Chysis limminghei care help please

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Hello everyone and MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I need little help with my new Chysis, by reading on different websites I got the feeling it is very similar care to Catasetums, and it should go deciduous and dry till new growths. I did ask seller, from Florida, and he replied today to my surprise he does not provide any dry season, and that he grows them in and like Cattleyas. Not sure what to think and do now, so I would appreciate any care info.
Many thanks to everyone!

[euplusia]

Merry Christmas Tommy.
Chysis limminghei comes from Mexico, where it grows near sea level. Being from Mexico the plant can handle a rest period. Also Clowesias and Catasetums (pendulum, laminatum) and Mormodes tezontle from Mexico do so. But that does not necessarily mean that your specific plant is now in the stage of entering the rest. And the dry season is not completely dry. It is raining maybe once a week and in the growing season 3 times a day. Furthermore Chysis prefer humid places.
I grow several Chysis. In my experience bractescens and tricostata prefer intermediate temps, and lots of water and fresh air in the summer.
I keep my 2 limmingheis and bruennowiana also intermediate, under the Cattleya bench in moderate shade, in a saucer for more humidity.
Flower success does not depend on a rest period but on fat pbulbs.
So do what the plant tells you. It is not unusual that in autumn a Chysis starts a second shoot, then let it grow. If it completed the last sprout, you can reduce watering and place it in a cooler spot. But I would not come below 15°C.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

So many thanks euplusia, here are pictures, let me know what do you thin of them? I am not sure, I guess I will continue water once a week and should I still fertilize too?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

The humidity is always kinda high here in Miami, these days it is still around 70 and up, and it goes only higher from here, I have it in moderate shade, and I am planning to switch it to plastic basket as I read it is the best, still not sure what medium I should use. Temps are still very worm here in Miami this winter, days between 75-84, nights between 70-75, few nights got around 66.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

and here is the second plant I have, there is actually a new growth starting on this one, so I guess I will just continue watering, fertilizing for both at this point, I am glad I know I do not need to do winter rest for these.

[euplusia]

Hello Tommy, the first plant has produced a good bulb. I think you can go on keeping it outside. I would eventually water it once a week, let it dry out between waterings, and I would now withdraw fertilizing. That means I would give it a rest. I would repot it, but not now. Do it in the end of February/beginning of March. The pot size of your container is big enough for another growing season. If you want to replace the potting medium, you can give something suitable for Oncidiums. A higher proportion of hydroponics is good. My following recommendation may be a guideline
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ng-medium.html
A Vanda basket is too open. Take a plastic container with holes at the bottom. Allow the plant to grow in horizontal position.
The second plant has already started a new growth. Maybe the coarse potting medium works for you in a humid climate. If you want to repot, do it now. I would not put both plants into one pot, better leave them separated. I would keep this plant slightly humid and wait a few weeks until the new growth has grown bigger.
Then you can increase watering and fertilizing.
Chysis are forgiving and easy growing plants. Roots are long-lived and hairy, even when the medium starts to decay.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

many thanks euplusia, I will follow your instructions, I will keep the first plant with low water and no fertilizer, and will repot in spring, and the second one watering and fertilizing, but just little bit till the growth is bigger. I will check your info regarding the medium. Once more, many thanks for all the info and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[bellini girl]

I have a C Bractensis and it has leaves on one of the pseudo bulbs. I am watering it, no fertilizer. Not sure what to make of the different growing methods I read about.

[jmmehler]

Kind of late to post on this, but coincidentally, I was talking to someone yesterday, about a Chyssis bractenesis that he bought in 1965. It is currently hanging (and in bloom) at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It is in a rotting slat basket with sphagnum moss that appears to be over 5 years old.

I will be re-potting it late next spring. He suggested a very novel potting media. Sphagnum moss and charcoal. Never heard of that combination, but am looking forward to trying it out on other orchids as well.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by jmmehler

Kind of late to post on this, but coincidentally, I was talking to someone yesterday, about a Chyssis bractenesis that he bought in 1965. It is currently hanging (and in bloom) at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It is in a rotting slat basket with sphagnum moss that appears to be over 5 years old.

I will be re-potting it late next spring. He suggested a very novel potting media. Sphagnum moss and charcoal. Never heard of that combination, but am looking forward to trying it out on other orchids as well.

Many thanks. Mine is growing, there is new growth that started in spring and now there is another baby growth starting, which kind of surprise me, I was hoping more for the spike. We will see :-) I like the idea of sphagnum and charcoal, it seems this one is happy when it is kept slightly wet, and not drying too much.