Brassia Rex 'Waiomao Spotless'

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Izzie

Denver Orchid Society is meeting next tuesday, you might be able to talk to people there about how they grow Brassia's in CO.

Hey Izzie-- are you a member of the Denver Orchid Society? I go to their shows held at Tagawa's but have never hung around for any of their official stuff.

[RosieC]

Wow, what a great flower, I love it.

[Pilot]

Thanks, Rosie. I really like this plant. So hopefully I'll do right by it, which so far, I don't think I have. I think I may have underwatered it for my conditions, which are quite dry. Realizing this, I hope to keep on top of the poor thing drying out too much or too quickly.

All of the flowers are now open on the spike. And once that happened, I noticed a scent-- its slight in comparison to most flowers, but rather strong for an orchid. In the morning it has a sweet, spicy smell-- akin cinnamon. In the afternoon is smells very much like vanilla , but again, with a spice to it. Its intoxicating and if the room is still, the scent fills it. Its really nice!

Here is another pic.

[RosieC]

Oooh, it looks even better with all the flowers out!

I've not worked out watering on mine of these yet, but I've been told that orchids with p-bulbs can be very forgiving because of the reserves of energy in the p-bulb. I hope so because I've really not got them sussed yet.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Oooh, it looks even better with all the flowers out!

I've not worked out watering on mine of these yet, but I've been told that orchids with p-bulbs can be very forgiving because of the reserves of energy in the p-bulb. I hope so because I've really not got them sussed yet.

Its good that they take some abuse because this is my first one and I want very much to grow it in S/H. My very dry, highland climate simply doesn't make bark mixes useful at all, as it'll dry too fast and unevenly. S/H has been a savior for my phals, which thrive in it. So hopefully my Brassia will enjoy it too!

Rosie did you ever get your phals in s/h?

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Pilot

Rosie did you ever get your phals in s/h?

Not yet. I'm planning to get hold of some lecca and giving it a go, it will probably be several months time before I actually go for it though. I've started collecting pop bottles to make pots though

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Not yet. I'm planning to get hold of some lecca and giving it a go, it will probably be several months time before I actually go for it though. I've started collecting pop bottles to make pots though

Rosie, once the plants get settled in they do very well. I tried growing my chids in bark and moss and Colorado just dried them out so fast-- it was impossible to provide them ideal conditions. So planting them in hydro took care of the watering problem as well as the even moisture issue. It seems that if I get a phal to take root in hydroton by mid-summer, they inevitably put on at least two or so leaves. I've had some phals actually burst their pots, they grew so much (one burst when i picked it up ). So don't be afraid to over pot with s/h. Phals, at least, seem to thrive in it.

[RosieC]

Thanks Ryan,

I read somewhere that people often grow in hydroton without the Semi-hydrophonic technique while they wait for the plant to put start growing roots and be ready for the conversion. I think I'm going to try that with a couple of cheep NoID Phals I have and once they are ready transfer them to S/H.

[Izzie]

I thought I'd seen this guy!
I am a real fan of green flowers- these cool, soothing colors are such a respite in arid CO. Probably my favorite color in orchids. Wouldn't know it by collection, I only have one noid phal that's almost green/yellow.

I wonder if these or other Oncidiums would like it outside here?

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Thanks Ryan,

I read somewhere that people often grow in hydroton without the Semi-hydrophonic technique while they wait for the plant to put start growing roots and be ready for the conversion. I think I'm going to try that with a couple of cheep NoID Phals I have and once they are ready transfer them to S/H.

I'm doing that with a Pot. Samantha Duncan 'Paradise'. It's in hydroton without s/h now, and a sphag top dressing.
If it likes it without s/h, I might leave it alone, but if it doesn't take off, I think I might try letting it sit in a reservoir.

Speaking of pseudo-s/h, I have a Phal. stuartiana in CHC with a layer of hydroton in the bottom that I keep in a dish of water and it REALLY is taking off- the water actually wicks into the CHC. I don't know if it would work with my other phals, but I think the stuartiana likes to grow more humid/moist.

should add the caveat- all of my orchids have a sphag top dressing, which has really helped them in CO.