Repot or mount Prosthechea Marina

[Rothrock42]

I got a lovely Prosthechea Marina in a 2 inch pot with with white rocks. It bloomed two bulbs with 3 flowers on each, and now it is starting to put out new growth. It looks like the pot had been on its side at the nursery and the new growth is really quite far out from the little pot.

I'd like to move this on and can't decide if I should go for mounting or another pot.

I've seen one of the parents Prosthechea citrina prefers to grow upside down and this one seems to have been quite happy on its side. So I'm also trying to figure out what direction to put it.

Anyone else growing one of these? How is yours? Any advice?

[PaphMadMan]

I haven't had Prosthechea (Psh.) Marina, but the Psh. (Cattleya, Euchile) citrina parent definitely is happiest upside-down in both growth and flowering habit, and growing mounted. The Psh. (Encyclia, Euchile) mariae parent is fine potted or mounted if you have the right conditions. If you can accommodate mounted plants, that is the way to go. Then it can grow however it wants.

This isn't a commonly seen hybrid, though both parents are popular. Post some photos if you get the chance.

[Ray]

I think the appropriate question is "Can you easily provide the culture the plant needs, when it is mounted?"

As to orientation, in my experience, if you mount it upright, it will grow pendant, and if you mount it pendant, it will grow upright!

[Rothrock42]

I have a mariae rescue on bark that is coming along nicely and I have a mounted cattleya which is doing well and blooming, so I think I can provide the conditions. I would think either mounted or potted in bark would be easier to maintain (and more appropriate) than potted in rock.

It does have a goodly number of bulbs (nine total and four with leaves) and two active leads on opposite sides. So I am toying with the idea of dividing it.

PaphMadMan, I got it from Santa Barbara in the mail and it is lovely. It had three large flowers on one side and then on the other. They were very fragrant and lasted a little over a month. Tonight is a society meeting, but tomorrow I'll upload a couple of pics.

Ray, I agree, orchids are so fickle.

[PaphMadMan]

The white gravel may have been good for it in a situation where it was watered and fertilized heavily along with other plants. Media always needs to be chosen that works with the care and environment you can provide.

[Leafmite]

I look forward to the pictures!

[Rothrock42]

Sorry for the delay. Here are a couple of shots. The first is when the flowers first open and they are a bit more chartreuse.



As they age they change to a bit more golden yellow.



They lasted a little over a month and were incredibly fragrant. I would really recommend this cross.

[Leafmite]

What a great result! Those flowers turned out beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

[PaphMadMan]

The perfect combination of the parents. Very nice.

[bil]

Sadly mine isn't fragrant. It's up on a branch mount and seems to like it there, as this is the second batch of flowers this year.