Lepanthopsis Astrophora - how to care for

[Kaity]

I am going to get an Lepanthopsis Astrophora and would like advice on how to grow it? I have read you keep it moist all the time. So do i get a pot with no holes? What type of medium do i need to use? How often do I water. Sorry...total novice here.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Kaity

I am going to get an Lepanthopsis Astrophora and would like advice on how to grow it? I have read you keep it moist all the time. So do i get a pot with no holes? What type of medium do i need to use? How often do I water. Sorry...total novice here.

Evenly moist year round. Do not ever allow to dry out completely at any given time.

Humidity 60% or higher (no exceptions, or the plant suffers - leaf deformities or bud blast, if you really want to know).

Intermediate to warm temperatures (60 F to 90 F)

Shade to bright shade.

Preferably grown mounted.

Moderate to good air circulation.

RO/DI, distilled, or rainwater only.

1/4 to 1/2 strength non-urea based nitrogen fertilizer.

High maintenance plant. Not as forgiving of mistakes as Pleurothallis, for example.

[Kaity]

what if i have to have it in a pot for a while? Hole in the bottom or no hole?

[CoolPhrog]

Hi Kaity! I have a very large Lepanthopsis Astrophora growing in my SE facing kitchen window sill in a bonsai pot with spag moss.

I've watered it with tap water as well as RO water (with the addition of an MSU type fertilizer at full strength) and it grows like a weed and blooms non stop.

Hope this helps - remember that everyone's growing conditions are different so what works for one grower may not work for another even if it's the same plant.

[Kaity]

Cool! Thanks for the info.... I think i am going to try growing it under a bell jar to keep the humidity up...as I live in Oregon where humidity is a mythical thing that only exists far far way! I eventually want to get a terrarium set up! Here goes nothing!

[CoolPhrog]

BTW, these have a Restrepia growth habit which means that you can actually root them from cuttings of the parent plant ;-)

[Kaity]

So I want to get a collection of the smallest minis there are that are intermediate to warm that can be kept in a pot. Do you have any more suggestions?

[CoolPhrog]

Let me see what I can find - what are your lighting conditions and space constraints?

[Kaity]

still getting everything set up but as this will be in my living room and all lighting has to come from artificial sources I was thinking low-medium...emphasis on the low:-) I really like the TINY plants - the tinier the better. My boyfriend is going to make me some cool ceramic planters so I want to try and stay with plants that can be potted for now. Thanks so much for your help!

[CoolPhrog]

to start, you might want to look into a few Lapanthes. They like intermediate temps, low light and steady moisture. They can be difficult to grow - I've not had much luck with them.

I'll keep thinking about it and maybe some of the more experienced Pleuro growers can chime in with some ideas.