zygopetalum questions

[Rainshadow]

I was recently given a Zygo, its a noid from HD but a cutie, compact w/ brown, green-tipped sepals /petals and a solid purple lip. I haven't grown one before and I don't think I really have the conditions for it... but that SCENT!!.. . so want to try.

I couldn't find recommended fine bark mix so potted it in MiracleGro orchid mix, would I have been better off with just medium bark? I'm more comfortable with that, I'm wondering if there is a little too much fertilizer in the mix.

Its looking a little stressed, it has a couple of curled leaves, I know they like water but am a little paranoid about those big, fat roots in that mix.

I may be giving it a little too much light, read to bleach the leaves from deep green but don't know how far to go. How do requirements compare to Phals and Oncidiums?

My humidity is appalling and I probably need to address that as well with those thin leaves. Not sure about temps either, its hot here now and it looks like it might be a little stressed from the heat too.

Any suggestions appreciated, THanks, Rainshadow

[WhiteRabbit]

I haven't done too well with my Zygo (mackayii) or Zygo hybrids - tho the mackayii seems to be rebounding - while they like to stay moist, they can be overwatered - which is what I think I did
Had been caring for it as I do my cyms - and while I have found it difficult to over water cyms (short of them sitting in water a lot), seems the Zygo wasn't as forgiving

Don't know what your weather is like - it can be quite dry here in summer, and generally I haven't had problems with potted orchids, so long as I keep their roots happy - tho perhaps the zygo is an exception to that - idk - but it is rebounding, so it may be that over watering led to it's decline.

I'm sure others will have more (and probably better) advice for you
gl!

[silken]

I just got a zygo hybrid too and have had a tiny mackayi for more than a year that was just doing nothing. Orchid Wiz says quite high light but not direct noon sun. Usually if they won't bloom, it means not enough sun. Dark thin leaves indicates not enough. They are cool growers and like lots of moving air. If they can cool down at night they can tolerate warmer temps in the day. Water shouldn't get on the leaves as they get a bacterial spotting real easy. They like high humidity (80% in summer). Supposedly people grow them alongside cool growing cyms quite often.

I have to say, I recently put my stubborn little mackayi outside in a basket to hang from a tree. It's cooler there than in the greenhouse. And I do see the slightest bit of growth. So it maybe appreciates the cooler temps and breezes although I do run fans 7/24 in the greenhouse. It was getting rained on but didn't seem to hurt the leaves.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Rainshadow

I couldn't find recommended fine bark mix so potted it in MiracleGro orchid mix, would I have been better off with just medium bark? I'm more comfortable with that, I'm wondering if there is a little too much fertilizer in the mix.

Its looking a little stressed, it has a couple of curled leaves, I know they like water but am a little paranoid about those big, fat roots in that mix.

OrchidWiz says they usually like a coarse open mix with some moisture retainers added sometimes. My little mackayi is in med. fir bark and my new hybrid is in 100% sphagnum moss, newly potted several months ago. It is a 'sort of' net pot and charcoal on the bottom. I hate to disturb it, but it seems to go against what is recommended. They don't like to dry out but as WhiteRabbit says, can likely get root rot if too wet.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Zygos are not terribly difficult to grow in my opinion. These are the more forgiving genera of plants of this bunch (a group called the Zygopetalinae, which includes genera such as Acacallis, Cochleanthes, Kefersteinia, Pabstia, Pescatorea, and Warczewiczella).

The light requirement is between that of a Phal and an Onc.

Watering and potting mixes can vary from growing area to growing area, depending on what the conditions are like.

They typically grow in areas in the wild where the humidity is anywhere between 70& - 80% year round.

In the wild, rains are typically seasonal. Spring is when precipitation slowly starts ramping up, with peak rainy season being summer. Fall is when precipitation typically starts to slowly decrease. Winter is not completely dry, there are still rainy days, but far fewer than all the other seasons.

Growth typically slows down drastically, but never stops during the winter months, with growth picking back up typically around mid-spring to early summer.

Here's a free sample sheet from Charles and Margaret Baker's site on Zygopetalum mackayi:

Zygopetalum mackayi Culture

[Ray]

I agree with Philip. Mine are all in semi-hydro culture and grow like weeds. (I'm actually on the verge of dividing them all up and getting rid of them so I can recover some bench space.)

A general comment about all orchids to relatively-new growers:

STOP trying to match the recommendations of the "pro's" when it comes to potting media. That is one of the LAST priorities in orchid culture, and is SO dependent upon the others, that it can vary all over the map.

Focus first on the correct temperatures, light levels, and humidity for the plant, THEN consider how you're going to provide it with lots of air movement to the roots while supplying sufficient moisture with a watering frequency you can live with.

Your potting medium can be adjusted all over the map to compensate for the plant's needs, your growing conditions, and personal habits (i.e., do you like to "mess with" your plants or leave 'em alone and admire them from afar?) through choice of material (or a mix of them) used, and their particle sizes. Your choice of clay or plastic pots can also be part of the equation.

As your conditions and watering habits will be different from probably anyone else, you cannot duplicate their media either.

[silken]

Thanks Philip and Ray. I've wanted a zygo for a long time. My first choice was a zygoneria, but it wasn't available. Hopefully I can keep this one happy. One thing that surprised me is it was called 'bloom size' but it has two large very fat and plump leafless PB's and just the one new growth that is maybe 2/3 mature. I understand they bloom from fairly new growth and 2 large PB's may be enough to support it, but is it normal to see all leaves gone except for the new growth?

[Suresh Kalyanpur]

I grow my Zygo Mackai in chunks of brick/tile pieces and charcoal. It is watered very regularly and kept on my balcony where it gets plenty of light and air circulation. Doesnt seem to complain. In my opinion it is a hardy and easy to grow plant.

[zxyqu]

Ray, my Zygo's love S/H too, but if you have the need to "rid" yourself of some divisions... Will you post them on your website for sale!?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by silken

Thanks Philip and Ray. I've wanted a zygo for a long time. My first choice was a zygoneria, but it wasn't available. Hopefully I can keep this one happy. One thing that surprised me is it was called 'bloom size' but it has two large very fat and plump leafless PB's and just the one new growth that is maybe 2/3 mature. I understand they bloom from fairly new growth and 2 large PB's may be enough to support it, but is it normal to see all leaves gone except for the new growth?

It can still bloom from such a small division, and they are very much mature.

While it is normal for the older growths to have all of its leaves eventually fall off, it is not typical of a fairly large plant with multiple growths to be completely bald.

In a large plant w/ multiple growths, the oldest pseudobulbs will be completely leafless; the pseudobulbs that are not so old will still retain the leaves that are on top of it until they age further; the growths w/ a newly matured pseudobulb will have the leaves on top of the pbs and the ones surrounding them; the growths that are developing new pseudobulbs will have the leaves that are on top of it and the ones that surround the pseudobulbs, and then there are the new shoots with developing leaves.