Hausermann's order

[estación seca]

I like starting with little plants so I can learn how they grow. The smallest plants here, like those in the left front row, are in pots 2" / 5cm square.

L-R front row
Phalaenopsis schilleriana; P. stuartiana; Rhyncholaelia glauca; Epidendrum centropetalum / Oerstedella centradenia; Encyclia Chien Ya Smile; Encyclia adenocaula / Epidendrum nemorale (red round pot); Neofinetia / Vanda falcata (with roots); Aerangis fastuosa; Dendrochilum formosanum; Rossioglossum Rawdon Jester x Bob Hamilton; Dendrobium glomeratum; D. pierardii; D. usitae 'Red Coral'; D. cumulatum.

L-R back row
Lc. Loog Tone 'African Beauty'; Miltonia flavissima; Cattleya Mrs. Mahler 'Mem. Fred Tomkins' AM/AOS; Dendrochilum cobbianum; Dendrobium smilliae; D. schuetzei

[wintergirl]

I grow my Epidendrum centropetalum in live s.moss in a clay pot. I mist the moss and the entire plant daily. It's roots grew tight in the moss and really thrived. It has been in bloom since Jan 10, over 3 months.

[estación seca]

Thank you. I was planning on taking it to my mom in coastal southern California, where nights are cooler than here. It's a really small plant.

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Thank you. I was planning on taking it to my mom in coastal southern California, where nights are cooler than here. It's a really small plant.

Cooler is good. I grow mine in low light too. It sits next to my masdies on Kool logs, back away from a North window.

[estación seca]

One of our society members from Prescott, Arizona grows this successfully. That is higher in elevation than here, so summer days are cooler, usually in the mid 90s F / 35C. Summer nights are much cooler, into the 60s F / 17C or less. Winters there can be very cold with snow; she has a greenhouse and cold frame for her orchids

Prescott was one of Arizona's capitals during territorial days, and has one of the nicest courthouse squares in the USA.

[Helene]

Love them!

Last year (my first year buying orchids that were not noid phals) I bought mostly blooming size and one young plant.

This fall I am doing what you do- buying lots of youngplants.
I like to see how they evolve and grow aswell
Besides: I can get more plants for the same prize, and I dont mind nursing them bigger myself.


I really like your collection of orchids, and your style- knowledge and not to much fussing.

Do you know how many orchids you have in total?

They look very nice, congrats on the new members of your collection

[katrina]

That is a lot of plants and lots of future blooms! Some very nice choices.

FWIW - I've been growing Epi centropetalum since 2010. I have it mounted on a tree fern totem and it's done an excellent job of growing around the totem. (Almost as many flowers on the back side of that mount!) Summer time it's in a spot where it gets full sun a good portion of the day and watered every day. In the winter, it's under HO T5's and in an East facing window...it could do w/more light in the winter but given the size, it's the best I can do. I water it about 3x a week in the winter but it could do w/more...but that's my schedule so it has to live with it.

I can't find a more recent pic but here's one from Spring '14...it's just coming into full bloom right now.



It won't stay small for long! Long-term...it'll be hard to confine to a pot.

As for the temps...my summer temps can go well into the 90's and it does just fine.

[estación seca]

Thanks, Katrina!

[wintergirl]

Katrina's Epi centropetalum is beautiful. I guess it can take a variety of conditions. I think when they are small they might need a little more TLC though.

[estación seca]

I've been to places in Mexico up in the mountains where a lot of "cool-growing" orchids live. Days can be quite hot, in the 90s F / upper 30s C . But nights are chilly. I think a problem growing some "cool" orchids for people in some places is not warm days, but warm nights.