New Chids :)

[Jennyfleur]

Hi everyone

When I ordered my last orchids, I said to myself that I wouldn't get any more unless I was trying something new. So, back in March, I treated myself to 3 Cyps (1 of which has two buds and so I'm sure you'll see the pics soon!) as I've always wanted to give them a go.

After this, I was feeling very content with what I had...... this was before I spoke to my neighbour. She has a few dendrobium plants from B&Q and her husband said that he'd like them more if they weren't white. Where-upon she said, 'well, they only come in white, don't they?'. As you can imagine, I couldn't let that one go by without saying something!! So, as I was round there, I introduced them to the Schwerter site to show them just how many colours orchids come in. After looking at this, I was asked to find them a Den that was bright and colourful.

Now, I've never tried Dens before, so if I was going to order for her, I thought I might as well make the most of the postage costs and order for myself as well. This is what I ended up with -

1) Den Oriental Smile 'fantasie'
2) Aerangis fastuosa
3) Iwanagara Appleblossom 'Pink' + Iwanagara Chief Snowflake 'Pink Lady'

4) Masdevallia abbreviata
5) Masd barleana
6) Masd vargasii

Since these are all new to me, I'd love to hear from anyone who has grown these - especially the Madsies, all I could find on the internet was that they were cool growers. Also, I have a question about the Aerangis (which was a purchase suggested by Camille last year, Thanks ), but I'll put that in another thread as this post is getting a bit long due to my late night tendency to ramble!

[Bud]

Den Oriental Smile 'fantasie' is a nobile type that requires no fertilizer after mid-September and a dry, cool (50's) rest(no water=but spray mist if the canes shrivel dry) from mid-Nov. until buds are set, probably about first week of Feb. Once buds are fully formed, you can begin regular watering and fertilizer. If you water it a lot or keep temperature high you will not have blooms but lots of keikis.
Masdies love to be moist but not too wet…so better wait til its dry before watering or better yet follow RJ’s method of glass vase culture.
Iwanagara is a cross between Brassavola x Cattleya x Diacrium x Laelia. They are grown the same way as Cattleyas.Iwanagara need bright light, and a little morning or afternoon sun is good. An east or west window is ideal. The leaves should be a medium green color.
Day time temperatures should be 70*-85* F. and 55*-60* F. at night. A 10 to 20 degree difference between day and night will ensure good blooming.
Iwanagara need to dry completely between waterings. Plants need more water while actively growing. Humidity should be around 50%-80%.
Weekly weakly fertilizer should be given with every watering during active growth. During the winter, fertilize once a month.
*but I am a windowsill grower in an apartment in Manhattan, New York...your grow zone and area where you place your plants might vary from mine...so you need adjustments and trust your instincts on this.

[Jennyfleur]

Thanks Bud, that confirms a lot of what I read, so I must be on the right track

The Masdies are in moss, which I haven't used before, except with my restrepia (but that's in such a tiny pot, it's quite easy to judge how damp it is). The Masdie pots aren't big, but they will take longer to dry which is why I'm going to have to pay more attention to what's going on until I get used to it - wish me luck!

[RosieC]

Great excuse for more orchids

With the Masdies I have success growing them in porous clay pots and moss. I keep them always a little moist. The moisture causes a cooling affect on the clay and this means they can grow in warmer conditions than they can usually grow in. Finding small porous clay pots has been difficult, but B&Q near me stock some similar size to those yours look to have come in (and that's what I use until they grow a lot bigger... which my first one has now done), try in the outdoor section that B&Q usually has.

I have Masd barleana growing that way successfully. I've not tried the others so can't comment on those specifically but I would try them the same way if I were you.

I don't manage to keep humidity up very well but they don't seem to mind if I don't let them fully dry (just approach dryness). I keep them in the greenhouse year round, which is only heated to protect against frost and not much more. It gets warm in there in the summer, but down to 4C in the winter. They seem to do well in the range of temps I get out there. My veitchianna (my first one) didn't like the full time house temps, but then I didn't have the porous clay pots then, they definitely seem to help for the higher temps. Just be warned that if the clay fully dries it gets warmer than a plastic pot.

[RosieC]

Forgot to say, when I re-potted by veitchanna in the autumn I found masses and masses of roots lining the clay pot. They seemed to prefer growing against the cold clay although there were plenty throughout the pot as well. It really confirmed for me just how much they liked growing that way, as it had been put in with hardly any roots and I was worried by the lack of roots.

[Jennyfleur]

Great, thanks Rosie I'll take a trip up there and have a look - So, I guess I'm looking for straight clay with no glaze on the inside, right?

Also, if I'm going to repot, do you reckon autumn or now would be best? and where do you get your moss from? (Just as well these things are a labour of love!)

[RosieC]

You are looking for straight clay, but be careful as 'frost resistant' straight clay is no good. It looks just like straight clay pots but is not porous. What I do is wet a bit of the pot and see if it soaks in. If it doesn't soak straight in then it's not porous enough.

I would report now, the only time I avoid is winter or later autumn. I got my moss from Orchid Accessories. It's very good quality and very very dry which means it can be stored for years. It just needs a couple of minutes soak before use.

[Jennyfleur]

Thank yooou!

Beautiful purchases! I am exploring masdies now too. Have only about five of them. They do like moss, but I don't have them in plastic pots. They are either in clay pots or net pot that sits inside of clay.
Good luck with new plants!

[silken]

I too am growing a few masdies in the last year. Mine sound like they have similar conditions to RosieC, cool in winter and warmer in summer. I struggle with keeping humidity up in summer so I never let these dry out. Mine are in moss and seem to like it. I am switching mine to clay pots as they need re-potting. they seem to be quite vigorous growers!

My Iwanagaara Appleblossom is in bloom right now and I grow it under normal cattleya conditions.

I have that Den. too and Bud nailed it as to what I do to grow my nobile Dens. You got a nice looking bunch of plants!