Haraella retrocalla (Project 8 - Spring 2009)

[Becca]

I've been a bad orchid mommy.....mine was badly needing repotted....the roots weren't doing so well because the bark was so broken down. I just repotted today and put it is the same pot since the roots still had room in it due to not being so great. I repotted in sphagnum moss but I haven't found much on the internet on them being potted in moss. It looks like from the pictures in this thread that those from Oak Hill come potted in bark. I'm wondering if I should have repotted it in bark instead?

[billc]

Hi Becca, Mine is still in the bark mix I got it in from Oak Hill. It does need to be changed this spring. I think most are grown in loose bark or mounted. I keep mine fairly moist and it's been a blooming machine since the porject started. Sphagnam might work, but I think it may stay too damp. I've never really had any good results using just sphagnum.

Bill

[Vanda lover]

That only sounds fair to me, since we don't get to compete!

[camille1585]

Becca, I have no idea how well they do in sphag. I had 2 haraella, one is mounted (and growing nicely) and the other one was potted in a mix of fine bark and charcoal and it was also doing very well, better than the mounted one I would say. Unfortunately at this time last year I was so busy working on my Msc thesis that my orchids got badly neglected for 2 months, and the potted Haraella was one of the ones that didn't survive it

For those of you that have them blooming and blooming, what are you doing?? Mine stubbornly refuses to spike.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

That only sounds fair to me, since we don't get to compete!

What are you talking about?

[quiltergal]

Mine usually starts blooming in the spring and blooms all summer, sometimes into fall. When the weather cools off it stops blooming and starts into a vegetative cycle. that's what it's doing now. I have not repotted mine either. I should post a pic of the plant. It looks pretty crazy. The roots have grown up and out of the pot. In fact there are probably more roots out than in. It looks like a big spider. I'm going to repot soon too, but am undecided on how and/or in what. It seems to be doing fine in it's pot.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by camille1585

What are you talking about?

Sorry Camille, I'm new to this thing and I was still on the first page when I said that. I was refering to the oppinion that because we can't join in the contest to win orchids, we should use that as an excuse to buy ourselves some.

Nancy

[Becca]

So I got paranoid and repotted in to bark. I feel better now...lol.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

Sorry Camille, I'm new to this thing and I was still on the first page when I said that. I was refering to the oppinion that because we can't join in the contest to win orchids, we should use that as an excuse to buy ourselves some.

Nancy

That's ok, I was just wondering what you were referring to! Usually we don't do these in contest format, it's just this time that there were some prizes up for grabs. Usually, to give you an idea, the point of these projects is to discuss orchids for a few weeks to come up with a list of a good dozen candidates that fit the requirement. After that we vote and every one buys the winning plant. Then there is not really a contest as such, we just compare notes on how we're growing it, what it's doing and help each other out when someone's plant is not doing well. The only contest bit in it usually is for the first one to have a homegrown spike. The prize is just the glory!

[nenella]

Originally Posted by Becca

So I got paranoid and repotted in to bark. I feel better now...lol.

me too!!!!!!!!
I re mounted one of my 2 haraellas today the bark had been breaking down. I mounted it on a small piece of drift wood; which will hold my other one too when the time comes..
if this first one decides to like the new growing conditions that is. I also noticed it is actually putting out a spike (nubbin at the moment). Last time it was in flower was in October.