Experiences with Promenaea?
 

Hey folks,

I have recently fallen in love with Promenaeas and was wondering if anyone has experiences with them?

I've done a bit of research and I am quite hopeful that they would do well in my apartment. My temperature range is probably between 18° and 21°C (65° bis 70°F) during the day with a small drop at nighttime which I reckon should be acceptable, but my light levels are pretty low. Where it would most likely be sitting it would receive indirect light from a window overhead but no direct sunshine, ever. Do you find they are fussy about humidity? As it will be rather low in this room.

I am currently looking at P. colmaniana (a hybrid between P. xanthina and P. crawshayana, I gather) as this is the only one I can seem to find in the UK, and I would rather not order something from across the Channel.

Thanks as always for your expertise :)


Sunny

I have never grown Promenaea but I have been wanting to for some time. Your conditions sound perfect as far as temperature. But if they are anything like most other members of Zygopetalinae, humidity and air movement will also be very important (one of the reasons I haven't tried them yet is because the humidity is around 20% on a good day). Sorry I can't provide more info than that, hopefully someone who grows them will respond soon! :goodluck:

Thank you, Afid! I am a bit concerned about humidity, unfortunately have no way of measuring it at the moment. I'll need to see if I can pick up a cheap hygrometer somewhere - but with central heating and all I expect humidity to be pretty low.
Well hopefully someone who has grown Promenaea can enlighten me - if not I may just buy it and see how well I do. In that case I'll let you know how I am getting on :)

I have a promenea x zygo hybrid. It lives indoors under normal room conditions, it has quite plump pseudobulbs so no issues with humidity levels. My only concern with your set up would be light levels but you're at the opposite end of the country to me and sun levels will be stronger.

Thank you, that's really helpful! The spot where I am planning to put it is quite bright, but if it should struggle I do have artificial lighting that could go up there just in case.

I do not have a light meter however I have something that to me is just as useful and it only cost a pound.

I don't know how easy it is to get this time of year but come spring the poundshops used to have them.

Attachment 140306

they come as flowers and different shapes.

Basically the faster it swings - the more light there is. A vigorous fast swing is too much light - A gentle swing is just right.

Zygopetalums don't need that much light so as long as the arms are swinging slowly (ie there is some movement) then I have found there is enough light for them.

In my kitchen this time of year behind a net curtain feels bright enough for me - but my solar chicken doesn't move it's arms unless I remove the net curtain so it's useful

Thank you, that's a great idea! I'll see if I can find one of these.

I actually went out and got my Promenaea today - and also a few others, who ever left an orchid nursery with just one plant? So for now it sits in what is probably the second-brightest spot in my home, should that not do it can still move one up. Which is still not terribly bright, but I'll see how it works out.
Anyway I am delighted to have it and thanks for all your help, guys!

I grow Promenaea xanthina outdoors (having the good fortune to be in a frost-free area with temperate climate) I grow it quite shady (next to Masdevallias and other Pleurothallids) and it blooms reliably. It also does not seem to be particularly sensitive to humidity or temperature. It is growing better since I added a reverse-osmosis system (my local water is pretty hard though not as bad as most places near me) But if your other orchids are doing OK, I see no problem, it is not particularly fussy. It grows with much less light than my Zygopetalums (they're related, but not closely), and has the additional benefit for those growing in limited space, it stays quite compact.

This makes me wonder if I could have success with them after all, maybe I will try to pick some up next time I see them at a show. :) Looking forward to seeing pictures when yours blooms!

For photo, take a look at my website (link in the "signature" portion of my post) Worth a try... very attractive flowers, coming from the base of the plant. I have had this one for about 5 years so it's pretty durable.

Thank you for the advice, Roberta! I envy your growing conditions - even being in the warmer part of the UK is nothing like California, unfortunately! I'm quite limited for space indoors, but as you say they stay nice and small.
I'll keep in mind what you suggested about the water as well.
Well I'm quite excited to see how it will do. Judging from the dried up spike it came with it has already flowered this year, but should I get it to flower for me next year I'll post some pictures!