Rhych. Digbyana question - Orchid Board

Becky15349 · #1 09-30-2009, 01:00 AM

Hi all!

Ok quick question: I have a Rhych. Digbyana species catt that I got about 6 months ago from a reputable grower in Florida. It bloomed well (was in sheath when i received it) and then I repotted into douglas fir bark (because I know they like to be dry; its large chips) and all its been doing is growing roots. No new growth; nothing. I water it 1x a week - does anyone have any advice on what works for them?

Thanks!
Becky

isurus79 · #2 09-30-2009, 05:16 AM

This is a sloooooooow grower which means is a sloooooooooooow recover-er from getting a new home. Give it a year and repost this question! lol jk Lots of light and some moisture every now and then and its should be ok. Some pics always help though!

smweaver · #3 09-30-2009, 11:39 AM

Becky, I have two plants of this species, and Steve is right. They're pretty slow growers--especially when they're recovering from being repotted (even gently repotted with what, for most other orchids, would be considered a minimum of stress). I repotted one of the two plants last spring. It responded by sending out masses of new roots. But it didn't start sending out a new growth until a few weeks ago--just in time for our freezing Winters where I live.

The second plant did not get repotted, and it did cooperate and grow a couple of new growths. So perhaps they just don't recover terribly quickly from being repotted--although they're tough plants and do, eventually, bounce back. I too have my plants potted in coarse potting mix to try and keep all of those roots happy. If I were you I would just try to be patient (which this sometimes exasperating species seems to be very good at cultivating in its admirers). Good luck with your plant.

Steve

smweaver · #4 09-30-2009, 11:42 AM

Oh, Becky, I forgot to ask you in my previous posting... Did you purchase the digbyana that Odom's Orchids had listed on EBay a couple of weeks ago for the heart-stopping price of $10,000? It was listed as a four-bulb division of an awarded clone that was recently repotted (meaning that you would have gotten a plant that had not yet become established). I thought about emailing them to see if they would take my old Honda as a trade. :-)

Steve

cb977 · #5 09-30-2009, 11:43 AM

Mine takes LOTS of light, the leaves should have a purplish color to them. Mine is moounted and gets a misting every day.

cb977 · #6 09-30-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smweaver

Oh, Becky, I forgot to ask you in my previous posting... Did you purchase the digbyana that Odom's Orchids had listed on EBay a couple of weeks ago for the heart-stopping price of $10,000? It was listed as a four-bulb division of an awarded clone that was recently repotted (meaning that you would have gotten a plant that had not yet become established). I thought about emailing them to see if they would take my old Honda as a trade. :-)

Steve

smweaver · #7 09-30-2009, 12:00 PM

Yes, Susanne, that's kind of the response that I anticipated I would get from them--or from my friends and family members who are already quite skeptical about this hobby of ours.

Becky15349 · #8 10-02-2009, 02:14 AM

OMG no!!! Mine was maybe $50 from a grower in Florida, I forget the name of the greenhouse - but certainly noy $10K!!!

Thanks for all the responses...I figured I'd just have to wait for this one, and I certainly will (bc its worth it) I just wanted to make sure you guys were having the same experience!

Thanks again

~Becky