Phaiocalanthe Kryptonite 'Blood Bath' Care?

[Amandalee]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to show everyone my new plant I got at the Fort Pierce Farmers Market in Fort Pierce, Florida while out-of-town for Christmas. It is a Phaiocalanthe Kryptonite 'Blood Bath.' It was a bargain $12 and I thought it was really neat plant. I had never seen one, until today. I would appreciate any imput anyone has on their care.

-Amandalee

[johnblagg]

way cool amanda

[RosieC]

Looks gorgeous, but I'm afraid I know nothing about it's care.

[johnblagg]

here is a basic culture thing Amanda

Oglesby - Phaius Tankervilliae (Grandifolius), Nun's Orchid

[johnblagg]

or here is a little more with a suggested medium

HOW TO GROW. Intermediate to warm temperatures suit the nun's Orchid. In the winter it grows well if it is given temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees in the daytime and 55 to 60 degrees at night; in summer, if kept moist and shaded, it adjusts to higher temperatures. Provide filtered sunlight or 1,000 to 1,500 foot-candles of artificial light for 14 to 16 hours daily, with humidity of 40 to 60 percent or higher. Pot plants in a mixture of 2 parts coarse peat moss, 2 part sandy loam and 1 part each perlite and fine bark; this terrestrial plant requires liberal watering with good drainage. Fertilize the plants at every third watering with a balanced Orchid fertilizer, such as 18-18-18, dilute to half the strength recommended on the label. Repot phaius Orchids every two or three years. To propagate additional plants, divide plants at the end of a growing season so that you can place at least three pseudobulbs in each pot. To make new plants from cuttings or "slips", after flowering has stopped, cut the flower stalks into 6-inch pieces, each with at least two joint like nodes. Place these cuttings on moist sand to root.

[shadytrake]

Originally Posted by Amandalee

Hello everyone,

I wanted to show everyone my new plant I got at the Fort Pierce Farmers Market in Fort Pierce, Florida while out-of-town for Christmas. It is a Phaiocalanthe Kryptonite 'Blood Bath.' It was a bargain $12 and I thought it was really neat plant. I had never seen one, until today. I would appreciate any imput anyone has on their care.

-Amandalee

Amanda, I can tell you quickly how to kill it.

Seriously though, these guys LOVE semi/hydro. Yesterday I finally got the courage to take the ones I accidentally FROZE (note to self: don't leave them outside when the temps go in the 30s) out of the s/h pots to throw them out.

I was absolutely AMAZED at the amount of root growth. When I put them in 2L coke bottles back in May, they had been in 3" NBS pots. I kind of over potted them because I read they grew fast and loved water.

I really did nothing except lots of water flushing (weekly), 3000-4000 light inside a shade-house, air movement, and very little fertilizer (20-20-20).

I stopped the fertilizer in October and started putting them outside. They really like the fall....then I made the mistake of leaving them outside when we had a severe temp drop.

The s/h pellets do not offer any protection from the cold and in fact make the pot a little cooler. Unfortunately the bulbs froze and they all died.

But as we all know, there is something to be learned. I learned that s/h lowers the temperature of the pots. I also learned that these chids absolutely LOVE s/h for growing.

When I killed them, they had 5 spikes (on 3 plants). I really wish I could have seen them bloom. I definitely will try them again.

Good luck! Great choice to try in semi/hydro.

[Gin]

Very pretty ! They are a cross of phaius and calanthe . mine get filtered sun not direct they do not dry out all the way before I water them . Congrats. they are a neat plant to grow Gin