My New Plants!

[greenbean]

Thank you, Maria, for my awesome new plants!

Ok so nothing is blooming and there aren't any big, impressive specimens (yet ) but I'm really excited to have gotten these plants and to have more opportunity for experimenting with water culture.

I got a Bl. Sunset Glory and 2 Leptotes bicolor seedlings.
Also, even though they aren't orchids, I want to share the two bromeliads that came with them, Neoregelia ampullacea and a cryptanthus.

Here they are! Sorry for some of the pictures. The light was starting to fail on me.

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[Zoi2]

Very nice!
Joann

[jkofferdahl]

Way cool, Evan!

[Grandma M]

Oh Evan, I love your little pink baby. She's a keeper.

Marilyn

[Bolero]

They look promising, I am interested to see how you go with the Leptotes. I've never had success with them.

I also love Bromeliads which I grow under the benches where the orchids grow. I have some in flower right now.

[greenbean]

Thanks for the comments everybody!

I like that little pink cryptanthus too, Marilyn. I usually don't go for pink, but this little guy is just too cute! Although I'm really excited about the Neoregelia.

I'll be pretty interested to see how Leptotes likes me (or doesn't ), too, Bolero. I just love the gracefully twisted petals on them and hope that I can get mine to produce some of their own.

Hopefully by this time next year I'll have some bloom pics to share of the chids!

[fieldsofgold]

i'm so happy for you Evan! I can't wait to see how they bloom especially the Sunset Glory.

water culture sounds really interesting to try.

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Hi Evan

You set them up like an expert.

Just a reminder. If the containers feel too warm to the touch I would consider raising the containers higher, so they are a little further away from the radiator. As you know there are optimal temperatures for rooting. You are in a good position to find out and let us know.

[greenbean]

Fieldsofgold: Thanks! I learned about water culture here on OB and just had to try it for myself. I can't wait for the Sunset Glory to bloom either! It will probably be the first Catt-alliance plant that blooms for me, since the 2 or 3 others I have are either rescuees or haven't reached blooming size yet.

Maria: Thanks for the compliment! You've given me lots of great tips! I don't actually run the radiator now unless there is a night that dips back below freezing, but I will be keeping an eye on that now if I do run it again. I'll also have to watch them with the sun becoming more intense now.

I'm still not entirely sure about which roots need to be removed. I pulled gently on them, and the ones that slipped off I removed. The ones that didn't slip out of their covers I left alone, though most of them are soft to varying degrees. Should I leave those or should I remove anything that isn't firm or doesn't have new growth?

Just as an update, the orchids haven't done much yet. They remain firm-leaved and as happy as they appeared when they first arrived. The Sunset Glory's new roots may have grown a wee bit. The cryptanthus is just beginning to show root nubbins at the base and the pup on the Neoregelia looks like it's grown.

My south-facing window may actually be TOO bright and warm! My Slc. Jewel Box nearly got sunburnt one day, so I'll be keeping a close eye on the other chids that are directly in front of the window. Honestly, I never thought I'd be in a situation where I had too MUCH light!

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Evan

The Bl. Sunset Glory would probably love all the sun as long as you run an inexpensive fan when it is sunny. I just run 2 clip-on fans I bought at the drugstore for 15 feet of space. I would change the water at least X 2 per week until healthy algae is established. It will probably bloom for you before the new growth is fully mature.

The other plants that need to establish new roots seem do better for me if I try to keep the temperature above 65 nights and above 70 during the day (its much higher on sunny days). However, this is anecdotal; I do not have access to enough scientific data on orchids, and they do come from such varied climates, so your experience will just add to what we know.