibiting no growth. Should I apply a similar method as I described?

[estación seca]

The Tacca is a warm growing plant. It won't do anything until temperatures rise. If you have a heat mat I would use that.

I would leave the orchid as it is and wait. If it's begun growing roots and you repot it you could damage it badly. I wouldn't use the heat mat for that one.

[Roberta]

The "egret" is Pecteilis radiata, a cool grower. It is spring relative to its cold mountain habitat. So now, just be patient... it will sprout (or not) in due course. You have a mixture of terrestrials, different habitats. (You do need to get used to the scientific names... if you want to look up information about them, you'll need those. For each, check out habitat information on IOSPE)

[HiOrcDen]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The Tacca is a warm growing plant. It won't do anything until temperatures rise. If you have a heat mat I would use that.

I would leave the orchid as it is and wait. If it's begun growing roots and you repot it you could damage it badly. I wouldn't use the heat mat for that one.

Originally Posted by Roberta

The "egret" is Pecteilis radiata, a cool grower. It is spring relative to its cold mountain habitat. So now, just be patient... it will sprout (or not) in due course. You have a mixture of terrestrials, different habitats. (You do need to get used to the scientific names... if you want to look up information about them, you'll need those. For each, check out habitat information on IOSPE)

Thank you! One of the two bulbs is still green in its bud, even though it's not growing. I hope this is a good sign. The other is light brown, could it still be alive?

The seller suggested to use pumice and sphagnum moss at about 80/20 ratio to plant the seeds. However they do not specify the size of the pumice. Would it likely be the smaller particle pumice, because I only have the 'standard' larger size?

So I am using the IOSPE, as suggested, and also the American Orchid Society website. There is another website you have suggested I use in conjunction with the IOSPE, I wonder if you could remind me? Otherwise I'll find it in our previous conversations

[Roberta]

The pumice that I use as the bulk of my mix for terrestrials is the 3/16 inch type Amazon pumice . Not small. Similarly-sized perlite would do the same thing, but when dry is too light so pots tip over. Pumice gives a little weight but the same characteristic. (Would not use this for the Pecteilis, which is a bog plant - that one needs a mix that has a lot of peat, very water-retentive)

[estación seca]

Whatever you do don't repot it now. It might be forming new roots. It you damage those repotting it will probably die.