Tears for my Zygo--RIP
I traveled to Alabama from NM when my daughter had brain surgery to care for her. All my orchids are in LECA and I watered them before leaving. All did well except my zygopedalum, which I got as a yearling a year ago.
She looked so sad when I got back I heaved her, along with three tiny Vandas that have not grown in the year I have had them. I had been dunking and drying them out daily, added the extra nitrogen as suggested by Motes, but decided a year of daily care was enough to get them to grow. Still, I felt very sad. I had four blooming size Vandas from them, The Bangkok Sunset did not survive transport damage early this spring, but the other three are doing well. My neighbors kids, 8 and 11, came over with thier dad every evening, played ball with my dogs for thirty or more minutes and dunked the three Vandas in ph adjusted with fertilizer, for the same amount of time. I know now even in Arid NM, 30 mins dunking with a good drying out is enough. And while the kids were earning good $ for Vanda and dog care, my neighbor/landlord installed a new door that I get to paint aqua/tourquois ala Taos/Santa Fe style. So I came home happy except for my zygopedalum loss. I am going to wait a year and see if I can find one blooming size and the same coloring...purple blue as the one that gave up the ghost. PS my daughter is still having vertigo and severe headaches but much better than the week plus I was there.
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