Cirrhopetalum sikkimense (specimen)

[LeeB]

I recently bought a specimen size sikkimense at an auction. Please give me some advice re how to grow & flower this gem. It is mounted. Thanks in advance. LeeB.

[WhiteRabbit]

[LeeB]

White Rabbit, what does that mean

[kevin1217]

"bump" means to bump the thread to the top so other members can see the thread.

[RosieC]

Hi Lee, sorry I can't help with your plant but I'm going to try moving this to the Bulbophyllum Alliance. Hopefully more people who know about this orchid will see it there.

Many people read the latest threads on the forum, so if your thread drops down the lists it can get lost. Sonya's bump helped pull it back to the top, any reply (including mine) will do that and sometimes people just give a bump without saying anything to try and help you stay at the top.

I think the Intro thread might not be seen by the people who can help you though. Hopefully moving it to the Bulbophyllum Alliance will help it get seen by the right people.

[LeeB]

Thank you Rosie & Sonya. I'm too new to this to know how it works. Orchid growers rock.

[RosieC]

I realised after moving this that I do actually have a Cirrhopetalum. I tend to think of it as a bulbophylum so forgot was tagged Cirrhopetalum (at least in the past if not still). I don't know if my experience is right for your species as I have a hybrid Cirrhopetalum.

I keep mine in wooden basket, potted in sphagnum moss. I try and keep it moist, only letting it just dry before watering again.

Bulbos are water hungry but also rot easily, so getting an airy medium is important. I water by standing in water, other orchids (phals for example) can be forgotten and left all day (though I don't advise it) but these will be showing signs of rot by the evening (at which point I've put cinnamon on the affected area and that's seemed to work).

I am not sure what light mine should be in, it doesn't like being right in the brightest window, but is just back from the window behind other plants. We don't have the brightest weather here though so not sure how that equates to where you are.

I keep mine in standard house hold temps and it seems fine.

Hope that helps a little, and I hope someone with more knowledge will be able to help more.

[LeeB]

Thank you Rosie for your advice. I hope I can keep this going & get it to bloom. LeeB

[cbuchman]

I have no direct experience with this orchid, but I can tell you what OrchidWiz says.

Light: 2000-3000fc. Should be diffused or filtered, and plants should not be exposed to direct midday sun. Strong air movement at all time.

Temps: Summer avg at 89-90F and nights 79F with a diurnal range of 10-11F. Spring before the start of the monsoon is the warmest season. Days avg 82-98F with nights from 66-78F; diurnal range of 26-17F.

Humidity. 85-90% in Summer and early autumn. dropping to 70-75% in winter and failing to 60% in last winter and early Spring.

Water: Rainfall is heavy from late autumn to easly spring. Water heavily while actively growing, but drainage must be excellent. Reduce water after new growths have matured.

Rest Period: Reduce water in Winter but do not leave completely without water for long periods Increase water if pbulb shrivel or show other sings of stress. Eliminate fertilizer until new growth starts and heavier watering is resumed in spring.

Media: Best grown in slabs as they require perfect drainage and good root aeration.

Hope that helps somewhat.

[LeeB]

Thank you Carrie, that helps. LeeB