I couldn't resist... new orchids on the way, several types

[RJSquirrel]

hi there cythaenopsis and there is no ultimate mix for orchids.. Its the way you ultimately water the media, not what it is. Remember orchids dont need media to grow in, we need it to grow them in.. The mix is for us not the plants. What makes the difference is how your own conditions require you to interact with the plant and media.
I use moss on some plants. I use granite chips on others. The standard bark mix on a few odd ones I cant figure out.. They all get watered a bit differently but the plants grow all the same. Good luck and may many happy blooms fill your future while they empty your wallet

[cythaenopsis]

^ Thanks, RJSquirrel.

I figured that it's best to give young orchids moss so that the moisture is retained a bit longer. I'm already having issues with the moss drying out prematurely after giving the orchids some fresh air during cooler days. I hope it's OK that they go a few days with completely dry conditions, as I'm a bit afraid of watering too much and risking root rot.

Here's how they look today:


The rightmost leaf on the Sierra Skies Leone is a little pale (plant on left), because it's only partially attached to the base; the stem cracked when extricating the plant from the packing material. It's still living after several weeks, though. The tallest leaf has inched up a little since I got it. The Dickensoniana is growing the fastest (little one to the right), as I can tell the leaves are a little longer and a few new ones have started to emerge. The Oncidium (rear) is not doing much, seeming to be the slower growing of the bunch at the moment. I should have taken photos when they first arrived. I'm planning to keep a photo log going forward, until I get bored of doing it.

By the way, for scale purposes, the terra cotta pots are 4" in diameter, and the green plastic pot is 3" in diameter.

[cythaenopsis]

This past week, I observed a noticeable growth spurt in the Sierra Skies and Encyclia Dickensoniana. The tallest leaf of the Sierra got a little taller and noticeably wider. The Oncidium is the slowest of the bunch, but the smallest leaf does look like it has grown. The Dickens has been far more dramatic, as two of the larger leaves made significant extensions.




However, I did notice something a little disturbing. The tips of two smaller leaves on the Dickens turned brown. One leaf seems to have stopped browning, while the other is continuing. None of the other leaves exhibit this. Is the leaf going to die? If so, why would this be the case? I wonder if a plant of this size will sometimes start more leaves than it can support, then once it stabilizes on a certain rate of growth, it lets some leaves die...

[cythaenopsis]

Here's how they look today, a little over 3 weeks later:



Funny... the Oncidium shows more growth than I thought, most notably the 3rd smallest leaf that jetted above the older ones. Also, the Sierra Skies has a few leaves that got longer, not quite captured in this angle. Two Dickinsoniana leaves have noticeable increase in length, although a little less dense as two baby leaves have fallen off. Longest one is 4" now.

[cythaenopsis]

A year later... the Encyclia Dickensoniana is dead. The Oncidium is alive but struggling a bit. But the Sierra Skies Leone (Cattleya) is doing great. Growth was fairly slow for the first 5-6 months, but then it seemed to get a plan going to break out of limbo and do something productive. The existing leaves got longer, a new pseudobulb appeared and spawned a leaf, and then another. I've also got two aerial roots seeking who knows what, stretching out beyond the rim of the pot. I guess it's happy. Funny enough, that stressed leaf I mentioned in the beginning is still there and grew just a little. The base stem is still extremely thin and brown. I honestly don't know how it's still living.






Honestly, I didn't know what to expect when I ordered these, as I'd been growing only phalaenopsis orchids prior to this. I did learn later that the Encyclia needs a lot of humidity and I just wasn't able to give it enough. I'm hoping I'll be able to nurse the Oncidium back to a healthy course. I'm just happy that I got at least one healthy growing plant out of this. Now I just have to wait another year or two before I start seeing some blooms from the Cattleya.

[james mickelso]

I'm not a fan of moss but if they came in one and a half inch pots as seedlings, they can be planted in moss "loosely". Don't pack it in because it will stay too wet and kill your babies. You should be able to tell when to water them. If you give them optimal growing conditions, they may flower in three to four years. Even most mini catts and oncidiums need at least 4 pbulbs behind them to be old enough and have enough energy to flower.

[cythaenopsis]

Yes, they came in very small plastic pots with a "touch o' moss" and styrofoam peanuts. I transplanted them into the only medium I had then, that being sphagnum moss. I did pack it fairly loosely though. It's hard to tell from the photos I took, but there's now 4 bulbs, the 2nd most recent being the biggest of them all (visible in the 1st photo). So... if the growing rate continues, I might get lucky with this one and see some flowering in another 18-24 months, eh?

[vmax3000]

Your Onc. might appreciate being just a little drier. I have to agree with James on the moss. But, I am a chronic overwaterer, so I am just looking to kill my plants by the black mushy death route in moss. There are some plants that thrive in it, so I am learning to be more astute to their needs (the pleurothallid types). My Oncidium microchilum grows really well in a medium to fine bark mix with LECA and granite chips in the mix. I will occasionally purchase more than one seedling and experiment, especially when they are cheap. I like to refer to IOSPE (Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia ) for some background info on the plant in question. Troy Meyers has the Baker's culture sheet website: Orchid Culture -- Charles and Margaret Baker
I have a membership and have found the site to be helpful. Again, I use the information as a guide. My cultural habits plus the input from reliable resources has made for many years of wonderful orchid addiction in my case! Good growing to you!

[theanalyst]

Too bad one died, but I'm glad to see the other two are still surviving. Good luck!

[Wynn Dee13]

Have you changed the moss since you have had them? The moss should be changed every year. I grow almost all my orchids in sphagnum moss in clay pots. I water my Catts when the moss is dry and crunchy. They can go a few days dry.

Next time you order online make sure you pay attention to the pot size and if they say the plants are blooming size (BS), seedling, near blooming size (NBS), etc. Then you won't be surprised by the size of the plants. Also if you can look up the plant and see how big it gets that will give you an idea of the size of the plant too. If a certain plant is cheaper on one site than on another it can mean it is a younger plant. Jewell Orchids states the size of the pots and they usually say if it is a seedling or blooming size.

Good luck and post pics when it blooms. Don't feel too bad for killing a few plants. It is just something that happens when your learning! I know I have killed my share!