Leopard Orchid

[RedCherry]

Hello fellow Orchid growers.

I am totally new at this but looking to get some advise on the optimal growth of my Leopard Orchid, and whether or not it needs to be re potted. I am notoriously bad at growing plants, a fact obstinately ignored by my orchid, which has resulted in me developing an overt affection for it. A friend (who has better luck with plants) advised me that it needs to be re potted, and that I shouldn't just go to any nursery as they often don't know what they're doing: this put me off as never having stepped into a nursery out of my own volition before, I wouldn't know the difference.

How do you know when your orchid needs to be re potted? Does anybody here know of somebody I can ask who is based in Cape Town, South Africa?

Much appreciated
Sincerely
RedCherry & Leopard Orchid

[drone]

First rule of orchidboard, pictures please.

[BobInBonita]

Welcome to O.B.

Not just a rule, but without seeing it it's hard to give any advice. A picture shows what kind of plant it REALLY is. (I believe Leopard orchid is a fanciful term, like moth orchid). Try to get an overall of the plant and a close up of the surface at the root level so we can see the media its growing in. If its in a clear container a shot of the roots is nice also.

Anything you can tell us about how you're caring for it, changes in its appearance, etc help with recommendations.

If it seems happy, there probably is not a lot of urgency, although it is much better to catch things before they get urgent.

[CTB]

Ditto! And welcome to the Orchid Board, where all the answers are.

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board.

Leopard orchid is a 'common' name which is used for different orchids in different parts of the world, and so as other have said we could do with pictures to help work out what it really is.

If you need help with how to post pictures on the forum take a look at this link.
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...chidboard.html

[WhiteRabbit]

Hello and welcome!

Ansellia africana

I believe this is the orchid you have and are asking about?

[Royal]

The main thing to look for when evaluating if it's time to repot is the condition of the medium. Eventually the chunky, well-draining media will begin to break down. Old media stays too wet too long and allows less air to the roots.

[Pampered]

Hi RedCherry,
I agree with all OB friends. Showing pictures of your leopard orchid would be a lot more helpful for us to give the advice.

Welcome to OB! I'm new here as well.

[RedCherry]

Hello again fellow Orchid admirers

Thank you for your speedy responses and your warm welcome! A quick update on my Leopard Orchid:

I have established that my Leopard Orchid is in fact a Ansellia Africana. I bought it when it was flowering, pretty yellow flowers with maroon/brown spots.

I water it once a week, and give it orchid fertilizer once every two weeks. It doesn't get direct sunlight, as it stands next to my hippo on my Chinese cabinet. But i could move it to the window if it needs?

I also have a spritzer bottle that a mist it with once a day? The temperature in my apartment is moderate most of the year, never bellow 10 degrees Celsius
in winter...it does get pretty hot over January - February months and pretty humid!

To aid in this internet advice process I have attached pictures





Once again
Thank you for all your enthusiasm.
RedCherry & Leopard - Over & Out!

[BobInBonita]

Sorry, but Ansellia is not something I have experience with, so take this with a large grain of salt.

The plant seems generally healthy, but the roots are pretty tightly packed. Is that a stone type medium or is it mineral build-up on bark (hard to tell from the picture)?

The link above gives some good general tips on growing Anselia. It sounds liker a winter rest (dry period) is important to blooming. The fact that you're moving into spring would correspond with coming out of dry season and blooming. You should be getting some new root growth now.

Although the link didn't say anything about light requirements, my general sense is that this plant wants pretty bright light (based on the picture of it growing naturalized in a pretty bare tree).

If I was growing it, first I would repot in fresh bark mix (there are both pictures and videos on repotting here on orchidboard), and then I think I would gradually (over several weeks) move it towards brighter and brighter light. Watch how it responds. Any sign of sunburn (bleaching of the leaves), move it back a bit (immediately).

Please remember, I'm guessing here, so anyone with specific experience trumps me instantly.

Good luck, and keep us posted on progress.