All 3 Constantia miniatures arrived!

[katrina]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

To add to this, seller wrote me detailed care info and mentioned that I should not even trim old / dead looking parts since he strongly believe they do create special micro environment for the rest of the plant to grow better.

Plus, the larger the plant...the stronger it is and the better able it is to survive any stress.

Very cute! These are new to me...had to look them up...they look quite interesting.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by katrina

Plus, the larger the plant...the stronger it is and the better able it is to survive any stress.

Very cute! These are new to me...had to look them up...they look quite interesting.

Thanks katrina, that's exactly what I have learned in year, small divisions in many times do not survive, plus dividing the mother plant makes it weaker. I would be very scared to divide this to multiple small pieces.

[nikkik]

Happy you found your plants! They are adorable!

They are your plants and you can do what you like with them, but I agree that you shouldn't divide them. My theory is if you see one in decline you can change the environment and remedy the situation, but with small divisions they normally die before you can makes those changes. I understand the logic behind making multiple divisions, but wouldn't do so with these particular plants.

[epiphyte78]

If your divisions generally don't survive...then you're doing something wrong. Maybe you're consistently putting them in unsuitable microhabitats. Maybe you're not attaching them tightly enough to the mounts. Maybe you're using moss for ones that don't need it and not using moss for the ones that do need it. Maybe you consistently buy orchids that are not suitable for your conditions.

In the beginning most of my divisions died as well. I had no idea what I was doing. Unfortunately for myself and the orchids...this was long before the internet was invented...and I had no idea that orchid societies even existed. Fortunately I only killed common orchids.

I had to kill a lot of common orchids before most of my divisions started surviving.

When the internet was finally invented...I was able to research the habitats where the orchids came from...and extrapolate the conditions they required.

One of the most valuable resources was the Bakers' orchid culture website. I purchased countless orchid sheets to better understand the needs of orchids BEFORE I decided whether or not I should purchase them. Have you purchased any culture sheets from the Baker's websites? Do they have any available on Constantias? If so, what do they say? What kind of conditions do these orchids experience in their native habitats?

Again, rather than purchase orchids because they were pretty...I purchased orchids whose preferences matched my conditions. Not always of course.

Many years ago I saw a post on Craigslist for an orchid collection. The father had passed away and the family was selling his orchids. So I drove pretty far and ended up spending a lot of money on numerous really nice species...most of which I had no idea what kind of conditions they required.

When I learned the kind of conditions they required...I traded most of them away on the first orchid forum that I participated on. I made a good friend in the process...somebody with far more experience than myself.

One of the orchids that I did keep was Dendrobium canaliculatum. Like an idiot...I mounted it with moss and killed the small division. Fortunately, before it died it produced a keiki which thrived when I mounted it without any moss.

Your success rate with divisions leads me to believe that these orchids ended up in the wrong hands. Like I said, these are pretty rare so I really hope I'm wrong. I hope in a year you reply to this thread and make me eat my words!!! But honestly I would be surprised if that was the case.

Also, when I said 5 divisions...that was just a number for illustrative purposes. It's kind of a hard to say for sure based on a picture how many divisions would be optimal. But I'd say three or more.

Of course all orchids resent being divided. But if you think that there are slim chances that the divisions would survive...then maybe you should spend more time practicing with the more common orchids before trying to grow something that is so hard to find. Do some more research into divisions by reading the entire back bulb blog.

Also, check out what my friend in Brazil had to say about the habitat of Constantia cipoensis. Are you going to contact him and ask for more info?

---------- Post added at 04:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:08 PM ----------

Originally Posted by nikkik

Happy you found your plants! They are adorable!

They are your plants and you can do what you like with them, but I agree that you shouldn't divide them.

If they were animals instead of orchids...would you say that they were his to do with as he pleased? Or would it depend on the type of animal?

Originally Posted by nikkik

My theory is if you see one in decline you can change the environment and remedy the situation, but with small divisions they normally die before you can makes those changes. I understand the logic behind making multiple divisions, but wouldn't do so with these particular plants.

Are you saying that the more fragile some eggs are...the more reason for keeping them all in the same basket? If so, then I really don't think you do understand the logic of making multiple divisions.

[nikkik]

Originally Posted by epiphyte78

If your divisions generally don't survive...then you're doing something wrong. Maybe you're consistently putting them in unsuitable microhabitats. Maybe you're not attaching them tightly enough to the mounts. Maybe you're using moss for ones that don't need it and not using moss for the ones that do need it. Maybe you consistently buy orchids that are not suitable for your conditions.

In the beginning most of my divisions died as well. I had no idea what I was doing. Unfortunately for myself and the orchids...this was long before the internet was invented...and I had no idea that orchid societies even existed. Fortunately I only killed common orchids.

I had to kill a lot of common orchids before most of my divisions started surviving.

When the internet was finally invented...I was able to research the habitats where the orchids came from...and extrapolate the conditions they required.

