Calanthe trouble

[Longroots]

I bought 3 Cypripedium and a Calanthe about a week ago. The Cypripedium seem pretty happy, and have grown a little since slip potting them into the substrate. They're in a shaded area that gets some dappled light that is shielded from the wind too.

The substrate is about 40:60 LECA to fired clay (what i use for my bonsai). Since simply slip potting the 4 pots, the calanthe developed this kind of dark green mottling and seems to be declining. The substrate it came in was a mix of soil, coir and tiny bits of bark (all fairly broken down).

I'm assuming there's no saving this Calanthe now, but for the future, why did it react so badly and quickly?

[Roberta]

Calanthes are semi-deciduous or deciduous. So losing leaves is not necessarily a sign of death, it very likely will produce new growth. (Stress might have accelerated the leaf loss but recovery is likely) Also, it's a terrestrial, so the soil-like mix is actually correct, as long as it is well-drained. I doubt that LECA will be good for it, it needs a more moist soil-like mix.

[Longroots]

I'm in the UK so its actually the beginning of the season which is why I'm concerned. It still has its soil mix around the immediate rootball. However I may try excavate it and perhaps add some top soil around the rootball to maybe keep it more moist? I learnt from my past mistake with Cypripedium's to not bury them too deep and keep them out of strong sun, but I thought they liked fairly similar conditions to Cypripediums.

[Roberta]

I hope someone more local to you or at least more familiar with your environment will respond... mine is too different to make good recommendations.

[Longroots]

Thank you for your advice so far though!

[stonedragonfarms]

Roberta is correct in her cultural assessment; I grow maybe 7 different hardy Calanthes [if you search my username for posts, you can see pictures/growing methods], in pots, they grow best [for me] in media similar to that used for terrestrial Cymbidium species [ie section Jensoa]--I use a mix of 1:1 [by volume] of chopped coir fibre & crushed pumice. The mix should be both airy and have the ability to remain consistently moist without becoming dense or compressed. I usually use it in conjunction with clay pots, but it works in plastic as well. I don't grow them in the ground [though they are perfectly hardy here in the Pacific Northwest], the few hobbyists that I know who do, usually grow them in raised beds, in a mix that is roughly 2:1:1:1 [again by volume] of screened topsoil:crushed pumice/crushed cinders:well rotted manure:leafmold/shredded oak leaves/fine fir bark--generously water when in growth and stop watering mid-autumn [if your winters are extremely wet, you may need to partially cover beds. Most appreciate regular feeding, though consistent water availability trumps consistent feeding.
Regarding your leaves, this happens pretty regularly when plants are handled during repotting or division--the leaf tissue is very tender and prone to both frost and rot at this stage. Plants are typically potted on when they are fully dormant [ie middle of winter; new growths will show just at or just above soil level, they look like Hosta growths] or divided after flowering [ie leaves are fully unfurled and hardened off, but new roots have yet to form, or are very short and close to the new growth] At this point, I'd probably leave it where its at, just be make sure that the media stays moist & that there is shade during the hottest parts of the day [ie no direct, overhead sun from roughly 11am-3pm in the northern hemisphere]; I'd likely shift its position once its hit the dormancy period in winter.
One last thought--do you happen to know which species/hybrid this is? There are a few which are either late summer bloomers [reflexa for example] or not truly hardy [i.e., argenteostriata & its progeny]
Good growing!

[Longroots]

I have no idea on the hybrid unfortunately, it was budding up when I slip potted it, and its early-mid spring here. Although my mix isn't composed of the same things, it is capable of maintaining moisture, is impossible to become compressed and is quite airy. Its designed to let water straight into the rootball/zone instantly as it always maintains quite a lot of air. I potted them all up with some slow release fertiliser as I know they like a small feed. I think if they survive to dormancy, I'll mix some top soil around its portion of the pot though. What i worry about now is leaving the house for vacations etc now, which is already a concern with my orchidarium...

Not a holiday friendly hobby!

[estación seca]

Instead of spending holidays relaxing on the beach or pretending to listen to relatives you could take trips to see orchids in habitat.