Aganisia (Acacallis) Cyanea x Self

[lotis146]

So I'll post a pic sooner than later just to document but I thought I'd share my experience so far.

I've only had this plant several months or so and haven't seen any signs of new growth, roots or otherwise. I got this plant a bit impulsively to be honest and THEN I learned that this is apparently a difficult plant, not generally recommended for beginners. And while I don't consider myself a beginner anymore I'm still a newbie (year anniversary recently). During my recent research I read again and again that it likes to be warm, even hot, and that in spring and summer it prefers to stay pretty moist.

That's when I said okay, nothing's happening so I'm going to move it to my "bird room" where I keep a space heater because otherwise it gets too cold in the winter. Don't cha know it, almost immediately after moving it to this much warmer room, always indirect Northern light, today I found evidence of what may be a new growth or at the least a new root. Thus I'm creating this thread as further evidence to the rest of you who may be new to this plant or interested in it that it certainly likes to be warm, 75+ F. Also it arrived in moss, and it seems dense at that. This means when I water it absorbs it fast and holds moisture well. I plan to keep it this way.

Like I said I'll post pics soon and share the plants progression. It is blooming size btw.

[Aki_James]

Please do keep us posted! I have been somewhat obsessed with this plant for years but have been to scared to buy it due to its reputation as difficult. I live in a fairly cool, dry climate which I think would only increase the difficulty. But perhaps some first hand knowledge would help.

[lotis146]

Thanks for the interest. The new little nub has grown just a little since I posted but I do believe there's a chance it's a spike, which would be interesting because there's an old cut spike on this growth already so it would be spiking again. I'm not familiar with its long rhizomatic growth habit (not like this) so I can't immediately say what it is like I would be able to with say a Phal or Zygo. But I def think warm and wet is the way to go. Stay tuned.

[lotis146]

Okay so I know I never posted that picture I said I would and I'll say it again that I will but for now I just wanted to let you all know that I've had my Aganisia outside for at least a week now and we've had rain on and off (in fact it just started again today). I went outside and was checking the group - after not having done so for a couple days - and GUESS WHAT!!!!

The now probably 2-2.5 inch new growth (that is growing horizontally) has a spike!!!!!!

I'm a little curious, if not concerned, that two of the 3 leaves (they being older) have some yellowing to them but I'm so excited there's a spike!

[lotis146]

OH GOODNESS! So I watered/fed the group the other day with KelpMax & K-Lite (MSU) and this plant was one I brought back inside last night b/c it dropped into the 40s and I don't think Aggy here appreciates cooler nights much. Today it's still sitting inside as it's a cooler day, so ya know I had to go over and look at its spike b/c I'm worried - and will be until it blooms - that something will inevitably happen & cause it to blast.

But oh no, I see that the spike has grown a bit longer, maybe half inch or so & & & & & (!!!!) there's a second one below it! Yeah! Just had to share.

[lotis146]

Screwed the pooch a little on this one when I forgot just how much moss this guy sits in and overestimated the amount of rain it could take, at least that's what I'm assuming is the problem.

The second spike only developed one bud, barely b/c then it blasted.

The first spike produced three blooms all of which had brown marks on them and never fully opened. Anxious as I was to do a few crosses - on plants with older blooms - I proceeded. Now the two blooms I pollinated are yellowing - pollination did not take - and I won't be surprised if the third bloom dies as well.

So this was a bit of a disappointment for sure, especially since the leaves of the growth itself are all crinkled suggesting I wasn't watering enough in the beginning. I'll put a pic up when I upload it, perhaps one of you will recognize the problem to be something more than a mild case of orchid drowning.

Still proud to have bloomed it...

[No-Pro-mwa]

Ya great, it just means you start again. I don't even know what this one is. I have to upload some pics as well, I'm so bad about doing that.

[lotis146]

It's a beautiful bloom just wasn't for me this time. Hopefully I didn't truly drown it...eeek...

[lotis146]

Here's how the blooms turned out, a sorry state I'm afraid.








Given their condition I made the cross I wanted to and within days those two blooms died & the third went right along with it. The second spike only ever started to develop one bud and then the whole spike blasted (before these ever bloomed).

I can't remember when the leaf issue started but I kind of overlooked it for a while as I've been busy. Then one day I was looking at it and it was obvious the problem was big especially when I turned the leaf over so I cut it off. I'll be treating soon though I'm not sure if I should just do Inocucor or if I need to use Neem Oil or an insecticide if this is spider mites. Any advice or diagnosis? I've not [yet] dealt with spider mites so I haven't any experience with identifying them first hand.

[lotis146]

I thought it was some kind of mold but upon closer inspection on the underside there was this sort of webbing. I was in a hurry so I cut it, tossed the leaf & left.

Btw, the big leaf behind it in the picture is from a nearby Phal while the little crinkly leaf is part of this growth which started months and months ago when it was obviously not getting enough water.