How I saved this little Orchid; Cischwenfia pusillia *MINI*

[Tindomul]

Here is an example of an orchid that does well in a viv. Cishwenfia pusillia.
When I first got it, I just hung it near a door way with plenty of ventilation, and light. But it dried out often and it started to loose all its leaves. Imagine a person going bald in just a few weeks.


Not a pretty site.
Then I put it in a 55 gallon viv and the leaf dropping stopped very quickly. I repotted it into a fake rock planter, with fern root, gravel, and sphag moss. I also cut the dead and rotting roots. Today its growing lots of new leaves, and looks very good with the exception of one yellow leaf. This leaf has been yellow since I put the plant in the viv, so you could say it stopped dieing. The plant has been in the vivarium since February.


And here is the Cynops orientalis that often calls this plant home

[Oscarman]

It looks very happy indeed. You have found what it likes!

[Tindomul]

Thanks, I hope so. I hope its not just a lesser of two evils.

[terrestrial_man]

Hi,
Just joined the forum this month and noticed your post. Your plant looks great. I am wondering if it has flowered for you.
I have another species of this genus, C. dasyandra, and it has been flowering profusely since it became established in the net pot of a homemade debris mix. I am growing it in a greenhouse where it hangs near the ceiling and probably gets at least 1500 ft candles on a clear summer day, possibly more for brief periods as I have trees that provide some shading. Your plant looks very green.

[Tindomul]

Mine has done lots and lots of growing this past year, but it has never bloomed for me. I very nearly killed it all when I first got it, so I am being patient and giving it all the time it needs.
Welcome to the board. I hope you enjoy your time here. Nice pic!!!

[Tindomul]

I got this one from Andy's Orchids in December of 2004. When I got it, it was a lush bush of beautiful folliage.

Then I decided to hang it in an open dry area. And I turned it into this:

It had lost half of its foliage, and continued to loose more until I finally decided to put it in sphag inside my vivarium.
It recovered slowly in the last year:

And finally I got some flower buds this month. I saw them for the first time yesterday:



I can't wait to see it bloom!!!!

[thakshila smith]

who is the visitor sitting on the pot.

[Mahon]

Plant's looking good! (same as above; what is that?)

-Pat

[Tindomul]

Thats one of my babies. Its a firebelly newt, and he often "fertilizes" the orchid. Hehe, here are some more pics of him:
Fire belly Newt

[canadacarol]

Great save!! I had one, but it got eaten by mealies. It's one of my favourite mini's (I don't have many-the R/H is too low in the sunroom).

Wait 'til they bloom! The blossoms have a fragrance of pears - at least to my nose.

Now, I have a C. sheehanae that looks like it's doing the same thing as your C. pusilla did...it's rotting, yet putting out new growth. Bought it last winter. I have it potted in moss. Maybe the temps are too high? It will get to be in the 90's sometimes.

Carol