Need Pleurothallid culture advice - Orchid Board

FroggyKnight · #1 11-11-2014, 07:38 PM

Hi all, I when to a local orchid show on Saturday and I had a great time there! I actually had TOO good of a time and I came back with some unexpected arrivals all of which are from Ecuagenera. I came home with 11 new orchids and couldn't be happier, but this is my first adventure into many different genera and I could use some advice on their culture. I plan on keeping these in my vivariums in intermediate temps. The humidity stays very stable between 85-90% with misting every other day. Without further ado, here is a list of what I came home with!

Porrolossum hystrix - My first Porroglossum and it's throwing spikes out now. Does anyone know how tall it is including spikes?
Masdevallia nidifica - Beautiful plant and is in excellent condition at the moment, I would like to keep it that way!
Scaphosepalum breve - Also in great condition and has five or six spikes at the moment
Stelis mystax - I'm somewhat familiar with this species. A friend grows it in conditions identical to mine.
Dracula mopsus - Again, in pretty good shape. This is a BS size division I got from a friend, actually
Restrepia iris - I preordered this plant and it came bone dry and rough looking. After a nice soaking its looking MUCH better!
Restrepia brachypus - same story as R. iris, but this one has two keikeis!

Dryadella clavellata - this was a poor impulse buy. It is in very rough shape and in need of TLC...
Pleurothallis grobyi 'small form' - another preorder, but unlike the others, it arrived in great condition!
Zootrophion atropurpureum - This is just a small keikei from a friend, not Ecuagenera. Definitely needs some love...
Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes - small division, got it for free

I'm most concerned with the Masde, Dryadella and Porroglossum since they were all impulse buys for the most part. I have done some basic research on all these plants, but there is definitely more I could learn and as always, personal experiences are very welcome! I will get some pictures of these guys up when I get the chance, too

Thanks all!!

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 11-11-2014, 11:59 PM

The hardest ones to grow imo would be the:

1. Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes
2. Zootrophion atropurpureum

Both like humidity. In fact, Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes requires high humidity to thrive. They do not like to dry out completely, but they rot out if they're watered too heavily.

Zootropion are not quite as demanding as the Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes, but they are not the easiest moderate sized Pleurothallid to grow.

Everything else shouldn't be terribly difficult to grow. They're all intermediate growers and can be grown in moderate to high humidity.

Porroglossum hystrix will only top out to be about 4.5 - 5 inches tall with spike. The thin spikes are taller than the leaves and are hairy.

Btw, Dracula usually needs good humidity to bloom properly, but your Dracula is known to be one of the sturdiest Dracula sp in the hobby.

Nepenthesguy · #3 11-12-2014, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

The hardest ones to grow imo would be the:

1. Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes
2. Zootrophion atropurpureum

Both like humidity. In fact, Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes requires high humidity to thrive. They do not like to dry out completely, but they rot out if they're watered too heavily.

Zootropion are not quite as demanding as the Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes, but they are not the easiest moderate sized Pleurothallid to grow.

Everything else shouldn't be terribly difficult to grow. They're all intermediate growers and can be grown in moderate to high humidity.

Porroglossum hystrix will only top out to be about 4.5 - 5 inches tall with spike. The thin spikes are taller than the leaves and are hairy.

Btw, Dracula usually needs good humidity to bloom properly, but your Dracula is known to be one of the sturdiest Dracula sp in the hobby.

Do you have any tips for Zootrophion atropurpureum? I've had one for over a month, leaves are plump all roots are still green and healthy but no new growth. Though one of the leaves has increased in size so maybe that was the new growth (love when I'm out of my element culturally lol )

Froggy, the trick with dracs is cool and humid

They grow like weeds if happy

FroggyKnight · #4 11-12-2014, 01:46 AM

Thank you very much for the info! High humidity will NOT be a problem for me, these will all be going to a couple of my dart frog vivariums and they stay stable at about 90% humidity and rarely down to 85% if I forget to mist for a few days. The Trichosalpinx is not in the best condition right now, but I think it will do alright with some stable humidity. I'm glad to here that most of them are pretty easy, They were educated guesses for the most part

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 11-12-2014, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nepenthesguy

Do you have any tips for Zootrophion atropurpureum? I've had one for over a month, leaves are plump all roots are still green and healthy but no new growth. Though one of the leaves has increased in size so maybe that was the new growth (love when I'm out of my element culturally lol )

Not really. If you have the humidity, the high end of bright shade to the low end of moderately bright indirect light, and the intermediate temperature ranges, then you're fine.

Grow as evenly moist as possible, is probably something I could add, but I figure you knew that already.

They grow slow anyways. Don't expect them to take off like Draculas do.

FroggyKnight · #6 11-12-2014, 09:53 PM

Ok, a friend of mine (not sure if he is on this forum) has offered to help me out with my orchids that are in rougher shape! He's a veteran Pleuro fanatic and happens to have a greenhouse full of intermediate-cool growers, he is also only 5 minutes away. Thank you Jon!

Tindomul · #7 02-20-2015, 11:59 AM

Great thread. I have a Zootrophion griffin that I purchased at a show, impulse buy alsol When I got home I didn't have a great place for it in my terrariums. It ended up on a dark ledge where it is now been for almost a year. I kind of ignore it and well at least it hasn't died. I'm going to try and move it somewhere where it might be brighter, but then it might dry out. Don't you just hate it when space is limited!