Sophronitis cernua (Project 14 - Spring 2012)

[The Mutant]

Oh, found a lousy picture I took of one of the nasty looking spots earlier. This is what the spots looked like on all the leaves I removed. The picture is below my answer to Bob's post since I can't get the attachments to be where I want them to be.

Originally Posted by Call_Me_Bob

too bad about the sad looking phal if you havent already, i would call the grower! it looks pretty sad and i wouldnt pay money for it. maybe you can get them to send you a nicer one!

I bought it from a German vendor and don't speak a word of German so calling is out of the picture. It's very sad looking, but the difference between this guy and the previous Phal. sturatiana I purchased from a Swedish vendor, is that this guy has ROOTS! Hopefully, I'll get it to survive and to grow because I'm GOING to have a Phal. stuartiana!

[kavanaru]

Honestly, I think you have over reacted a bit cutting off those leaves! These are mechanic damage, and most probably it is a recently imported plant. This kind of damage is not rare on newly imported plants... Cutting off the leaves causes more damage than keeping them even if unsightly.... Anyway, you have a very nice and strong plant which will recover well, don't worry much about it!
P.S. - you can write or speak in English to most of the German vendors! Including O&M! Keep in mind they have business with all Europe and also Asia and southamerica! And I would definitely complain about that crapy Phal! That works also with most German vendors! and if you are strong (but polite!) enough, you can receive a replacement plant!

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Honestly, I think you have over reacted a bit cutting off those leaves! These are mechanic damage, and most probably it is a recently imported plant. This kind of damage is not rare on newly imported plants... Cutting off the leaves causes more damage than keeping them even if unsightly.... Anyway, you have a very nice and strong plant which will recover well, don't worry much about it!
P.S. - you can write or speak in English to most of the German vendors! Including O&M! Keep in mind they have business with all Europe and also Asia and southamerica! And I would definitely complain about that crapy Phal! That works also with most German vendors! and if you are strong (but polite!) enough, you can receive a replacement plant!

Well, I might have overreacted, but when one see the underside and topside of the leaves having several of these spots/indentations, me, as an amateur, tend to get VERY worried.

Hmm... Maybe I should write to them and get some of my money back.

[The Mutant]

There, email sent but after reading on their website, I apparently should have complained within three days after I got the package. This means I was too late, but I informed them about the condition of the Phal and the Soph and that I really wasn't happy with either of them, but especially the Phal. I also wrote that I won't buy anything from them in the future due to the condition of both plants.

I hate writing stuff like this, but it was the truth. I haven't received any orchids as crappy looking as these two from any other vendor so I definitely won't return and order any more from them.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Glad you emailed them! Hopefully you can get replacements!

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by Call_Me_Bob

Glad you emailed them! Hopefully you can get replacements!

Unfortunately I don't think so since they have this three-day policy. But at least I have informed them now, and I hope my stuartiana will make it.

I think the Soph has started growing with its new roots, but it may be wishful thinking on my part. Hopefully the extra light I've ordered will arrive tomorrow so it won't stand too dark anymore. Everything is prepared for the daylight bulb with the Soph and one of my Paphs standing on a pedestal each, anticipating the extra lights.

[Call_Me_Bob]

if they have to have a 3 day policy, that kind of makes me wonder if they are that good of a nursery, that they only take returns, even on bad plants before 3 days!

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by The Mutant

Well, I might have overreacted, but when one see the underside and topside of the leaves having several of these spots/indentations, me, as an amateur, tend to get VERY worried.

That was not meant on a bad way and I can understand you very well... I have done similar things in the past as well... With time you learn that orchids are stronger and tolerate more abuse than what one normally would think at the beginning, and also that there is too much misinformation and exaggeration concerning illness and infections of orchids in the web...

As I said, you have a nice strong plant which will easily get over it it...

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by NatalieS

Nice - looking forward to the pics. I suppose the only thing I'm a little worried about with the bulbo is the watering. I've been spraying/misting daily and it's gotten warm enough for me to leave the window open a crack so it's getting plenty of fresh air. You'll have to fill me on your watering habits/routine for these.

sorry, it took longer than planed.. here the two Bulbos... they are in wooden baskets with a mix of sphagnum and bark, and a piece of fern roots in the center of the basket. The idea is that with time, most of the sphag and bark will fall off and the plant will be growing around the wooden basket and the fern trunk, and repotting will not be needed...

Bulbophyllum lobbii

Bulbophyllum lobbii by kavanaru, on Flickr

Bulbophyllum sumatranum

Bulbophyllum sumatranum by kavanaru, on Flickr

[NatalieS]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

sorry, it took longer than planed.. here the two Bulbos... they are in wooden baskets with a mix of sphagnum and bark, and a piece of fern roots in the center of the basket. The idea is that with time, most of the sphag and bark will fall off and the plant will be growing around the wooden basket and the fern trunk, and repotting will not be needed...

Wow, the pbulbs on yours look huge! Where did you buy from? Sorry if you've already mentioned it.

I love the idea of growing over the fern trunk - plenty of space for them to ramble over. I might steal that idea. *yoink*