Den. Pixie Princess AM/AOS Culture

[kcole321]

Hi all. I just purchased a Den. Pixie Princess AM/AOS. I found information that it is Den.Pixi Nani x Den.canaliculatum. I have found culture information on Den. canaliculatum; but can't find anything on Den. Pixi Nani or Den. Pixie Princess. Can anyone give me some help on how to treat this plant.

Thanks,

kc

[quiltergal]

Grow this one warm and bright year round, no winter rest required. Seemed like mine was in bloom forever last year. You're going to love it!

[catwalker808]

Like quiltergal says, warm & bright.

Above 70 & bright as you can. If it goes below 65, then watch your watering. Below 60, with wet leaves & roots, makes for a very unhappy plant that will drop leaves.

Den canaliculatum prefers being mounted, which allows for lots of water when it's warm. This influences the hybrid's growth habits also.

The hybrid was made in the early 80's by Mr. Francis Aisaka of Honolulu, who allowed us to register it as Den. Pixie Princess, when we received an AM/AOS on a first bloom plant from his CP. We first cloned the plant, others have cloned it & it's made its way around the world.

The attached photo is not the original 'H&R' AM/AOS. One year, the original bloomed 4 times ( and the 5th time a week or 2 into the new year ... so 5 times in about 13 months). The plant will rebloom from previously bloomed canes, so don't cut them off.

To anticipate the next question, sorry, we don't have any plants available at this time.

[kcole321]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. No problem keeping it warm and bright!!

Catwalker, you answered what was to be my next question!! Since it is potted in lava rock, I was wondering if it could be mounted. I've never grown a mounted orchid and would like to give one a try. I'm thinking of trying a cork mount. Would that be OK? Also, how would you recommend watering it, if it is mounted?

Thanks again for all your help. I fell in love with this chid and am anxious to treat it well!!

kc

[smartie2000]

nice. this is a pretty dendrobium

[catwalker808]

kc.

Den canaliculatum is a mini which grows best mounted. However, while Pixie Princess could be mounted, it normally would grow 8-10" under some conditions or 12-16" if fed heavily & grown vigorously. If you mount the plant, subsequent growths would shrink considerably & you would still have blooms, but shorter spikes on a much smaller plant. You would probably have to drench almost daily to moisten the roots.

[kcole321]

OK. Thanks Catwalker. Can I put in large fir bark when it's time to repot? or is the lava rock better?

It's great to have someone who can help with questions!! I love the Orchid Board!!

kc