zygopetalum ???

[pjoeverett]

Can you tell me more about this plant??
I purchased it from Trader's Joes and it is planted in sphagnum
what conditions does it need to grow?

[Fairorchids]

Cool to intermediate temperatures. It can go outside in mottled light, does not need to come in till night temps drop to around 40F.

It blooms from new growths, before they are mature. It requires no rest period, and should not be allowed to go completely dry between waterings.

Commercially, they are often grown together with Cymbidium, but can't tolerate the same minimums as Cymbidiums.

When in active growth, you can feed every 3rd watering.

[pjoeverett]

Thank-you so much . I have it setting in my sumrm on a table across from a SW window. That way I will be able to check it often and try not too overwater.
I use the MSU fertilizer....will that be OK???
I love the thin leaves and the dark purple color...just hope it survives our dreary winters.

[Cym Ladye]

You do not say in what part of the US you live, but that will make a big difference in how you treat the Zygo alliance. Here in Northern California, I grow mine outside all year long, but try to keep the rain off the foliage when it is cold to avoid unsightly marking on the leaves. They easily go down to 35F and mine even will tolerate 32F for very short periods as the Cyms do.

If you are in an area where you get hard freeze in the winter, by all means, follow the advice of Fairorchids.

I use MSU fertilizer on a dilute weakly/weekly basis all year long as I do my Cyms, and they seem to thrive on the routine.

[tarev]

My Zygo enjoys being moist a lot and lots of air circulation. It also ably survives our winter here, but I have it in my growcamp so the plastic foil protects it from freezing rain. My plant just finished its bloom for this year. I get the blooms in Spring.

[mimigirl]

What is MSU fertilizer?

[RHF]

Michigan State University - see First Rays Orchids

[pjoeverett]

Thank-you all for the advice. I live in Ohio so it can not be outside in the winter. If we have a dreary fall I may put outside on a picnic table with umbrella until it gets too cool. My cymbidiums, Christmas cactus, and zygopetalum will all enjoy the cool fall temps. this year.
MSU fertilizer is 17-9-18

[RosieC]

I grow my Zygo in S/H and it's done really well.

I water with every watering (about every 5 days) with the European equivalent of MSU at a very very low concentration.

One thing to note which I'm not sure has been mentioned above is that you need to be careful not to get any water in the new growths. They can rot really easily if that happens.

[pjoeverett]

Thank-you again and I have made the mistake many times of getting water on new growths. I will be very careful because I love the plant's rich colors.