Gastrochilus japonicus (Project 12 - Spring 2011)

[zxyqu]

Check that, yours is in bark, so it should dry out more quickly than once a week, but I'm guessing.

[Jennyfleur]

Well, it's in a bark mix as far as I can tell, but, because the pot is so small, I haven't had a root around like I did with the Angcm Didieri (which for those who haven't read the post in the other forum had bark on top and very tightly packed s/moss underneath), so I don't know what's under the top layer of bark. It doesn't feel heavy for its size (like the Angcm), so I'm assuming it's the same stuff throughout!

So, I guess I'll just keep an eye on it over the next few weeks to see how it goes

[Amanda L]

Okay, I got a surprise while watering my 3 mounted chids this morning. What I thought was a root growing on my project Gastro seems to be a spike!!! YAY!!!

[Paul Mc]

OK, so far I have found no information on the culture of this orchid. What does everyone else have?

[Daethen]

Yeah, Amanda, you have spikage!!!!!

[zxyqu]

Totally jealous. But I'm with Paul on asking if anyone has any culture info. I wanna put mine outside, but I'm wary without knowing the prefered light requirements

[Call_Me_Bob]

mine was shipped! i cant wait to get it!. congrats on the spikeage amanda!

[Paul Mc]

OK, so I went to orchidculture.com (Baker & Baker's website) and they have it! I would post the whole lot of information but it's copyrighted and they ask for that not to be done.

But here's what I see in a nutshell.

Light should be between 2000 to 3000 fc's and filtered with strong air movement. Temperature range is between upper 40F to upper 70F with lots of water from April until August with much less water throughout the rest of the year. Humidity should be near 90%.

There is so much valuable information on this culture sheet I would recommend everyone to go to their website and pull this sheet for themselves.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Amanda L

Okay, I got a surprise while watering my 3 mounted chids this morning. What I thought was a root growing on my project Gastro seems to be a spike!!! YAY!!!

Yay, definately looks like a spike to me

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

OK, so far I have found no information on the culture of this orchid. What does everyone else have?

Well my existing mounted one I keep as follows (and it seems happy, it flowered last year and is currently growing leaves and roots).

Winter
East (towards South East) window. Direct-ish sun but the window is frosted so that takes some intensity.
Standard house temps of 15C night and 19C day.
Water 2 days out of 3. One of those is fertiliser, second is plain water.

Summer
Outside against a South wall. Gets direct morning and evening sun. Morning until about midday, evening from about 6pm.
Whatever temps our crazy British weather is doing. Can range I guess between 10C at night and 25C+ in the day. I probably don't put it out until the temps are regularly staying about 8C at night. Might get the odd colder one but no frost.
Water every day. 1 watering out of 3 is fertiliser.

[RosieC]

Forgot to say it doesn't seem to need masses of humidity. It ranges wildly for mine and it doesn't seem to mind.