Sulking Porroglossum

[milks]

Hi everyone


Whenever I introduce a new orchid into my terrarium there's a fair chance it will sulk for a month or two. All of a sudden the light intensity is different and the day is several hours longer; it's a jarring experience.

I have however a Porroglossum josei which has been sulking now for four months. It has put on some growth, a couple of roots and a pale, stunted looking leaf but it isnt happy at all. It is about 2 inches away from a Porroglossum muscosum, which is very happy (currently pushing out a flower spike) despite being cool growing and my terrarium being intermediate.

Can anyone offer any advice? I was so excited to find my josei but it seems cultural advice is thin on the ground, all I have is it is warm to cool requiring full shade.

My terrarium at this time if year gives 15-24C night/day, 70-85% humidity, daily watering.

Thanks!

[RosieC]

I'm afraid I can't help on that plant, giving a bump in the hope someone else can.

All I will say though is I've had plants sulk 6 months or more, one sulked for almost year before it got going and seemed to settle in. Hope it settles for you

[Leafmite]

Good luck!
I am just getting into the pleuros and other little orchids that need the humid conditions so one of these days, this thread might be VERY useful for me. Hopefully, someone will be able to help you here.

[milks]

Nice to know prolonged sulking isn't necessarily unusual; the little guy could still pull through!

As a broader discussion, what environmental changes do people think causes an orchid to sulk?

With my limited botanical knowledge I know that for some plants their hormonal stages are triggered by the length of the day so that would seem a likely candidate, are there others?

Does anyone try to introduce their plants gradually to a new environment?

[RosieC]

Temperature and humidity differences are a couple of the causes I think.

[Polarizeme]

If this is an import, then likely it is trying to establish a decent root system. Many of the plants that I receive from Ecuagenera and Peru Flora take time to establish in the new environment. The root systems are pretty weak and it just takes time. This Porroglossum is an intermediate grower so you shouldn't have a problem there. Try some Kelp. I wouldn't fertilize heavily though.
I had gotten a Masd. ivanii last year that put out a yellow looking leaf and just sat there. I thought it would die, but this Spring it started growing and blooming. It just needed to get "it's feet" under it.
Good luck with your Por. josei, it has a beautiful little bloom.