Culture Advice for Ascocentrum Miniatum

[joel3515]

Hi Everyone:-))

I suppose I should introduce myself! My name is Joel, and I live in Toowoomba, Queensland Australia. I caught the orchid bug when I was a kid and have been mad about them ever since! Due to space/cultural restraints, I grow my collection of plants in a home made indoor orchidarium. To this point, I have avoided the higher light species, not thinking I will be able to meet their requirements. I have had great success with paphs, phals, angraecoids and other miniature species. But when I saw a beautiful Ascocentrum Miniatum on display, I bought it instantly, forgetting all the restrictions that have stopped me in the past:-( For those of you who grow ascocentrums, I was hoping you could give me some advice on keeping this poor little guy alive! I currently grow my plants under 6 T8 5000K fluorescent grow lights, and I have placed the Miniatum within 4 inches of the bulbs. The lights are in an enclosed section above the growing area, to reduce heat exposure to the plants. This was a necessity, as the case reaches 33 degrees celsius during the warmer months. The lights are on for 16hrs during the summer months, reducing to 14hrs in winter. Am I living in denial thinking this will be adequate light to keep this plant happy? Any advice you could give me would be really appreciated:-))

Cheers,

Joel.

[Merlyn]

Joel !!

I grow my Darwinara Fuchs Cream Puff X Ascocentrum miniatum cross very successfully under 4 4foot T8 lights and it blooms regularly 3 times/year except this year it's in its 4th time right now ! I do a 15/12 hour/day DST/non-DST schedule. I don't think you'll have any trouble with your set-up unless the specie is a lot more finicky than my cross.

[Zoi2]

Hello and welcome!
Joann

[Bud]

Welcome and Hello ! Sit back, relax and read postings from some of our members where you can glean precious knowledge on how to care for your orchids based on their wealth of experience...
Cryss must be right...since he has the same set up as you...as for me, I am a windowsill grower... I let my ascocendas gradually get direct sunlight in summers...they drink and eat a lot...and they bloom as much as they can ( I have one currently in spike)
please post pictures of some of your blooms...and give joy to others

[joel3515]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the welcome and your great advice!
I will continue with my current strategy and see how things develop:-)

I have attached a really lousy picture of my case (my photography skills leave a lot to be desired!!!) but it will give you an idea of my growing area, and a photo of my Paphiopedilum Philippinense, which has just finished flowering.

Thanks again for your comments. I'm looking forward to being a part of this wonderful community!

Joel.

[Gage]

Your lighting sounds like it will work for miniatum. Just make sure the roots are bone dry between waterings, preferably dry within hours.

[glengary54]

Joel - Welcome to the Orchid Board, glad you found us. Let me just say that if you can bloom a Paph philippinense with your lightset-up, you will have absolutely no problems blooming the Ascocentrum miniatum. Good luck.