Total newbie, new orchid

[Frank_TS]

Hello everyone!

Last year I purchased a minuscule orchid inside a test tube at Xcaret, Mexico. According to its tag, it is a Myrmecophila Christinae.

The plant was hermetically encased in glass with a special nutrient-rich mix. When this substance is depleted, you are supposed to extract the orchid and plant it somewhere. I placed it near a north-facing window and waited.

So, after 4 months of happy (albeit slow) growth within the tube, the time has come for the orchid to see the outside world.

Yesterday I took out the plant, washed it gently but thoroughly and carefully deposited it atop a peat moss preparation bought at the Home Depot (special orchid mix).

Today I watered it. Two teaspoons of water (told you it is minuscule). So far, it looks good: lime-green leaves, whitish roots.

My question is... now what? How can I ensure it survives?

I searched the web but info on Myrmecophilas is irrelevant or near-inexistent.

Please, help me.

--

Frank

[Bud]

Welcome & Hello !
Sit back and relax...you've come to the right place...read postings by other members and learn from their wealth of knowledge gleaned from their years of experience on growing orchids.

Post some pictures.

Since it was hermetically encased, then you have to provide the moisture it was used to untill it is weaned to the outside environment...

[WhiteRabbit]

Hello!

[JaneEyre]

Sorry, I cant help with your Myrmecophila Christinae but hopefully someone else might. We have here many knowledgeable people who love to help out. You have come to the right place

[Zoi2]

Hello and welcome to the OB.
Joann

[Discus]

Welcome to orchidboard

You should probably create a mini-terrarium around it with a chopped up plastic coke bottle or similar whilst it gets used to living outside of near 100% humidity; it will take a while for the roots that were used to growing in agar to take to the idea of orchid mix! Watch out for fungus at this stage.

Mostly, you can find a similar species and base you growing on that. I believe this particular species was only described in about 2001. Looks like it gets quite big MYRMECOPHILA CHRISTINAE and grows near the top of mangroves, so I suspect as it gets older it will like quite a lot of light.

[Frank_TS]

Thank you!

I have some pictures. As a reference, the orchid is about 1 inch wide. The container is about 4.5 inches in diameter.










Today is the 5th day since I took the plant out from the tube.

One of the leaves has become paler since yesterday, and the roots do seem quite dry, so I decided to water it again this morning (1 teaspoon purified water). The paler leaf appears to have turned a little bit towards the sun, but it might be only my impression.

Originally Posted by Discus

You should probably create a mini-terrarium around it with a chopped up plastic coke bottle or similar whilst it gets used to living outside of near 100% humidity; it will take a while for the roots that were used to growing in agar to take to the idea of orchid mix! Watch out for fungus at this stage.

Thanks for the suggestion. I keep it now covered with a plastic transparent container.

Originally Posted by Discus

Mostly, you can find a similar species and base you growing on that. I believe this particular species was only described in about 2001. Looks like it gets quite big MYRMECOPHILA CHRISTINAE and grows near the top of mangroves, so I suspect as it gets older it will like quite a lot of light.

The flowers are very beautiful. I hope mine can grow like that! I relocated it from the north-facing window to a south facing porch until noon. Sometimes the sun can be aggressive but apparently this species should like it?

What species could be similar to this?


Thanks again,


Frank

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Seedlings cannot take the full amount of light that an adult plant can. It needs to be grown in bright shade for the first few months of it's life. When it gets larger, then it can progressively handle more and more light.

[Frank_TS]

Ok, I did the terrarium thing. The pale leaf is becoming paler. It might be a trick of the mind, but the plant overall is maybe a bit paler also.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Seedlings cannot take the full amount of light that an adult plant can. It needs to be grown in bright shade for the first few months of it's life. When it gets larger, then it can progressively handle more and more light.

Thanks for the suggestion. It stays outside but protected from direct sunlight. I have noticed some condensation inside the container (transparent plastic). No watering since thursday. The roots are still white. The temperature at the moment is about 48°F. The place is Mexico City.

How often should I water? Am I doing it wrong?

[Discus]

With a seedling just out of flask, I suspect daily misting of the roots (until they turn green) is going to be a good idea - they're used to always having moisture and humidity, and the mix you have that plant in doesn't keep a lot of moisture around.

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