One of the most valuable resources was the Bakers' orchid culture website. I purchased countless orchid sheets to better understand the needs of orchids BEFORE I decided whether or not I should purchase them. Have you purchased any culture sheets from the Baker's websites? Do they have any available on Constantias? If so, what do they say? What kind of conditions do these orchids experience in their native habitats?

Again, rather than purchase orchids because they were pretty...I purchased orchids whose preferences matched my conditions. Not always of course.

Many years ago I saw a post on Craigslist for an orchid collection. The father had passed away and the family was selling his orchids. So I drove pretty far and ended up spending a lot of money on numerous really nice species...most of which I had no idea what kind of conditions they required.

When I learned the kind of conditions they required...I traded most of them away on the first orchid forum that I participated on. I made a good friend in the process...somebody with far more experience than myself.

One of the orchids that I did keep was Dendrobium canaliculatum. Like an idiot...I mounted it with moss and killed the small division. Fortunately, before it died it produced a keiki which thrived when I mounted it without any moss.

Your success rate with divisions leads me to believe that these orchids ended up in the wrong hands. Like I said, these are pretty rare so I really hope I'm wrong. I hope in a year you reply to this thread and make me eat my words!!! But honestly I would be surprised if that was the case.

Also, when I said 5 divisions...that was just a number for illustrative purposes. It's kind of a hard to say for sure based on a picture how many divisions would be optimal. But I'd say three or more.

Of course all orchids resent being divided. But if you think that there are slim chances that the divisions would survive...then maybe you should spend more time practicing with the more common orchids before trying to grow something that is so hard to find. Do some more research into divisions by reading the entire back bulb blog.

Also, check out what my friend in Brazil had to say about the habitat of Constantia cipoensis. Are you going to contact him and ask for more info?

---------- Post added at 04:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:08 PM ----------



If they were animals instead of orchids...would you say that they were his to do with as he pleased? Or would it depend on the type of animal?



Are you saying that the more fragile some eggs are...the more reason for keeping them all in the same basket? If so, then I really don't think you do understand the logic of making multiple divisions.

Um, I'm not here to argue with anyone. I respect your opinion, even though you clearly don't respect mine. I agree with Tommy's choice. And they are his plants to do what he chooses, I have no idea what animals have to do with this conversation and I won't engage any further. Clearly, you think your opinion is the only correct one.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by nikkik

Happy you found your plants! They are adorable!

They are your plants and you can do what you like with them, but I agree that you shouldn't divide them. My theory is if you see one in decline you can change the environment and remedy the situation, but with small divisions they normally die before you can makes those changes. I understand the logic behind making multiple divisions, but wouldn't do so with these particular plants.

Thanks nikkik, I'm sticking exactly with this decision, I will be watching this closely and in the case it does not do great I will change the environment. I do feel like the bigger plant will be easier establishing to my conditions and stronger to grow and bloom.

---------- Post added at 08:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 PM ----------

ok, this is getting out of hands for no reason. So to end this before it will go to posts we do not like, epiphyte, you are of course allowed your personal opinion, and your logic. I am not saying your logic is not good, but I don't have to stick with it, since I do have my opinion, my logic and my experience. I do agree more with others and their suggestions than yours. Regarding the divisions - in no way I am saying I am expert, but I do believe I did learn a lot, and trust me, I DO RESEARCH before I buy - I did the mistakes of not researching at the beginnings and bought wrong plants! The divisions I got were plants that I already grow, let's say Bulbophyllums, and that I do strongly believe have a great success growing and blooming here! However, even I have many many Bulbophyllums that are established, small or big, and blooming, I got last year divisions that were small and they did not just establish and died. Was it my fault - who knows, but I did provide exactly the same culture I do for all other from that family, and therefor I do believe that "small divisions" are sometimes hard to establish, it all starts with shipping stress, climate change, and many other aspects! I do not know any orchid grower who has 100% success with his/hers plants and who does not kill some at some point!
I do also strongly believe, and I heard this from many other orchid growers that are much more skillful, that large divisions and large plants are in fact much easier to establish and grow, also stronger!
Regarding the growing tips, no I won't contact other people at this point, as I do believe that seller of these plants that is actually great expert in all mini Brazilian Cattleyas and Rupiculous cattleyas provided me with detailed care and tips. I have many other plants from him, and following his culture, they all do great, including my Cattleya liliputana, so I believe that to stick to the same culture he is providing is actually the best way to go.

[ron-in-norcal]

Tommy, those are really amazing plants, and so charming! I hope you do wonderfully well with all of them. I'm sure you will.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by ron-in-norcal

Tommy, those are really amazing plants, and so charming! I hope you do wonderfully well with all of them. I'm sure you will.

Many thanks

[euplusia]

Not easy, but Tomas I think you are the man to grow them.

[s.kallima]

Your plants look very healthy, nice catch!
I saw some C. cipoensis being sold on ebay last year...