Trichocentrum Ollie Palmer Red--culture info.

[Myrle Diefendorf]

I had about given up on Ollie Palmer but put it outside in part sun and it has new roots and a new spotted lovely leaf. I want to repot but what is a good media?

[Orchid Whisperer]

The only Trichocentrum I have is T. splendidum. It is an 8 cm tall seedling of a plant that easily gets 30 - 40 cm tall.

Mine is potted in 1 to 2 cm chunks of scoria ("lava rock"), so it gets perfect drainage. It is watered frequently in summer, less in the winter. This is the second year I've had it, and it seems to prefer being acclimated to high light each year (high end of Cattleya light). Weak fertilizer once or twice a month while it is growing.

I had a mature T. splendidum 25 years ago, it succumbed to brown rot, likely because it stayed too wet.

BTW, Trichocentrum Ollie Palmer = Trt. Maureen x Trt. Haematochilum, and Trichocentrum Maureen = Trt. carthagenense x Trt. lanceanum, so those 3 species may give you some clues regarding cultural needs.