Zygopetalum help please..:)

[TiffanyP]

I just Need some help with my Zygos. I actually have 2 and they are now not in bloom the blooms didn't last very long at all, but it flourished when it did bloom. The Pbulbs did start to wrinkle before the blooms fell as you can see, and I'm concerned I cant figure out its watering likes.

I had it in a western window and it was shaded with a cooling fan because it seemed it liked to be cold FAR more than warmer. does anyone have any help to offer or should I pass these plants on somewhere?

[WhiteRabbit]

Look fine to me ? Again, older pbulbs will slightly wrinkle - this goes for ALL orchids with pbulbs. They are cooler growers, tho I think can tolerate some heat if shaded. I don't know what type of media yours is in ? I have killed and nearly killed a few, seems they like to dry sighty between waterings, tho if others with more success growing these contradict me, I defer to their experience.

[TiffanyP]

I will keep that in mind. Oh i forgot mention a new Pbulb is growing so ill be looking up the best way for after care. Any suggestions for that im opened to as well. Thank you

[flexdc]

They like evenly moist and even temps, i.e. no spike in heat. If you are in Vegas the cooling fan is a great idea.
Looks to me it is in some sort of a peat mix? It can stay in there with the clay pots. Water when the top inch is dry. Be careful not to leave water in between leaves on the new growth over night. It will rot. Otherwise, looks pretty good to me.

Andrew

[TiffanyP]

Thank you Andrew.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

...older pbulbs will slightly wrinkle...

Yes, they will.

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

They are cooler growers, tho I think can tolerate some heat if shaded.

They are actually closer to being intermediate growers, but I've had them be able to tolerate temperature extremes just fine. This is what I mean by temperature extremes - (36 F - 110 F). Although, I wouldn't really recommend constantly having them in 110 F heat during the summer, or constantly at 36 F during the winter nights either. Here, it does dip down into the low 90's F during the summer days at times, and it does get up to be in the low 50's during some winter nights as well.

Though there is some truth to them tolerating heat better when they're grown under a canopy or shade cloth - I wouldn't grow them too shady. I would shoot for moderately bright indirect light.

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

...seems they like to dry sighty between waterings...

That is true too...

Originally Posted by flexdc

They like evenly moist...

This is the ideal...

There is a bit of a caveat...some species/hybrids like it a bit drier during the winter months. By this, I do not mean they go through long dry spells. I mean, they go through very brief dry periods that only lasts a few days - (less than a week, if that's any indication of how short; only roughly about 3 days to be precise).

Originally Posted by flexdc

...and even temps, i.e. no spike in heat.

I've experienced differently as I mentioned prior.

Originally Posted by flexdc

If you are in Vegas the cooling fan is a great idea.

It could very well be.

Originally Posted by flexdc

Looks to me it is in some sort of a peat mix?

If it really is peat, I wouldn't recommend it. Zygopetalums are mostly epiphytes.

Originally Posted by flexdc

It can stay in there with the clay pots.

You can use clay pots, as stated, without harming your chances of successfully growing the Zygos.

Originally Posted by flexdc

Be careful not to leave water in between leaves on the new growth over night. It will rot.

There is truth to this. I recommend against watering the leaves for this reason. This is especially true of newly emerging shoots when it is really easy to have water get trapped in between the leaf axils and rotting the shoot off.


Honestly, I've personally never really found Zygopetalums to be all that difficult to grow. Once you get it, you get it, and it isn't really terribly mind boggling to get there.

[TiffanyP]

Thank you very much for the info. How long should my Zygo blooms have lasted. I feel like they could've done better. Especially the second spike. It only made it about 2 weeks. I could've done better. I am gathering also I need to invest very quickly in a fine bark? I am seeing from all the help that pbulb orchids for the most part like fine grade bark. All I have is Phal based medias

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Blooms that last 2 weeks is plenty long for a Zygo.

For you, I recommend Sphagnum moss that is not packed in too tightly.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh yeah, I forgot...

Good air circulation helps them tolerate warmer weather better and it is a good preventative for rots.

I recommend re-reading my previous postings on this thread because I added a few more bits of info in them.

[TiffanyP]

Oh well that is a good thing then I didn't do so bad. Thank you again and I hope to see this bloom again soon. Thank you for all the help.