Project 2023 Spring Sarcochilus

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Blueszz

Night temps might get cooler a week from today. I’ll watch that. .

Don't worry about night temps until they get well into the single digits C ... I grow both hartmanii and fitzgeraldii (and some hybrids) outdoors, they can experience winter nights down to the high 30's F (2-3 deg C) with no problem at all. They will have to come indoors eventually where you live, of course, but no need to worry until it gets a good bit cooler. A few hours of near-frost will be a warning of more to come, but won't harm the plant if they catch you by surprise.

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Don't worry about night temps until they get well into the single digits C ... I grow both hartmanii and fitzgeraldii (and some hybrids) outdoors, they can experience winter nights down to the high 30's F (2-3 deg C) with no problem at all. They will have to come indoors eventually where you live, of course, but no need to worry until it gets a good bit cooler. A few hours of near-frost will be a warning of more to come, but won't harm the plant if they catch you by surprise.

The notes I took said 8°C, I will adjust that as I value owner experiences more than info I found on random websites. Thank you.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Blueszz

And here is my Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii. I got it in the mail yesterday. I’m very pleased with this plant. It looks healthy, 2 leads, flowered twice before and it’s actively growing roots.

I have it growing in a pot. I assume in bark only but I didn’t unpot it to have a look. I’ll grow it outdoors with day temperatures around 24-25 C and night temperatures around 16-17 C

Night temps might get cooler a week from today. I’ll watch that. .

Nicole, you're back!!!! 🙂 Since you are one of the rare people from this forum that I have had the pleasure to meet in person, over the years I have occasionally thought of you and wondered how you and the dogs were doing.

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Nicole, you're back!!!! 🙂 Since you are one of the rare people from this forum that I have had the pleasure to meet in person, over the years I have occasionally thought of you and wondered how you and the dogs were doing.

Yes I'm back on board! I guess once bitten by the orchid bug, always bitten by the orchid bug LOL

Awesome to meet you here again.

First thing when I came back on OB was looking up your name and I was delighted to find out you still are an active member

One of my recent purchases was inspired by your collection back then, the Neofinetia falcata. I loved yours.

How nice to see OB still has project plants, off course I had to join the spring project when I found out one of my recent purchases is the project plant.

Happy growing!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Blueszz

The notes I took said 8°C, I will adjust that as I value owner experiences more than info I found on random websites. Thank you.

I do tend to push limits. I find that orchids will often do fine outside the "specified range" especially if acclimated. So if a Sarco is outside as the temperature cools with fall approaching, it will handle a "surprise chill" a lot better than one that has been pampered in a greenhouse.

[ArronOB]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I do tend to push limits. I find that orchids will often do fine outside the "specified range" especially if acclimated. So if a Sarco is outside as the temperature cools with fall approaching, it will handle a "surprise chill" a lot better than one that has been pampered in a greenhouse.

Yes, and we have to be aware that the quoted temperature range can often be based on observations of natural populations. For a naturally occurring population the temperature range must be suitable for the entire life cycle - and the life cycle of any microrhizzal fungus it is in symbiosis with. This may be quite different to the requirements of a mature plant.

No-one seems to have any difficulty growing sarcos in the state of Victoria - well outside their natural range - in fact outside of Barrita that seems to be where most of the growers and vendors are due to there being not much else to do there. It does get cold in Victoria.

Cheers

[Roberta]

I suspect that 8 C quote came from a source for cultivated plants. (Their greenhouse). I looked up Sarco. fitzgeraldii on the Baker culture sheet (in Orchidwiz) and the temperature range for the habitat is -1C to 40 C (30 F to 105 F). It gives -2C to 40C (28 F to 103 F) For Sarco. hartmannii . So these are really tough little orchids.

I use those Baker sheets a lot in figuring out what I can get away with. Alas, Orchidwiz is no longer for sale. (I have backed up my backups of the installation files,) The Baker sheets can be purchased individually though. Habitat Information and Culture Sheets from the Bakers

[qbie]

Straggling in here. 1st time growing this. I chose this from a driveway giveaway because it had this tag still in the pot. If it survives til next spring, hope to see blooms as pictured.



Edit: my “roadside” sarcochilus after repotting, bath and trim

[Blueszz]

I ordered a second Sarcochilus.

It's Sarcochilus Kulnura Roundup 'Multi Spot' x Kulnura Secure 'Shapely'

Probably delivered Tuesday.

[qbie]

Hello, I acquired another sarcochilus this weekend. A fitzgeraldii. It looks in bad shape, dehydrated and had numerous dead roots which I tried my best to remove everything.

What is the best way to repot this? The plantlets are further down on the stem but still firmly attached. I read a little about base division of monopodials. Would this be a bad time to attempt such a division because it would just stress the plant out even more? Should the whole thing be repotted, perhaps if I can angle it in a way that the 3 long roots at the top could get contact with potting material instead of just being aerial like they were? Ty for helping me try to rehab this poor fellow. This one didn’t have a pic, but the tag said “purplish pink” I’d love to see the blooms one day.