Restrepia antennifera - I've done it now, have NO idea how to care for these!

[camille1585]

That's a very interesting thread (I don't know how I managed to miss it in the first place!), especially those cool pots! It's written that UK people should check out Ratcliffe's, but I don't see any on their website.

[RosieC]

I can't see them there either

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

See the leaf that's wrinkled? That's not good.

Check the roots when you get a chance to.

It can be a sign that root rot has occurred. Or it can be a sign that someone at one point in time neglected to water it on time.

Be careful with the roots! They are very thin and very delicate.

I recommend saving that mat of moss if possible when you do check the roots.

Remember to wet the media thoroughly when you do.

I also recommend buying a jeweler's loupe. 40x should be adequate enough for you.

I recommend a mixture of pumice and supersphag potted in a clear plastic pot or mount it (mounting it is best, and when you do put the moss underneath the roots, not over it - a thin layer is all you need).

Intermediate to warm.

Shade to bright shade.

Moderate to high humidity.

Damp out between waterings.

[RosieC]

Thanks Philip,

I checked the roots initially and they seem good, they are in a mixture of sphag and pumice as you suggest. I'm interested you suggest keeping the mat of live moss, I was worried that was a bad thing but good to know it isn't.

What do you meant by 'Damp out between waterings'? Sorry forgive my ignorance of this phrase.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by RosieC

What do you meant by 'Damp out between waterings'? Sorry forgive my ignorance of this phrase.

Let it dry until it's damp, (do not allow to be bone dry), before watering.

[RosieC]

Ok, thanks. That's what I did the one time I've watered it so looks like I got that right

[Catfur]

I'm a n00b at orchids, but my Restrepia experience so far (only killed two, and none recently), is thus: if the leaves come out wrinkly you aren't watering it enough, if the new growths rot, you're watering it too much. My trichoglossa demands water every day (skipping one day every so often isn't fatal), or the leaves come out looking all rippled; on the other hand, I have a NOID where the new growths will rot if I water it more than three times a week, and it seems to like to actually dry out semi-dry in between waterings.

As far as growing they don't seem to give a fart about humidity, my trichoglossa will grow in the dead of an unhumidified winter at levels that turn cats into tesla coils, as long as it gets it's daily soaking, but the flowers go to crap most of the time if humidity isn't high.

[RosieC]

Thanks Catfur,

For me I think humidity will be the bigest problem on the dry summer days. We get such a mixture of days with both high and low humidity that it will be difficult to control.

Anyway, it was not an expensive one so I will just have to try again if I don't get it right with this one