eplc. Charlie Brown - Am I Underwatering?

[Ginger9899]

Hello, I purchased this bag baby eplc Charlie Brown last fall and repotted it into a common bark/charcoal/perlite mix. I did soak the bark overnight before I potted. It has been on the edge of a screened west facing porch and gets about 4-6 hours of direct afternoon sun every non-cloudy day. I think I may have overpotted it, and I realize the new lead is on the side and not towards the empty middle, but I had advice not to bother it now since the new lead started.

My question is, the two pseudobulbs previous to the new growing one were fat and smooth and plump before the new one started growing, and now they are quite shriveled. I water it with rain water, a 10 minute soaking once a week, and water by running water through pot at least once in middle of week. I have skipped this occasionally if I see moisture in the pot but mostly it is bone dry and light as a feather the same night I water it. The weather here is super super hot now, I wonder if I am not watering enough, or if the shriveling is to be expected since the roots weren't real established from when I purchased it.

I am afraid to water more though....don't want to rot anything! Thanks for any observations and advice you may be able to give.

*edited to add I just watered this morning, looks and feels really dry already!

[james mickelso]

The media in which it is planted can be watered daily. This media is coarse enough to allow air through which dries it out quickly. You shouldn't have any root rot due to watering this every day. Once the media starts to break down, then you will need to water less often. Epicatts like to be watered well, and then dry off. The shriveling of the pbulbs is normal as they are supplying the new growth with everything needed to grow until the new growth starts to grow roots of it's own. Start using some root stimulator on this to help grow more numerous roots. Nice plant.

[Fairorchids]

The term 'let it dry before watering' is much misunderstood. Most orchids do not want to go bone dry, in particular while in active growth or flowering.

It means, do not water while still wet. Once it starts to dry out, then it needs watering again.

Having said that, your twice weekly schedule sounds OK, but with a mix this coarse you probably should go to every other day, or possibly daily.

[Ginger9899]

Thank you both so much. I get it, and will kick up the watering and not be so afraid, as long as it's dry like it has been. I'll use some K-L-N and seaweed more often also to stimulate more roots.

I'm trying to grow as an orchid grower not only by fixing possible issues early, but also by not messing with things that really don't need messed with, and knowing the difference lol.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have a Charlie Brown as well, recently re-potted to medium-to-coarse scoria (so, like yours, mine is in very well drained material). Like yours, my older pseudobulbs are shriveling as new growths are being produced.

James is right about the older pseudobulbs normally shriveling a bit as they are supplying that new growth with water and nutrients. Your new growth appears bigger than the previous ones, so all seems to be going well. As long as the roots are healthy, I think it is growing as expected.

Fairorchids suggested watering at least every other day, and in Fort Meyers, that is probably a good idea. If your medium starts looking soggy, or if you start getting a lot of rain, you can always skip some watering to allow more time to dry out.

[Ginger9899]

Thanks Orchid Whisperer, glad to hear your Charlie Brown shrivels also. I asked you last month about the purple bulbs, you can see mine have mostly lost their purple. When they were plump the newest one (before new growth) was solid purple. Interesting. I am actually even giving it a little more sun now than I was previously.

I sure hope I get flowers from it this fall! Can't wait to see them.