Project 2016 B: Leptotes bicolor

[pipsxlch]

As long as Photobucket seems to be cooperating...

With rainy season started, I went ahead and mounted my Leptotes. This was yesterday, so we'll see how it goes. It seems to be pretty happy here actually (at least it was in its pot!), the new growth is about as big as any of them and it has more nubbins started.

Instead of the piece of lava I originally planned on using, it's on bark. We had lightning strike and explode a big swamp maple in the front yard, there was bark everywhere. Some of the pieces were intriguing looking from a growing orchids viewpoint, with hollows and concavities. The bark is about 1/2"-1" thick, with the solid inner layer. One was the perfect size for the Leptotes, with a small hollow with a channel leading from it to drain excess water. Hopefully maple is suitable for mounts!

[wintergirl]

Looking good.

[JFeathersmith]

I decided back in May to join the project, and I am now finally caught up on life and can write about it.

I ordered a plant from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate the end of May and got it on June 3 - the pictures here were taken immediately after unpacking.

It is in a small plastic pot that is filled with chunks of rock. I think I want to mount it, but I'm not certain what the best mount would be - I'm leaning towards cork with some sphagnum, with the sphagnum loosely attached, more to slow down evaporation rather than keep the roots wet for prolonged periods. I've never mounted an orchid before so I'm not sure how easy that it is, LOL. (Maybe I should put the sphag mostly between the roots and the cork? With some kinda draping over it? I don't know.)

I went out of town for a couple days right after getting the plant (ARGH) and then after 2 days home, went away again for a week. I was concerned about leaving it so long with no water, but I emailed the SBOE people and the person who responded said that because of its succulent leaves, it should do fine, and given those leaves, it's a plant adapted to tolerate some level of drought. I did some additional research on my own about the locations the species lives in, and it does look like in some places, it has 2-3 months where there is little rain (though I don't know what the humidity is; in my apartment it's around 40-50% most of the time). Also found a source that said some have been observed in the wild growing as lithophytes.

Anyway, it doesn't seem to have suffered from the week of "drought" here, it's got new root tips going, hurray! and I'm currently dunking it once or twice a day for a minute or 20, since everyone who writes about keeping the plant says it's really happy with frequent watering.

[estación seca]

Dunking once a day should be fine. Mounting is easy. Some plants probably like more of a wet pad than others; this doesn't need much.

I posted some photos of me mounting a larger plant. The same process can be used with a smaller plant. Fishing line or dental floss works well.

Mounting Oncidium sphacelatum, a climber, Part 1

[judith_arquette]

My last bud to open. Love this little orchid!

[wintergirl]

They are great. Mine is still putting out blooms too.

[SFLguy]

I ended up picking one up yesterday, it was $15 which is a little more than i was thinking of paying but with four spikes forming and two keikis i figured it was worth it

[orion141]

Sad I just saw this project. Everyone's plants look great! But this thread caused me to go out and buy my own leptotes bicolor this week

[estación seca]

You can join the project too! Merry Christmas! Santa got run over by a Leptotes!

[twinofmunin]

Moved mine indoors for the winter and finally got some lights for the indoor-wintered plants. It's pushing all kinds of new root tips and its newest growths are showing spike tips.