Reintroduction Now I Santa Barbara County, California

[plantluvver]

I lost my last post, so forgive me for writing in installments.

It's been over a year since I bought any houseplant let alone an orchid. (unless you count a single blooming hyacinth bulb.) I have no outdoor space and limited windowsill space. However, I was given a gift certificate from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate.

I came home with:

Dendrobium anceps
Dendrobium anosum
Dendrobium Delicatum (king x spec) 'Pinkie'
Rhyncholaelia digbyana
Stanhopea tigrina 'Predator'

Now I need to figure out what I bought...

I was given some culture sheets. In reality, I am a lazy grower in limited circumstances, Que Sera, Sera. (I refuse to apologize for being a terrible plant parent, so spare me the shock and horror. The nursery industry depends on repeat business, which makes me a good supporter.) Also, I have health issues which periodically wipe out my plants due to my inability to care for them.

I was warned that D. 'Pinkie' will need some time outdoors to induce flowering. However, she is a 5 cane division, 3 canes are flowering costing only $7.50! I didn't realize that these flowers are fragrant enough to throw off more scent than I expected.

D. anceps and the Stanhopea are interesting enough to me that I don't mind if they never bloom for me.

I have an interest in mounting or water growing. I tend to knock over the pots on my wire shelf. And taking up my limited growing space and natural light with growing media and pots seems wasteful to me.

I also have a glass fusing hobby and would like to display my plants in/with my pretty glassware.

[Roberta]

Welcome back! Do you have any outdoor space at all? If you're in the Santa Barbara area, you can grow all of these outside... just add water, so they're easy to care for.

[plantluvver]

Thanks Roberta!

I am in a house, but it is not mine. I am afraid there would be drama. I can't afford to move. I only bought the plants to avoid wasting the gift certificate.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by plantluvver

Thanks Roberta!

I am in a house, but it is not mine. I am afraid there would be drama. I can't afford to move. I only bought the plants to avoid wasting the gift certificate.

Sounds like some salesmanship is in order. If you can convince your landlord to fall in love with the orchids too, might be a win-win.

[estación seca]

Your five plants have five different sets of growing requirements. Some reading is in order.

Stanhopeas flower by sending spikes downwards. This one becomes very large. They need to be grown in baskets with large holes. They also need to be kept quite wet. If you could somehow fashion a glass vessel with more hole space than glass you could use that. If your kiln accommodates only flat pieces I could imagine making four separate sides and a bottom of interwoven glass strips, held together with wire to make a basket.

[plantluvver]

Yes, I know about Stanhopea sending spikes downward. I have previously owned a Gongora that did bloom for me in a similar manner and the nursery did tell me. I hope I someday need to worry about the Stanhopea becoming too large. I think it will be a long time! I find the ridged pseudobulbs and leaves very attractive, even though it is now in a 4 inch (10 cm.) pot.

My glass dishes are about 50% spaces between glass. I am not sure which orchids I would use this type of mount with. It is just an idea that I might like to try sometime.