schoenorchis fragrans and bulbophyllum moniliforme help!

[mevdog]

hi guys, i have owned a few shop bought orchids in the past but recently found some amazing looking plants online, the schoenorchis fragrans and bulbophyllum moniliforme to be exact. anyways, they were promptly ordered and now that they have arrived i dont really have a clue what to do. do i need to remove them from the mesh netting they are tied to or do i simply leave them as they are? can i water them simply by spraying and is rested tap water or rain water best? please help me guys id hate to kill them. hopefully my uploaded pics will help. cheers.

[WhiteRabbit]

Just bumping - hopefully someone can help you out

[Jeff9]

Im not sure what grower you ordered them, but it seems they use the mesh netting as a way to mount the plants, for support.

You should keep the sphagnum moist but not wet or overly wet, it is easy to tell by touch.

You may further find specific information about these species on orchidspecies.com but i'd generally keep them bright and humid with good air circulation untill you find out the exact specifications

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Bulbophyllum monilliforme requires you purchase a jeweler's loupe to see the roots. Without one, you will be at a loss with this plant. I recommend at least a 30x lens.

It also goes dormant during the winter. Water too much during dormancy, and it will rot. Water too little and it will shrivel.

It also becomes fully deciduous during the winter.

It does not like being mounted on moss. It must be mounted onto wood alone. If the moss is not removed, the plant will slowly rot.

It grows in bright shade.

You must be diligent with fertilization during growing season or the subsequent new growths will be small and weak. Fertilize once every 2 wks.

Moderate to high humidity (60% - 80%) is adequate.

Intermediate to warm temperatures (60 F - 85 F).

Moderate air circulation.

It grows very slow. Only fully mature new pseudobulbs produce new lead growths.



Grow Schoenorchis fragrans mounted without moss in moderate indirect bright light, in intermediate to warm temperatures.

[mevdog]

wow thanks for all your help guys but it sounds like i may have dived in the deep end with these plants. what would be the easiest possible way of mounting them and caring for them, they were a present for my other half and if i even mention a jeweler's loupe she would immediately give up on them. i cannot seem to find any decent information on mounting these mini orchids only large (normal) ones. thanks again

[Daethen]

I have the shoenorchis fragrans mounted on a small oak limb. It is tied onto it with fishing line and I have sphagnum around the roots to hold some moisture. I just water in a couple of times a day and it is growing fine. It would probably grow fine the way it is if you don't mind the look.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by mevdog

Wow! Thanks for all your help guys, but it sounds like I may have dived in the deep end with these plants.

The Schoenorchis fragrans is not terribly difficult to grow.

The Bulb. monilliforme is the one that's difficult to grow.

Between the two, the Schoenorchis fragrans grows the fastest, and blooms the easiest. It also tolerates mistakes better than the Bulb. monilliforme.

Most people have trouble growing Bulb. monilliforme. It doesn't grow fast, and it doesn't bloom easily. The blooms are also not really all that showy when looked at from a distance. Flowers are not really much larger than a full grown Drosophila melanogaster, or just a bit smaller than a full grown Drosophila hydei (this is also where the jeweler's loupe comes in ).

Originally Posted by mevdog

What would be the easiest possible way of mounting them and caring for them?

The irony is, mounting these two is the easiest job you'll ever do in terms of mounting an orchid onto a piece of wood.

Why?

'Cause for the Bulb. monilliforme, you for sure do not need moss underneath the plant at all. In fact, like I said, just don't even bother with it or they'll be kept too wet and rot.

For the Schoenorchis fragrans, if you want to put a tiny wad of moss, no thicker than one strand thick, underneath the roots, then by all means go ahead. Just know it's not necessary, especially if the humidity is 50% or above.

Originally Posted by mevdog

They were a present for my other half, and if i even mention a jeweler's loupe she would immediately give up on them.

Who says you have to mention it to her and have her go it alone?!

Make it fun time between the both of you.

Originally Posted by mevdog

i cannot seem to find any decent information on mounting these mini orchids only large (normal) ones.

It's the same principal, just less troublesome because there's less of the plant to get in your way.

For the Bulb. monilliforme, carefully remove the plant from the wire mesh mount.

Then remove as much moss as you possibly can without damaging the roots or separating the pseudobulbs.

Find a small piece of cork bark that is roughly twice the size of the colony.

Place the orchid on top of the wood and tie it in place with a fishing line. Just be careful not to dig the fishing line into the pseudobulbs.