I know what it is, but how do I care for it?

[dbarron]

I have a feeling that Florida summer nights aren't comparable with nights anywhere in Canada I've been in both (though obviously not everywhere in Canada).
I don't know..but the hot muggy summer nights be may a bit much (I've always wondered myself when lusting at this group of plants).

[silken]

Originally Posted by dbarron

I have a feeling that Florida summer nights aren't comparable with nights anywhere in Canada I've been in both (though obviously not everywhere in Canada).
I don't know..but the hot muggy summer nights be may a bit much (I've always wondered myself when lusting at this group of plants).

It's true, we get hot sunny days but our nights do cool off.

[flexdc]

These are relatively easy to grow. A little more light than Phals, but need good air circulation. The parents are from montane cloud forests of Central-South america. For climate in Florida, just make sure it is in a breezy location at night and shade during the day during the summer. I don't think they need sheltering in the winter.
I grow mine year round outside here in LA. Nights are cool, days are warmer but never really hot though. They do OK even with temps down to 45 F occationally.

Andrew

[dbarron]

Keep us informed...I still maintain that the drier cooler nights in LA are quite different than the insufferably muggy hot ones in Tampa.
If you have luck with it through the summer, I'll consider getting myself one this fall.

[Boshia]

Yes, I will keep everyone informed. I guess it's fine where it's at, I just need to invest in a fan. I do plan on repotting it, as some of the sphagnum moss in the mixture seems kind of moldy or broken down, it's kind of gross.

[Jungeoma]

I have one sinilar and was able to reflower it last fall. The blooms last a long time.

[snowflake311]

With these Hybrids I find them to be really hardy and can take whatever condition you give them they are such a mutt of a flower that they adapt well.

They are a great starter orchid. I have a Beallara orchid it is awesome and not picked at all. I bought it in a kind of mud promix I have left it in that and I hardly have to water it. I have new growth on it that is growing well. I keep it in a east window.

[Boshia]

Jungeoma, those flowers are stunning! I love the lip especially.
It's nice to know that they're hardy and good for beginners. If it has a chance of surviving with me that's exactly what it has to be! Anyways, I decided to repot it today. I think it's a good thing that I did, because the bark that was on top was only a cover-up for the 100% sphagnum moss throughout the rest of the pot. There was also some sort of sponge in the very middle of the roots, not sure what that was about. Also, I didn't have to worry about accidentally dividing the Aliceara, because I discovered they were two plants to start with...the growers seemed to have just put two of them into the same pot, probably for the flowers to be more impressive overall.

Their potting media:


The strange sponge stuff:


The two plants:


After being repotted:




I think I might have messed up a little bit when repotting, because I placed the smaller pseudobulbs right next to each other in the center. I'm assuming these are the newest pseudobulbs, I just hope my mistake won't affect them too badly.

[rbarata]

I also have one of these hibrids. Here thay are called cambria (I believe it's the same thing). I don,t really know how the flower is because I bought it without flowers (I like the surprise).

About the bulbs position, I've read that the newest bulbs should be place in the outer side because of the light (and should also be place at some distance of the pot wall to allow a smooth grow).

[wintergirl]

Good thing you repotted. I have found those sponge-like things in some plants I bought from Lowes. One was starting rot in the roots on mine.