Rhynchostylis growing advice for U.S. Mountain states

[Plantaphile]

Hello from Denver, CO!

I'm wondering if there are any members out there who are successfully growing (and blooming) any species of Rhynchostylis in the U.S. mountains states (e.g.: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, etc.) inside the home. I am the proud new owner of a Rhynchostylis gigantea "spots" that I need to repot and would love to hear what others have done. The common wisdom seems to be that these need to go into hanging baskets like a Vanda, but with our low humidity, I'm thinking a pot would work better to retain moisture.

Any hard-won knowledge about potting, medium and general growing setups that work for our dry climate and altitude would be sincerely appreciated. I love this plant and want to make sure it does well.

Thanks!

[estación seca]

I don't fit your criteria but... Don't repot it now. This is a slow-growing plant. Roots are few and very fragile. Wait to repot until it's good and warm and the plant is growing.

How big is your plant? How much time do you have to water? The easiest way to grow it is in a basket with large chunks of something that won't rot over time. Wine corks, lava cinders and large-chunk pumice come to mind. The medium in the basket is just to tide the plant over until it makes those long roots that extend out of the basket.

Or you can just hang it by a wire around the stem.

Keep your plant as warm as you can. Get the roots good and wet every 1-2 days in the winter, every day in summer.

Most people can't keep it in a pot. The roots keep growing and growing and growing horizontally out of the pot.

[Plantaphile]

Hi Estacion Seca,

Thanks for your input on this. I've provided a pic of my Ryhncho here. As you can see, it's pretty ready for re-potting.

As far as how much time I have for watering - well, I work from home so I generally have the time (apart from some very infrequent work travel and yearly family vacations). With normal humidity in my house of around 32%, I figured I'd have to be misting the roots several times a day, which isn't an issue while I'm here, but could be when I go on vacation. I'm using a humidifier next to the plant now, which raises the local humidity to around 55 - 60%.

You're in AZ so you certainly know low humidity and I'm assuming you have yours in a hanging basket - do you have to mist the roots that often? And have you had success reblooming your Rhyncho in your conditions and do you use a humidifier or anything else "special" to do this?

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[Dollythehun]

Beautiful plant.

[Plantaphile]

Thanks! Yeah - there's something special about these Rhynchostylis I really like. Given my climate, maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment...

[estación seca]

Don't remove from that pot. You will break the slow-growing roots and the plant will be set back. Instead, get a teak basket. Set the pot in the middle. Surround it with very large chunks of something for stability - rocks, corks, landscape bark chunks, pot shards. The plant's roots will grow through these and out of the basket. This isn't a plant for a pot long-term.

It's very succulent. Thoroughly soaking the roots every 1-3 days will be enough. You don't need to mist it multiple times per day.

When you go on vacation, put an inch of water in your bath tub and close the bathroom door. Put the plant near the window. The high humidity will help it and it will be fine.

I grow in a humid sunroom. I have mostly small seedlings, but I have bloomed a larger plant. They like high light and plenty of fertilizer.

You can use the Search feature in the top maroon menu bar to see how other Orchid Board members grow them.

[Plantaphile]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Don't remove from that pot. You will break the slow-growing roots and the plant will be set back. Instead, get a teak basket. Set the pot in the middle. Surround it with very large chunks of something for stability - rocks, corks, landscape bark chunks, pot shards. The plant's roots will grow through these and out of the basket. This isn't a plant for a pot long-term.

It's very succulent. Thoroughly soaking the roots every 1-3 days will be enough. You don't need to mist it multiple times per day.

When you go on vacation, put an inch of water in your bath tub and close the bathroom door. Put the plant near the window. The high humidity will help it and it will be fine.

I grow in a humid sunroom. I have mostly small seedlings, but I have bloomed a larger plant. They like high light and plenty of fertilizer.

You can use the Search feature in the top maroon menu bar to see how other Orchid Board members grow them.

Great advice, thanks. I particularly like the suggestion to fill the tub when going on vacation.

So you don't think that leaving it in the plastic pot before putting it in a basket would eventually "strangle" the plant? I realize that these guys don't like their roots disturbed, but if I'm going to have to do it down the road at some point, I'd rather get it over with now...

I've definitely searched quite a bit on the forum, but was looking for specifics on growing Rhynchos in the dry, high-altitude climate of the mountain states. While I have seen some who are growing this plant in pots, your logic (and the natural culture needs of the plant) do seem to indicate that using a basket is best.

Thanks again and I'll post some pics once I get to repotting it!

[Dollythehun]

I'm not in your area but, ES is right in that the new roots are going to grow from the base laterally. I have one in a wooden basket (big mistake) one in a clay pot (new root stuck to the pot) and one in a basket. Harder to water for me but works best for the roots. Also, the roots are extremely brittle, be very cautious. I am going to wrap some synthic around them (instead if moss) to keep a little dampness by them. This plant will test your patience.

[Plantaphile]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I'm not in your area but, ES is right in that the new roots are going to grow from the base laterally. I have one in a wooden basket (big mistake) one in a clay pot (new root stuck to the pot) and one in a basket. Harder to water for me but works best for the roots. Also, the roots are extremely brittle, be very cautious. I am going to wrap some synthic around them (instead if moss) to keep a little dampness by them. This plant will test your patience.

Hi Dolly,

Why was putting it in a wooden basket a big mistake?

[Dollythehun]

I should have elaborated. I used moss and a short conical wooden basket. Its impossible to keep watered. I need to rethink it.