Sophronitis cernua (Project 14 - Spring 2012)

[Bud]

Mutant, I have faith in you...you can do this; trust your instincts...if you get bored go out dancing or clubbing...

[pasojanice]

WynnDee, I like the way you explained about the plant and the growth pattern. Appreciate all the help. Mine is growing and I am enjoying both the one in the teeny pot and the one I mounted. I noticed that roots were growing so this is a good thing! Now, if we could only have some relief from the rain we have here in Central Pennsylvania. I am thinking of taking some of my orchids outside to their first "Summer Camp" but not too sure where to place them. Any hints? Ideas? Concerns I should be aware of?
Thanks.
Janice

[NatalieS]

Originally Posted by pasojanice

WynnDee, I like the way you explained about the plant and the growth pattern. Appreciate all the help. Mine is growing and I am enjoying both the one in the teeny pot and the one I mounted. I noticed that roots were growing so this is a good thing! Now, if we could only have some relief from the rain we have here in Central Pennsylvania. I am thinking of taking some of my orchids outside to their first "Summer Camp" but not too sure where to place them. Any hints? Ideas? Concerns I should be aware of?
Thanks.
Janice

I had a quick read about Pennsylvania weather and it sounds like it could be similar to Ireland in some places (although we have much milder winters). I would be careful about putting the one that you mounted in full sun if it is still establishing. I placed mine a little bit back from a north east window and we had a few very sunny days where it was getting full sun for an hour or two in the morning. Even that relatively short time was drying out the plant far too quickly. Although it got the lovely purple colouring, its leaves started to wrinkle. I had to start keeping the blind down and it's re-hydrated nicely now.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by pasojanice

WynnDee, I like the way you explained about the plant and the growth pattern. Appreciate all the help. Mine is growing and I am enjoying both the one in the teeny pot and the one I mounted. I noticed that roots were growing so this is a good thing! Now, if we could only have some relief from the rain we have here in Central Pennsylvania. I am thinking of taking some of my orchids outside to their first "Summer Camp" but not too sure where to place them. Any hints? Ideas? Concerns I should be aware of?
Thanks.
Janice

I put my plants outside on my deck. My mounted plants hang on the railing but most of my potted plants go inside a mini greenhouse so I can control the water. They are just those little seedling greenhouses that are a rack with a zip up plastic covering. You have to shade the orchids at first so they don't burn since the sun is so much stronger than what they are used to. Then you can slowly move them into brighter light. Every year I usually end up with a few leaves that have a burn but I try not to burn them.

[bballr4567]

Wynn Dee, I completely agree with you. I mean, mutant not only tore off the plant but also chopped leaves. It has gone through double trauma and probably is just now recovering.

[pasojanice]

Hi one and all, So thankful for the information. I have 2 of those "zip up" greenhouses and will use them. Thanks so much. I keep the shades down in the sunroom when it's really sunny also. It lets filtered light in but not the strong rays that will burn leaves. I have to take pics and post them to make sure that things are "going well"!
Janice

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by bballr4567

Wynn Dee, I completely agree with you. I mean, mutant not only tore off the plant but also chopped leaves. It has gone through double trauma and probably is just now recovering.

Yep. And actually if you add in the fact that the plant just came from a greenhouse to a home environment and is trying to get used to its new growing area, that would be triple trauma. I think the plant will be fine if it is given a chance.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by pasojanice

Hi one and all, So thankful for the information. I have 2 of those "zip up" greenhouses and will use them. Thanks so much. I keep the shades down in the sunroom when it's really sunny also. It lets filtered light in but not the strong rays that will burn leaves. I have to take pics and post them to make sure that things are "going well"!
Janice

Yeah I have two of those greenhouses too. They work pretty good. I grow almost all my orchids in sphagnum moss so I have to have them covered from all the rain we get here. Otherwise they would rot. I need a new one because my older one has a hole in the top. Last year a local drug store had them for $20 so I hope they have them again this year.

[pasojanice]

Hi,
I have most of my orchids in the moss also. That is,except for the Vandas that at least 2 are in the semi-hydroponic and really seem to be doing well. I do like the moss and you are right, I can see where heavy rain would just ruin them. I picked my 2 greenhouses up at Tops, where I food shop! They are great for all my veggie seedlings, etc.... Now, another great use!

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

Mutant- You need to give it more time. They don't bloom until winter. They just got done blooming a few months ago so it's time for roots. You have to consider that yours was ripped off its mount. Orchids do not adjust fast after going through that trauma. That is why yours is behind other members plants. Being removed from the mount was more traumatizing than cutting the leaves off. Your plant is trying to recover from having two stressful things that happened to it. Growing orchids requires patients! These are neat plants! I think you will regret giving up so fast. Give it a chance! It would love to go outside for the summer. My plants take off when they go outside during the warmer months. Try that if you don't think you have enough light inside. We want you to stay with us!

Weren't you the one that was trying to get everyone to vote for the cernua? I remember you wanting this plant to win really bad and now you are giving up on it after only a few weeks?!!!

I know, it feels a bit bad being the first one to give up considering how I pushed for this little guy, but I'm so very tired now and don't really have the energy for doing much so anything that isn't a Paph or a Phal will have to go (and since there's only one that doesn't belong to these genera, Mr cernua will have to leave).

It's an extremely slow grower and the patience I have with the Paphs are completely gone when it comes to this guy.

The Phal. stuartiana which underwent the same treatment (removed from mount and got leaf chopped) is busily growing and making me very happy.

I've started to feel the same, well, "hatred" towards this guy as I did towards the African Violet I killed when I was younger and I don't want it to suffer the same fate so I want it gone and that as quickly as possible.

I think the biggest issue is that it isn't a Phal or a Paph, and that I'm too set in my liking these genera and none else so everything that isn't either one will have to show me quickly why I should keep it or it's out.

Yup, I'm a horrible person for doing this, but I've found a new home to it where it'll be properly loved so it'll move this Friday.

Originally Posted by Bud

Mutant, I have faith in you...you can do this; trust your instincts...if you get bored go out dancing or clubbing...

Um... You obviously don't know me Bud, but I would never go out clubbing or dancing since that would be too stressful for me and no fun at all.

I am trusting my instincts and they're screaming to me to get rid of it before I toss it.