Sophronitis cernua

[camille1585]

Thank you for sharing some cheerful colors on what is going to be another wet miserable day in the Netherlands. I needed that!

[mimigirl]

Help. I thought since it was in catt alliance it would not like a lot of water. I have it on a Kool Log that is never filled and it driesout completely between waterings. It has had very little growth in 3 years. Should I water it more or pot it? If it should be mounted isn’t what I am doing the same!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by mimigirl

Help. I thought since it was in catt alliance it would not like a lot of water. I have it on a Kool Log that is never filled and it driesout completely between waterings. It has had very little growth in 3 years. Should I water it more or pot it? If it should be mounted isn’t what I am doing the same!

If it were my plant, I'd water more often. A mounted plant dries out in a few hours after watering, even in a humid environment. I have tried Kool Logs for some Pleurothallids, and did not see the plants be very enthusiastic about attaching. You may do better with a wood or cork mount, that has rough surfaces that the roots can grab on to, and see how it performs if you water every 2 or 3 days. Don't put any moss between the plant and mount - I have found that if there is moss, the roots go into it and not the mount/

[mimigirl]

I am so glad you replied. I see you posted last october and thought i would take a chance that you saw it. I have it soaking so I can remove it and I have some cypress. Thank you!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by mimigirl

I am so glad you replied. I see you posted last october and thought i would take a chance that you saw it. I have it soaking so I can remove it and I have some cypress. Thank you!

If it roots have attached to the Kool Log, then you don't have to remove it, it's doing fine with that for a mount. (My plants never attached.) Just increase the watering, I think that once a week for a mounted plant is not sufficient.

[mimigirl]

It is so attached I was worried about getting it off without losing all the roots. Thank you so much!

[Roberta]

If it likes the mount, the only reason to unmount it would be a rotted mount (not a problem with Kool logs). When I have a plant that outgrows a mount, I just tie it to a bigger one.

It is almost impossible to over-water a mounted plant, so don't be afraid to water more often. I have Laelia anceps hanging over the Cymbidiums because both need bright light, nearly full sun. The Cyms like to be damp, so they are in fine bark. The L. anceps hate to be damp, so they are all mounted or in baskets with little or no media. The area gets watered every day in summer, every 2 or 3 days in winter... and both types are happy - the L. anceps are dry within a few hours so even daily watering doesn't bother them.

[jkofferdahl]

My experience has been that this species needs frequent waterings.

[No-Pro-mwa]

It's beautiful. I hope I can get mine to have that many blooms one day. Yep I sure do have to water mine allot.

[estación seca]

There are a lot of threads you can read on Orchid Board about this plant. I seem to recall the best growers grow them mounted and don't let them dry out much.