New with orchids, have a few questions - Orchid Board

freaky_tah · #1 02-20-2012, 01:10 PM

I recently purchased 3 orchids at a show for a new vivarium I have. One has started to show some new growth, but I'm not sure how the other two are faring and I thought someone might be able to give me some advice.

They're in a tank with around 85% humidity, temps in the 70s. I haven't been misting them every day to allow them some dry time.

an unknown Bulbophyllum (this one has some new growth) any idea of species?

Ascocentrum pumilum (This has lost one leaf that looked damaged when I bought it. You can see some yellowing of the lowest leaf on the right side. Anyone have any care advice?)

And a Cirrhopetalum caudatum (this has lost a few leaves. I think I was keeping it too dry, so I'm trying to water it a little more frequently. Any advice? I can't find a lot when I google this one, but I get hits for Bulbophyllum caudatum. Is that the proper name for this species?)

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Merlyn · #2 02-20-2012, 01:18 PM

Near impossible to tell without blooms ! Bulbophyllum has the most species of any other genus !!! 2000+ is an estimate ! Your plants look healthy and I wouldn't worry about a single leaf turning yellow, especially if it's the lowest leaf, that's normal.

freaky_tah · #3 02-20-2012, 01:26 PM

Hi thanks! I figured it would be pretty tough to get a species name but I figured I'd ask anyways

Thanks for the info, I've been looking forward to getting a few orchids for a while so I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right. I don't want to kill em, hopefully I can figure out how to make them flower!

Merlyn · #4 02-20-2012, 01:30 PM

I can tell you Bulbophyllums like lots of water ! Mine are all potted in shallow pots and sit in a tray where I let water stay at every watering. The advice that was offered me is; "they like their feet wet and their butts dry !". INOW, leave the pseudobulb just above the media, don't bury it.

WhiteRabbit · #5 02-20-2012, 06:29 PM

Glad you found us!

Very nice looking plants!

nenella · #6 02-20-2012, 08:37 PM

Yes those are beautiful plants, and a lower leaf going yellow is 'normal' in the growth cycle...
keep tham looking like that & you will eventually be rewarded with flowers! keep us posted. By the way WELCOME to OB!

PS; When you water be careful not to leave any water/moisture between the leaves (a kitchen towel paper twisted on a corner and inserted after watering to suck/dry excessive moisture between the leaves also helps alot if you get them very wet whilst watering in my experience..

freaky_tah · #7 02-21-2012, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlyn

I can tell you Bulbophyllums like lots of water ! Mine are all potted in shallow pots and sit in a tray where I let water stay at every watering. The advice that was offered me is; "they like their feet wet and their butts dry !". INOW, leave the pseudobulb just above the media, don't bury it.

Thanks! I'm thinking I was going way longer than I should have by letting them dry out too far. The roots were all silvery on the pumilum and they've all greened up. Now I should let them dry back up a bit before rewatering again, correct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Glad you found us!

Very nice looking plants!

Thanks! This board seems quite active, which is nice when looking for info!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nenella

Yes those are beautiful plants, and a lower leaf going yellow is 'normal' in the growth cycle...
keep tham looking like that & you will eventually be rewarded with flowers! keep us posted. By the way WELCOME to OB!

PS; When you water be careful not to leave any water/moisture between the leaves (a kitchen towel paper twisted on a corner and inserted after watering to suck/dry excessive moisture between the leaves also helps alot if you get them very wet whilst watering in my experience..

Thanks for the tips, I'll make sure to dry off the leaves after watering. I was actually wondering about that as well since some plants don't mind water sitting on their leaves and some hate it. I am planning on putting a PC fan inside the vivarium for internal air circulation, so hopefully they'll all benefit from that.

I hope they flower for me! I have 3 100w equivalent 6500k CFL's on this tank at the moment, and had been tossing around the idea of upgrading to a T5 HO setup. Do you think that will be necessary to get them to flower?

Bud · #8 02-21-2012, 02:43 AM

I also paper towel the leaves dry just like nenella...cold droplets left on leaves tend to give it black spots

jamesallen · #9 02-21-2012, 11:04 AM

Hi all;
I have a Dendrobium Kingianum which I've had for two years and man does it grow. During the winter indoors I've kept it very cool and watered it about 1x every i.5 weeks. In the last month one part is in spike but the other is not. I am thinking that part wasn't cool enough. Also some of the spikes are drying up. It has a humidifier directed toward it and I have begun to to water more like 2x per week. My questions are: what can I do to get it to spike more profusely and what may have caused the drying up of only some of the spikes?
Hope someone can help! Thank you.