Max. variabilis & Aer. fastuosa outdoors

[Keiki Paste]

First of all I'm having great success! However:

My little Aerangis fasuosa lost it's two flowers before it went outside. It is nestled among some young Cymbidiums and gets direct sunlight for about an hour. It's been out there for about three weeks and she's growing a new leaf like crazy, she's very happy. But will the bright light hinder flowering? It seems opinions are that it does best (meaning flower?) in dim or indirect light.

Secondly my spindly Maxillaria Black Eyed Susan is SUCH a heavy drinker. I see the creases on her pbs expanding and creasing over and over, responding to the waterings, and I still can't get them to completely go away. I spray her and keep her wet to moist, and she's in the same spot with about an hour of direct sun. She's packed loosely in moss and pine bark and has plenty of holes in her pot and she is doing well, but I'm wondering: would she be a good candidate for full water culture?

Has anyone grown a Maxillaria in full water culture successfully?

P.S. I entered 4 tags and was warned that I had exceeded the limit by 20.

[WhiteRabbit]

[fishmom]

Regarding the maxillaria, I have several that I keep in saucers and allow to sit in a bit of water after I water them from the top. I don't make it a point to keep water in the saucer at all times, but they get more than a plant that drains freely. This seems to work for tenufolia, cuculata, chrysanthum, richii, and picta. These are all species that grow in clumps; they seem to like the extra water. I haven't tried S/H with them, though I think they would do well.

[Keiki Paste]

Originally Posted by fishmom

Regarding the maxillaria, I have several that I keep in saucers and allow to sit in a bit of water after I water them from the top. I don't make it a point to keep water in the saucer at all times, but they get more than a plant that drains freely. This seems to work for tenufolia, cuculata, chrysanthum, richii, and picta. These are all species that grow in clumps; they seem to like the extra water. I haven't tried S/H with them, though I think they would do well.

Thanks, Fishmom! I will try letting it sit in it's juices and see how that goes. Since it is outside it shouldn't last too long anyway. It's my absolute favorite orchid (of my 8) and I don't want to harm it in any way! Maybe once I get another one, which I plan to do, I will experiment on this one a little further.