New Restrepia Antennifera

[surtees]

yeah that's how I got it. it didn't have long stems like your one. when I took it out of its pot it only had small stems so I just repotted it the same way as it was before so that it will be protected.

[RosieC]

Ok, must just be the way that one is. I had an antennifera in the past that grew just like my one above, but must be either a variety, or a past growing conditions thing.

[surtees]

Well it is a small baby plant that was packed in a plastic box. I am hopping that it will get larger as I like big plants which is why I'm growing a ficus benjamina, monster and jade plant in my room among some vining plants such as pothos vine and arrow head vine with a fern and snake plant. I want to turn my room into a jungle. hahahaha. I think this little guy will make a nice little addition to my jungle.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Orchids in the genus Restrepia are generally not large plants. They are miniature orchids. Each leaf with stem when fully mature are anywhere between 5 cm - 10 cm tall, depending on the species or how the individual specimen was grown, and that's it.

The flowers themselves are anywhere between 2 cm - 3.5 cm, depending on the species.

The plant will eventually form a decent sized clump, but they are mostly fairly small plants.

Your Restrepia antennifera is either near blooming sized or blooming sized already, it is not a seedling. If it is near blooming sized (abbreviated NBS), it will most likely bloom close to the 1 year mark.

[Discus]

Re: small pots, Not sure how aquarium plants are sold in Oz, but here, they often come in a small "net pot" which might be ideal for your small plant (I potted up restrepia keikis in them and they liked it in sphag/perlite) - buy an Anubias or similar (they're awesomely jungl-y and quite happy growing out of water as long as they stay damp) in one and recycle it for your orchid.

[surtees]

I have been having some problems. I have always kept my window opened slightly so that there is air circulation around my plants and the window is about 2 meters away from my plants and the humidity was between 50% and 70% but now has dropped to about 40 - 45% and I'm getting worried about whether it will survive. Especially when its winter and cold at the moment (I have only misted the soil once since I have potted the plant and it is still moist to the touch. Any ideas on raising humidity without using electricity. I have a few pebble trays under the high humidity plants, anything else I can do?

[Discus]

Putting more plants around naturally raises humidity.
You can try some sort of "evaporative" wicking material to encourage water to evaporate into the air.

In general, forcing water into the air takes energy, and the easiest source of this is electricity...

I don't think restrepias are particularly sensitive to the cold (but I don't think they much like heat). They probably won't enjoy a really cold, dry draught though.

You can also create a "mini greenhouse" out of an old plastic drinks bottle - chop the bottom off, and put it over the pot (with the lid on or off, depending on your preference) - this will keep humidity from the plant and pot "local" to the plant rather than let it diffuse/get blown away. If this isn't enough air circulation, chop the top off too.

[surtees]

Thanks for that. I will try the bottle trick, but I ultimately want to grow ferns aswell as I havnt had much success with them. so mabe a humidifier will be in order. What do you think of water feature foggers? They obviously look tropical but will they add humidity?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Discus

I don't think restrepias are particularly sensitive to the cold (but I don't think they much like heat). They probably won't enjoy a really cold, dry draught though.

They aren't sensitive to cooler temperatures, but I'd draw the line at around 10 C (50 F), at the low end.

Some species actually tend to tolerate warmer temperatures better, but I wouldn't go overboard on this end of the spectrum either. Anywhere between 29.4 F - 32.2 F (85 F - 90 F) for the high end temperatures is fine.

Originally Posted by surtees

Thanks for that. I will try the bottle trick, but I ultimately want to grow ferns as well as I haven't had much success with them. so maybe a humidifier will be in order. What do you think of water feature foggers? They obviously look tropical but will they add humidity?

Certain ferns are definitely intolerant of low humidity.

In terms of the humidifier, I think it's a good option.

[Discus]

Originally Posted by surtees

Thanks for that. I will try the bottle trick, but I ultimately want to grow ferns aswell as I havnt had much success with them. so mabe a humidifier will be in order. What do you think of water feature foggers? They obviously look tropical but will they add humidity?

I find those foggers extremely fiddly - they're very fussy about water levels; you'll find it much easier to buy a humidifier (which in the "cool" units is basically one of those foggers, a water reservoir with a "puddle" that stays at the same level and a fan). I have found units with built in humidistats, but I find they don't hold up for long if you try to keep humidity at around 80% (your walls won't like it either); you might be better off trying to maintain a minimum level (perhaps 60% RH) rather than aiming for ideal. If you're trying to humidify a large area to a high RH, you're really going to ultimately need a large greenhouse fogger.

If you have a small chamber where you keep your more delicate plants, you can always "duct" the "fog" into it. (either by buying a reptile one that has a duct already, or by modifying a "human" one as people do).