Neolehmannia porpax, anyone?

[Silje]

Not sure this should be in the beginner section, but anyways...

I got a small, mounted neolehmannia porpax as a freebie from an orchid nursery. Never heard of it. I think it belongs in the epidendrum family?

Can't say I've grown particularly fond of it over the past few months. Apparently it notices, because I think it's dying on me. And then all of a sudden I didn't want to part with this little weirdo after all.



I've googled a bit, but struggle to find any information regarding basic care and what to expect from this miniature.

Anybody that knows a bit about this orchid? Watering, light, humidity, fertilizer. When does it flower etc? I've seen pictures of the flower, but that's about it.

All info is appreciated.

[lambelkip]

The correct name for this plant is Epidendrum peperomia, but there's about 8 other names vendors use for it. It needs bright light (the leaves will turn red or purple with very bright light). It also likes high humidity and frequent watering, but you might want to reduce the frequency of watering if the weather gets cool. It can bloom just about any time of year, and will frequently have buds in different stages of development at the same time.

[Silje]

Thanks a lot, lambelkip!

I also googled a bit yesterday afternoon, and the little guy turns out to be deciduous! it never even crossed my mind, I should have thought of it. Guess leaf loss could have been partly due to winter slumbering. Poor guy must have been nearly drowned from time to time when I've soaked the plant and the mount thoroughly.

I'll treat it a bit differently from now on. Light and humidity is probably ok as it is, but the watering has been completely wrong, I suspect.

[lambelkip]

I've never heard of it being deciduous, and when I had one it did not lose leaves on a regular basis (only when it got really dry)

[Silje]

Originally Posted by lambelkip

I've never heard of it being deciduous, and when I had one it did not lose leaves on a regular basis (only when it got really dry)

Not? I read through this thread and hoped it could explain a bit of the leaf loss, but then it probably boils down to my care.

I'll try to increase the watering a bit from now on, we're anyway heading into summer here on the southern hemisphere. Problem with the watering was that some of the roots rotted and died. It's sending out new ones now, but the reaction made me thinking it prefers a bit drier conditions.

[Discus]

A bit late, but if your plant is still going, I grow mine in a pot and keep it quite damp with a bark-based medium. It seems to enjoy this and the plant keeps on growing and growing.