Unknown orchid

[lauraeli]

I dont necessarily want to repot it while it's in bloom.

Besides that, I may continue to grow it in sphagnum. I read that they dont like to dry out all the way and they like more moisture than phalaenopsis.

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by lauraeli

I dont necessarily want to repot it while it's in bloom.

Besides that, I may continue to grow it in sphagnum. I read that they dont like to dry out all the way and they like more moisture than phalaenopsis.

Valid concerns. Spag makes me nervous, though I sometimes us it.

[estación seca]

Sphagnum is good for many Oncidiums in conditions where other media might dry out too fast. They use a lot of water. You'd be surprised how fast they can suck water out of that sphag. I have had to stand some hybrid Oncidiums in sphag in dishes of water to keep their new leaves from pleating.

It's better if Oncidium intergeneric hybrids, like Beallara, don't dry out completely.

[lauraeli]

In general Im most comfortable using a mix of bark and sphagnum.

My 'just bark' phals tend to become water stressed and I end up amending their mix with some spag eventually. Right now only my two biggest pots are just bark.

But i have never used pure sphagnum for anything bigger than a 3 inch pot.

I get nervous too if my 'chids dont seem to dry out a fair amount after a couple days.

[Dollythehun]

To quote Bil, " 3 growers 4 opinions." You're the grower and you have to be comfortable, not us. By the way, cute avatar.

[lauraeli]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

To quote Bil, " 3 growers 4 opinions." You're the grower and you have to be comfortable, not us. By the way, cute avatar.

Thanks. It's not my cat. I have a bunny...he likes green things too.

He once helped me propagate my Hoya vine. He chewed it in half. Now I have two!

Anyway, I suspect it will take me weeks or even months to get to know this new orchid. It can be helpful to gather many opinions/experiences in the beginning, in order to weigh your own experiences against them.

If anyone can compare this orchid's care to phalaenopsis, it would be the most helpful, since Im most familiar with caring for phals.

[Dollythehun]

I got my Beallara as a baby last fall. It was wrapped in spag and plastic wrap with some others in Matt's booth. I brought it home, potted it in medium bark in clay and put it in a e/s window. Due to Indiana winters, it hasn't gotten much direct sun. It has filled it's pot and has 3 it 4 new pbulbs. I water 2x a week or when it's pot feels light. It's growing with my Tolumias and Oncidiums. When they were in a North window, I just watered less. I feed weaklyand flush once a month. Hope this helps.

[snowflake311]

I have 2 beallara. My Beallara Howard's Dream is recovering from some major bulb issue. A year ago I thought it was going to die. It is doing well now but it had to start over. I still have a few years till I get flowers but I love this plant. I think one in Semi-hydro and that saved it.

My other Beallara Tahoma Glacier send out lots of aireal roots and the bulbs like to grow out of the pot. I just moved it to Semi Hydro we will see if it likes that.

They are hardy, don't need much light, They need to dry out, and They like cooler temps. I think moss would be a bad Idea for them They need to dry out and like more air too the roots than other orchids.

I love these crazy hybrids.