Pleurothalis Species Purchase or What Was I Thinking?

[MattWoelfsen]

So I was checking out Tropical Orchid Farm's (TOF) updated website and found a long list of plants. I'd been wanting to buy plants from them since last Fall but winter set in and outlasted its welcome. This week it feels like Spring is going to stay. I am comfortable that if I order orchids and have them shipped, they will not suffer the consequences of cold temperatures.

TOF requires a minimum order of US$40.00. At a certain point they start giving discounts off plant prices. Sounds easy, but many of their plants are in the $10-20 range. After finding plants on my wish list to place in my cart, I was still in need of some more plants to top off...it's like me going to a grocery store to buy milk and eggs but I come home with all kinds of stuff too (sometimes I forget to buy the milk!).

I bought these three plants based on the TOF's description and little sense. After I got confirmation that my order was successfully completed, then it occurred to me, I know nothing about Pleurothalis. OYE vey! I found ISOPE's descriptions and lots of pictures on these plants. But a little advice from you would be welcome. Do you grow any of these Pleurothalis? If so...how do you grow them? The plants won't arrive until next week, but when they do, I'll circle back here and post pictures. I have pictures from the website, so I know what they look like. If you have any of these plants, would you post here your plant's picture? Thank you.

Pleurothalis sarracenia 'Natural World'
Pleurothalis perijaensis
Pleurothalis corniculata

[nikkik]

My best advice about growing in the pleurothallid alliance is to keep very high humidity. To achieve this, most of my plants are in a terrarium. Many of my plants don't like to fully dry out, but I have learned that if the leaves on the plants you have chosen are thicker, you have a bit of wiggle room when it comes to learning the appropriate amount of water for each plant.

Good luck with your new plants. I look forward to reading about your success with these plants!

[katrina]

I grow the corniculata and it's an easy grower and a reliable bloomer if it gets enough light.

I keep it moist all the time...sphag in a little basket w/leca in the bottom of the basket and in a saucer of water. A bit of a take on s/h, I guess.

Bright light...not quite catt level but bright.

Mostly intermediate temps but this plant takes Ohio summer heat very well (it goes outside w/the rest of the plants) and never skips a beat.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Intermediate growing (55 F - 90 F).

Bright shade.

Even moisture year round.

Moderate to high humidity (60% - 80%) is adequate.

Use RO/DI, distilled, or rainwater.

1/4 to 1/2 strength fertilizer.

Plths corniculata and Plths serracenia are miniatures with Plths corniculata being the taller of the 2.

These aren't the difficult ones.

[MattWoelfsen]

Thank you all for your advice. Niknik, Katrina, and I are all in the mid-west, Philip you are in Los Angeles, California--so your opinions on care for these plants covers a lot of territory and is greatly appreciated. This is a new plant to me. I'm glad to know it is 'easy'.