I just joined!

[Shangrila]

I just joined this forum and only wish I had known about it before! I am an orchid addict!
I live in the Caribbean and have grown orchids as a hobby for many years.
I recently repotted some very pot-bound spathoglottis plants and noted that one of my oldest plants looked dried out and withered in the center. Lo and behold, when I unpotted it, there was a treasure chest of fat, round bulbs coiled in the center which were all connected from end to end. These bulbs have withered dried out roots and I guess this is the dormant stage of spathoglottis.
What I want to know is: Shall I just start them in the same moist medium as the actively growing plants or shall I start them in a more controlled environment ( sponge rock, spaghnum) wait until I see roots starting and then plant them?

Many thanks, Jana

[priz_m]

Hi Jana, welcome to the OB!

Unfortunately I don't grow spathoglottis so I am a bit short of advise there, however I am sure more than one of the other members will be more than able to help you.

Aside from spathoglottis, what other orchids do you grow? do you have any ?

[Shangrila]

Thanks so much for your quick reply. I have mostly warmgrowing epiphytes - vandas,phals,oncidiums and dendrobiums. that I have collected over the years.
Most of them I grow in a shade house, but some in the trees around us.
What do you grow?

[Ross]

Welcome Jana. Glad that you chose to join. Where in the BVI do you live? Not all the islands have the same conditions I have only been to one of them - St Lucia, and while at times it seems a paradise, at times it seems a desert. More suited to cactus than orchids. Would love to see your collection in pics.

[priz_m]

Originally Posted by Shangrila

Thanks so much for your quick reply. I have mostly warmgrowing epiphytes - vandas,phals,oncidiums and dendrobiums. that I have collected over the years.
Most of them I grow in a shade house, but some in the trees around us.
What do you grow?

Well I am fairly new to orchids (only a couple years now) so I'm growing mostly Phals and the occasional Dend. I have a modest and small collection at the time but I am looking to grow it to match the exact plants I want. but they will be Phals mostly lol

[Shangrila]

Hi Ross
I live on Tortola (which is the main island comprising the BVI) It is volcanic in origin and hence very steep mountainsides. I live at 1200 ft. and as a result enjoy cooling breezes and more rain. Anegada, on the other hand, also BVI, is a flat coral atoll - and very much like a desert. Sorry don't have any pictures at hand.
Jana

[Ross]

Jana, not familiar with your climate, but sounds similar to St Lucia (wet season - dry season?)