Project 2015 Spring [main]: Amesiella monticola

[Mandy2705]

Did anyone buy their amesiella monticola off eBay? I'm in the clear to buy another orchid ( I needed to slow down on the spending this year ) I found some for great prices. The sellers are : springwaterorchids and orchids4u2006. Does anyone have any past experience with them? They have excellent ratings and I was just curious if anyone bought from them before.

[Leafmite]

I have been doing some reading about how to grow these. Some successfully grow them with vase culture and others in terrariums. For the summer, I think my little orchid will be fine outside (shade, breeze) but, this fall, I think I will stick it in the glass jar as I have done with one of the Haraella rectrocalla. Looks like a trip to a thrift shop will be in order....

It looks to be a cooler grower due to the altitude where it is found in the 'wild' but people seem to have had success in warmer temperatures as long as they are in shade and there is good airflow. I have mine against the aluminum siding in shade so hopefully, that will help.

[theloyalplum]

I'm rethinking my potting situation. It's currently in pure sphag, but I'm worried it won't dry out fast enough, as was the case for many before it. Any suggestions? I have charcoal, sphag, fine/medium bark and LECA. As for pots I have a 2.5 inch net pot I use for my tolumnia and leptotes bicolor. I may just be overreacting, but I don't wanna take a chance with this baby.

[hiimisis]

I've moved my mounted plant into a vase/terrarium type culture to increase the humidity, and it seems to be enjoying it. I just noticed a new root has started! I attached some pictures of my setup. I got the square vase from a thrift store, and I put some aquarium gravel at the bottom with some water (like a humidity tray). You can't see it well in the pictures, but I have the mount propped up on tiny clay pot so the end of the mount doesn't go into the water. This also keeps the plant above the rim of the vase so it gets some air flow.

The humidity in the vase stays 10-20% higher than in the open air. I spray the whole mount twice day. In the picture I had just sprayed it, and 70% humidity is about the max I can reach.

This setup has been working really well so I've moved my two other mounted orchids to similar vases (Laelia pumila and Sedirea japonica).

Anyway, I think this set up looks nice and seems to be working, so I thought it share for the other windowsill growers

[My Green Pets]

I got mine yesterday from first rays. Looks like a mini Phal, doesn't it?

Potted in sphagnum, placed outside under 85% shade cloth. Outside humidity is between 70 and 90% most days. Will just let it grow and see how it does this summer.

[shadytrake]

Originally Posted by Mandy2705

Did anyone buy their amesiella monticola off eBay? I'm in the clear to buy another orchid ( I needed to slow down on the spending this year ) I found some for great prices. The sellers are : springwaterorchids and orchids4u2006. Does anyone have any past experience with them? They have excellent ratings and I was just curious if anyone bought from them before.

I can vouch for Springwater Orchids. I get his email list and have bought many plants from him. We got our flask project plants from him too. Excellent plants and well packed. Thanh is an award winning grower and super nice guy. If you google his name and Springwater, there are many results of his speaking engagements.

If you want to email him directly, here is his email address

Thanh Nguyen <thanhnguyen79@earthlink.net>

[Mandy2705]

Shadytrake, thank you very much. I will order on Tuesday and it will have to be from orchids4u2006. The listing is gone for the amesiella monticola from springwaterorchids. I will probably look to springwaterorchids for future eBay purchases due to your recommendation

[shadytrake]

Originally Posted by theloyalplum

I'm rethinking my potting situation. It's currently in pure sphag, but I'm worried it won't dry out fast enough, as was the case for many before it. Any suggestions? I have charcoal, sphag, fine/medium bark and LECA. As for pots I have a 2.5 inch net pot I use for my tolumnia and leptotes bicolor. I may just be overreacting, but I don't wanna take a chance with this baby.

I have been growing this one for a year. I keep it on my wet wall east side LOWER part to reduce heat, which has about 80% humidity on average. I would consider it open shade as it only gets filtered sunlight in the morning and some residual side lighting from T5 bulbs mounted in the greenhouse.

Both my old plant and the new plant are potted in net pots with small bark chips with charcoal and sponge rock with a layer of sphag at the top.

At this very moment, the temp in the GH is 77 and 93% humidity because we have a storm rolling in.

I am going to take some light meter readings today because I think it could use a bit more light.

It is useful to know that my GH does hit 90ºF occasionally during the summer but at the most for 30 minutes as I have an alarm sensor that texts my iPhone so I can spray the floor or turn on the mister.

These do not like to dry out as the root tips will shrivel and stop growing. I find that a loose layer of moss works best. I only use indirect air movement and exhaust fans. I find that the plants do not like the fans to be directly blowing on them for extended periods. Therefore, any fans blowing on plants are oscillating at low speeds.

I have a new leaf growing on my old plant (where a slug had eaten it last year) so that is great news. My new plant looks to have two new roots growing.

[LovePhals]

I too, find that this plant likes to be pretty damp at all times so far. If I don't give it water for a few days it starts to shrivel. I have it in medium light, currently under LED lights, good air flow, and about 55% humidity. I have new roots continuing to grow so far.

[shadytrake]

It is interesting to note that the region where this orchid was discovered is extremely endangered due to farming development for rice terraces.

I lived in the Philippines for almost a year and this orchid is found in the Luzon province north of Manila in the Cordillera Central and the Luzon Highlands. Luzon has 62 species of Dendrobium and 24 are endemic to the island so this indicates that Similar culture can apply to Amesiella monticola as Dendrobium victoria-reginae and sanderae (endemic to this region).

According to Wood, 2006, "in cloud forest above 1600 m. At Baguio, Luzon,.. rainfall is 4.7 m (176 in.) during the season; humidity more than 85%. Temperature ranges from below 17-23ºC (59-73ºF). Shady, never hot or dry" (The Dendrobiums, p. 715)

Clarity: I don't think it has to be quite as cool as victoria-reginae, because part of the mountain range is tropical rainforest albeit higher altitude. The good news is that it can take some cooler temps in the fall and winter.

---------- Post added at 09:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:42 AM ----------

As FYI, I have ordered some Kool Logs and plan on moving mine to one as I think this will allow me to move it to get more sun while maintaining the temperatures.