Howeara Lava Burst 'Puanani' AM/AOS

[Sun rm.N.E.]

I could not get all the flowers in. It started blooming Christmas time and has many branches on flower spikes still to develop so it will look better in a few weeks but I will be away then.

This plant seems be under pressure to bloom anytime new growth matures. I cut 5 developing spikes off in May to get it to bloom in the Winter and it promptly put out new spikes further up between the leaves. It was transplanted to S/H from water culture about 2 years ago.

One of my toughest plants, in a league with Onc. Sharry Baby. The second picture is the one that still grows and blooms just as well in water culture. I don't know what clone that is. The color is very similar in the same light inspite of what the photo shows.

[susiep]

Beautiful! I wish mine would do that! I just repotted and it has very poor roots. Right now it is intensive care with it's roots (?) wrapped in moss sitting in a tree fern pot in a cozy bathroom (orchid instensive care unit). Nice to see what it could look like! Good growing.

[Lagoon]

Very nice!!

[snow]

woderfull plant and great growing.

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Thanks Gloria and Snow

I respect your opinion. If we lived closer i would ask for an invitation to visit your garden.

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Hi Susan

I can sympathize. I have been there. Now its love and devotion but only after the trial water culture or S/H. I moved to a smaller house and only keep the ones that thrive and bloom in the Winter.

[quiltergal]

Nice to know they will do well in S/H. I brought one home from the islands a few weeks ago and I think it may have a root problem. The pbulbs are all wrinkled and it feels wobbly in the pot. I'll have to check it out this weekend.

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Hi Terri

Good luck with your plant.

I can sympathize. Here is the story of my Howeara if you are interested. It was in a very marginal condition (common for plants that are forced to bloom for quick sale) and the roots could not keep up with the tremendous pressure for water loss that exists in my house with the low humidity in the Winter. When I tried to give it more water the roots rotted. Since the plant seemed too weak to go through that very stressful first transition to SH, when they have to depend on nutritional and water reserve they have, until the new growth and suitable water tolerant roots develop. I think this is much, much easier when the humidity is high such as a warm greenhouse. Since I grow in my home that first transition is a very critical period, and exessively so with Winter heating.

The details:

I put this plant in water culture first. All rotten or senile roots were removed after immersing in Physan solution first and put in nutritional solution with KLN. The response was amazing. Two small new growths with new water tolerant roots. Of course it re-bloomed as soon as it could. When the next growth buds(now I had 4) were showing I transfered it into SH. These water roots live longer in S/H, and the transition is far easier than from bark. (I also started with two new growths with good water and nutritional reserve.)

The second time I transplanted the S/H grown plant in 5 minutes and I did not notice any signs of stress.

Currently the plant has thick, well hydrated 8in. leaves, 8 spikes with branches full of unopened buds and I expect it to put out more spikes. It is in the same place in the same low humidity. The heater is blowing out hot air as usual, 8 feet away.

One other option to help the major first transition into S/H with a marginal plant is what Ray has recommended. Pot in S/H as usual and increase the humidity by putting the whole thing in a large bag. I just don't have the room for this messy setup in the house and you have to have the right light. Obviously it is much easier for people who have a special room for their orchid.