New to the world of Mini's--need advice! :) - Orchid Board

peeweelovesbooks · #1 01-31-2009, 01:26 PM

Hi everyone.

I'm suddenly captivated by Mini's. So, I went to the Tamiami orchid show today and purchased the following:

Laelia liliputana
Neostylis 'Lou Sneary' Bluebird
Sedirea japonica
Cadetia taylori

and I had previously purchased a Phal. equestris var. alba.

Any advice on culture, watering, fertilizing is much appreciated. I intend to repot them into little Erin pots, and I custom ordered a slab on which to display them.

Thanks!!

I'm excited!!!!

whygreenberg · #2 01-31-2009, 01:43 PM

Nice choices! I've been really wanting that little Laelia for a while but it's hard to find. Some culture advice on the Laelia:

OrchidWorks "Rupicolous Laelia Culture": How to Grow Rupicolous Laelias
OrchidWorks "Rupicolous Laelia Potting Demo": Rupicolous Laelia Potting Demonstration

The Sedirea was an OB project plant, and I'm sure you can find some helpful info in that thread:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...a-updates.html

whygreenberg · #3 01-31-2009, 01:45 PM

Oh, and the Phal. equestris should be general Phal. culture.

peeweelovesbooks · #4 01-31-2009, 02:02 PM

Thank you so much!! It was the only one on the table, and although I've been looking at a Laelia fournieri, (which they had there as well) I just fell in love with it!! It's itty bitty and I just thought the picture of the flower was gorgeous.

RSS · #5 02-01-2009, 10:47 AM

So far my experiences with Cadetia taylori, they seem to like clay pots with a bark mix much better than anything else I've tried. I never figured this one for an airy species but it seems that way, atleast for me. YMMV.

whygreenberg · #6 02-01-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

Thank you so much!! It was the only one on the table, and although I've been looking at a Laelia fournieri, (which they had there as well) I just fell in love with it!! It's itty bitty and I just thought the picture of the flower was gorgeous.

Yeah, it is a gorgeous cutie that lilputana. I have fournieri, and it is also a wonderful little rock Laelia.

peeweelovesbooks · #7 02-01-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whygreenberg

Yeah, it is a gorgeous cutie that lilputana. I have fournieri, and it is also a wonderful little rock Laelia.

How do you grow yours? Do you know whether it's possible to grow them on a slab of rock as opposed to potted?

peeweelovesbooks · #8 02-01-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSS

So far my experiences with Cadetia taylori, they seem to like clay pots with a bark mix much better than anything else I've tried. I never figured this one for an airy species but it seems that way, atleast for me. YMMV.

RSS,

Thank you. does yours like shade or bright light?

RSS · #9 02-01-2009, 01:11 PM

Right now they are under low light, about 15" from 4 T8 bulbs and they seem happy there, growing new leaves at a good rate.

whygreenberg · #10 02-01-2009, 08:16 PM

I'd imagine you could probably grow rupicolous Laelias on a rock slab, however, their roots need good anchoring and don't like to be disturbed a lot. They can be a bit fussy to get established. You also would probably need to water just a bit more.

My rock Laelias (fournieri, mixta, pabstii, and a cross of milleri x cinnabarina x Soph. cernua) are all in small clay pots in granitous rock. They sit directly under a 100w CFL bulb and get strong air movement from a nearby fan. The fournieri is currently resting, so I only mist it's roots/medium once a week. But when in active growth, I water them approx. 3 times a week.