Best way to keep Pleurothallis sarracenia ?

[Ivery]

I have Pleurothallis sarracenia and it's been in my terrarium. Humid, moist, leds, no air movement. I no this is not ideal conditions. So what is? Can it tolerate drying out some? Low light? If so I can place by a window above sink. I really want to build a good habitat for them.

[estación seca]

I wouldn't move this to dryer air, nor let it dry out somewhat, unless you find out that's OK for this one. Ask the vendor you bought it from.

[naoki]

This species (now Acianthera bargae) seems to be fairly adaptable. They aren't as quick growing as typical Pleurohtallids, but compared with other orchids, I would say that they grow quickly. They are flowering now for me. I grow them in cool end of intermediate; max/min of 86/65F in summer 70/55F in the winter. I think they are from 1000m of elevation. They are in an enclosure, so the humidity is 70-90%. But from looking at the thick leaves, they may be able to handle drier condition (but I don't see a point to grow them dry). I mount them without any sphagnum moss. In the winter, I'm watering once every other day, but in the summer, I water every day. I use 20%N fertilizer all the time. I think they like fairly strong light: see Orchids in Bloom: Acianthera bragae I'm growing with fairly weak light (a bit more than or similar to the Phalaenopsis level), around 100-120 micromol/m^2/s (= about 684-824fc with florescent light). But if you can provide more light, it is probably better.

(edit) Oops, it turned out that mine was Aciancera asaroides. So the info above may not apply. But these two species seem to come from similar region.

[Ivery]

Thank you guys. The vendor did say a windowsill would be fine. But I've had it since november in the terrarium with dart frogs. It hasn't made any noticeable change good or bad. So I'm going to leave it there for now I guess

---------- Post added at 04:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:21 PM ----------

What's a good brand fertilizer?

[Tindomul]

That is a kool orchid, good luck with it and please let us know what you do with it and if it was a success or failure. Thanks!

[jkofferdahl]

I just read Andy's description of these. "this ones freaky, tightly clumping but slightly rambling with thick fleshy 3/4" to 1" stubby leaves mottled red when grown in high light, bizarre 3/4" flowers are borne singly or in opposing pairs arising directly from the leaves' bases, looking like predatory finely pubescent fleshy red carniverous slugs ready to devour their prey, but are really just curved fused inflated sepaline tubes, with their goodies (lips, petals, etc.) hidden inside." Awesome!

[Ivery]

Here's mine, I think it looks good. But I'm new to this also haha

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Ivery

...What's a good brand fertilizer?

Many are fine. Most people use something very dilute, like 25 ppm nitrogen. There is a fertilizer calculator, and lots of information on fertilizing, on the First Rays Web site.

[naoki]

Ivery, it looks good! I can see two new leave (left side, near the top of the mount), so it is growing.

I was writing a blog post, and I learned that actually mine was a related species, A. asaroides. But the two species appear to come from Santa Catarina, and they probably share similar habitat. Also one literature said that they are from wet forest. So I might be wrong about keeping the root fairly dry, and they may be ok with pretty moist condition.