Dying Gongora seideliana

[Tango]

Hi,

I manage since years to keep barely alive a Gongora seideliana. Somehow it manages to bloom each year, and after, it seems to be even weaker.

The problem is, no matter what I do, new growths start to yellow and eventually die. If I water generously they die fast, but if I water sparingly they die in slow motion.

The plant is in a wooden basket, on charcoal and medium sized bark chips. It's receiving a lot of light from a West exposed window, but no direct sun. Temperatures are between 19°C in winter and 32°C in summer... All surrounding plants are actually quite happy.

What can I do to make it grow healthy? I cannot figure out and apparently information on other Gongora species does not work in my case.

Thanks!
Tango.

[estación seca]

What is your relative humidity? It looks dessicated. At lower relative humidity, even with lots of water, some plants can't take up enough water to grow well.

The ones I've grown use far more water than most other orchids.

Spider mite attack is another possibility. These are very susceptible to those bugs, especially if humidity is lower.

Edit: I looked it up at IOSPE. There is a link at the bottom to a paper in Spanish describing its rediscovery in Chiapas, Mexico. You can read it but I'll translate a little here:

"Municipality of San Fernando, Chiapas, in the central lowlands of Chiapas. Tropical semi-deciduous forest."

This area has a very wet summer and a less wet winter.

[Tango]

Hi Estación Seca,

Yes, I knew the paper. But they mention almost no ecological information in it. Apparently, the rediscovered plants were rupicolous... Maybe that means lots of wet air with little exposition to direct rain... Who knows.

My relative humidity is 50-60%, maybe not enough for this Gongora. Mites, thrips and co. really love to come in from the big ficus trees growing in the streets of our city, but I keep them in control with soapy water... I spray liters and liters every week in summer.

Would you move the plant to sphagnum, maybe, and/or to a plastic pot? I just don't know how to control new growth rot... Or maybe the new growths just yellow and desiccate because overall lack of water?

I would like to learn something new before I think of giving the plant away.

Thanks,
T.

[estación seca]

I would use sphagnum, yes. Old roots don't take up water well, and new roots form with new growth. Try to keep the humidity as high as you can when it is making new growth, even if you need to put plastic over it or put it into a terrarium.

[Tango]

Then I'll try with sphagnum in a plastic pot, hopefully it will recover!
Thanks a lot,
T.

[isurus79]

I used to grow quite a few Gongoras and Stanhopeas. Both love tons of water at the roots! Seems like yours just needs more water. Humidity at 50-60% is perfect.

[Tango]

Thank you Isurus, I'll put it on sphagnum and hopefully it will recover!