Pleurothallis dressleri

[harpspiel]

Progression since I got this from @TOMMYMIAMI. No blooms yet, but what a vigorous plant!

3/7/2021, 6 leaves (spent 6 days in the mail and had lost half its leaves)


4/20/2021, 11 leaves


6/24/2021, 20 leaves, moved to a different spot


8/24/2021, 27 leaves

[DirtyCoconuts]

Wow. And the leaves are awesome!!killer plants I might need it for my cloud box

[estación seca]

I'm frightened at the tinyness just looking at the picture.

[harpspiel]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I'm frightened at the tinyness just looking at the picture.

I was also frightened by the size at first, but it's been so easy! I just get along very well with pleurothallids. On the other hand, my Dendrobium parvulum is almost as small (and almost as expensive) and I feel like it's constantly at the brink of death.

[Roberta]

That is extremely cute! And looks like it is doing very well.

Your Den parvulum may need to grow a little drier. I don't have one (yet, may need to rob a bank if I find another opportunity to get one, the deep blue one is super-expensive and super-beautiful) My species-growing friend Scott (look down the page Southern California Orchid Species Society to find his gorgeous plant, also Southern California Orchid Species Society) grows it outside in coastal southern California - so it dries out between waterings, and does get cool nights, especially in winter, tolerates warm days because that's what Mother Nature gives it and it seems to do just fine.

[harpspiel]

Originally Posted by Roberta

My species-growing friend Scott (look down the page Southern California Orchid Species Society to find his gorgeous plant, also Southern California Orchid Species Society) grows it outside in coastal southern California - so it dries out between waterings, and does get cool nights, especially in winter, tolerates warm days because that's what Mother Nature gives it and it seems to do just fine.

Mine seems to dry out really fast. I bought an adult plant and killed it, and what I have left is a few remaining seedlings from a Troy Meyers flask, that seem to need a whole lot of water but still aren’t thriving. They are also easily choked out by moss, which might have been the issue with the BS one I killed. I have a pretty good night temp drop here in the high desert.

[Roberta]

They are so little, I can see where moss growth could be a big issue... I don't know how, in a closed system especially, one can maintain moisture without getting a lot of it. But likely that is what it needs - moisture, but can you keep the moss cleaned off?

[harpspiel]

Originally Posted by Roberta

They are so little, I can see where moss growth could be a big issue... I don't know how, in a closed system especially, one can maintain moisture without getting a lot of it. But likely that is what it needs - moisture, but can you keep the moss cleaned off?

The ones that are still alive are on vertical surfaces without much moss growth. It also may like high humidity/good airflow/less frequent watering, which is not something my tank can provide, but I’m setting up a mini greenhouse indoors so I’ll see how some does in that.

The P. dressleri certainly appreciates the frequent misting schedule I have in the tank, along with most pleurothallids. I have some happy Angraecoids too, but most Dendrobiums aren’t doing as well in that environment.

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[Roberta]

That being the case, I suspect that the Dendrobiums need to dry out a bit more, the Pleurothallids thrive on being pretty wet. Hopefully your mini-greenhouse gives you that little variation on the theme. I do guarantee that the ones that my friend is growing successfully dry out quite thoroughly... they get a daily watering, but that is once a day and then they are at ambient coastal southern California humidity (50% on a good day, usually lower for at least several hours), with no sphagnum . Not my growing area, but mine is very similar.

[harpspiel]

So close!