Lepanthopsis Astrophora Stalky growth???
 

I’ve had this little Lepanthopsis for, I’m guessing, three years. It had been growing in a tiny 1” pot and doing very well. I kept the pot in a large glass orb, setting on damp moss. This orchid is almost constantly in bloom and I just love it, so tiny.

Last summer I repotted it into a much larger pot, in spaghnum moss with bits of fern bark added. The plant had roots absolutely stuffed in its tiny pot and overflowing into the moss in the bottom of the orb. With the amount of roots it had I didn’t feel the larger pot was too large.

I now grow it in my grow tent/shelves. My question is in regards to the massive amount of roots throughout the entire plant. It practically looks like keikis everywhere! It has continued to grow and flower, seems happy in its new environment but I’m unsure of the look of the plant. Is this normal? It didn’t look like this when it was much smaller. I know many of us grow this plant, do you see roots everywhere on your plant? Sorry if this is a stupid question but it’s bugging the crap out of me! Here are a couple of pictures:

Cool looking plant but I can't help with it as I don't have one. But what I need is that size of pot, just where did you get it?

Shannon, thank you! I wish I could find one picture of another Lepanthopsis Astrophora with roots like this, then I would be comfortable with it. It may just grow into a monster! I guess I should be happy it is growing and maybe I’ll take some keikis and start new plants. It has the sweetest little blooms.

The pot came from Al’s Orchids. I visit him often and he has many pots. I find small bonsai pots that I use for small Neos and I always pick up a few cute colorful pots like this one. These are very reasonably priced at $3 & $4. I don’t know if he sells them online, he should. He also sells the black plastic Neo pots which is awesome because I don’t have to buy online and pay shipping.

That is really cool. I would definitely try to pot up those keikies. I found mine and realized that it was hidden under another mount so It hasn't been doing much. I moved it where it can get more light. How do you grow yours? Mine grows slowly and only blooms once a year so I am thinking I am not giving mine enough light or fertilizer?

Let me know if you have a keiki to sell, Patty. I've been unable to find that one.

Leafmite, I knew you had the Lepanthopsis Astrophora Stalky and I was in hopes your plant was growing similar to mine. Roots everywhere. I think this may be from being so rootbound in the tiny pot before and now having room to spread out. I see a lot of little plantlets in the tangle of leaves, roots. This is going to be fun, micro fun but fun nonetheless.

My plant flowers on and off throughout the year. When it has a huge flush it is amazing. I now have this in my grow tent with high humidity, 80% average. Temp is 66 to 68 overnight and reaches 80 to 85 during the day. I use t5 HO lights with Lepanthopsis at the far edge of the shelf, partially shaded by a somewhat larger Pleurothallis. I use well water and alternate with distilled. I fertilize weakly weekly generally. During the winter most of my plants receive ferts less frequently, more like every third week. I have a fan running inside the grow area.

I’ve seen where some are able to grow this in a kitchen window with SE exposure, I’ve never tried it outside of a terrarium environment and I would hate to damage it but I may try with a keiki. It’s recommended for shade but I’ve always given it more light. I hope your plant perks up and grows, flowers more often. It’s also recommended to grow it mounted but I’ve not tried that, likes too much moisture and is so small.

---------- Post added at 06:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:20 PM ----------

Dolly, I’ve looked for this plant recently myself and no one has it. I was checking for growing conditions due to my crazy roots. If I remember correctly it was difficult to find when I purchased mine. My plant came from Seattle Orchids in February 2015 and it really has grown quite a lot.

The only plant I found recently had been an eBay listing of several keikis mounted, unestablished. The listing sold for $71.00! I almost choked when I saw that.

I will look closer at my plant and see how the plantlets look to remove and let you know. If I am able to successfully grow some keikis, I would be happy to send you a plant.

I am going to hazard a guess that I need to give it a dose of fertilizer now and then as I have just been giving it distilled water. I just gave it a dose of fertilizer. :)

It is mounted and lives in my Bulbophyllum tank with the Bulbophyllum (I also have others in there--Schoenorchis, Dendrobium prenticei, etc.). I have had it a few years and it puts out a few new leaves each year, then blooms about once a year. After your thread here, I see that mine could be doing so much better. Thanks for the tips.

---------- Post added at 06:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:46 PM ----------

Check with J&L. That is where I bought mine. It wasn't very expensive. I would imagine that they still have them.

They were the first place I checked. Nope, they pointed me to Seattle orchid which also was out. I tried.

I have even asked Ecuagenera if they ever carry it. Sigh. Why is it so difficult to find?

I bought mine before J&L was switched to new ownership. I had better hope I don't kill it, then, with too much fertilizer.

Guessing along the Phal aerial root analogy - Maybe your 80% humidity is high enough aerial roots can survive, but when grown in lower humidity they don't reach out like that. Leafmite, what is the humidity in your tank?

I have seen it sold by Seattle Orchids every now and them.

ES, it has always been in high humidity. When grown in the glass orb, it had a cover over the hole. Occasionally I would see a leaf develop a keiki with long roots. Eventually that keiki became another growth to the plant. The explosion in growth has happened since I repotted the plant.

It looks like a specimen size, and no doubt is. I’ve just been very surprised at the fast pace of new growth. And it is definitely getting a little more light than before...maybe that contributes as well. As long as the plant is happy, I’m happy:)

This plant came from Seattle Orchids.

Mine gets high humidity, too, growing near the bottom of the tank. I think the extra light and fertilizer will make a difference. :)

How cute is this, one keiki is flowering. The picture is not good but you can see one flower. Looks like six buds. This keiki should do well.

I wanted to add that I sent an email to Glass Box Tropicals and asked if they have this plant. Mike had told me some time ago that they have a lot of plants that are not listed on their site so to be sure and ask if I’m looking for anything in particular. I’ll let you know when he replies.

I have always had excellent service from him and beautiful, healthy plants. His plants are carefully packaged and shipped quickly, unless weather is an issue. His shipping is very reasonable as well. I highly recommend this vendor. I recently received a tiny Trisetella strumosa from him that I purchased in January and he held the shipping until temperatures warmed. The plant is adorable! Well worth the wait.

I decided to take some keikis today, had been waiting for them to stop flowering. They have nice long roots that reached down into the moss, despite the plantlet growing from a mature leaf above the moss.

I’ve potted three in spaghnum, in net pots and set them back into the greenhouse. Two of these keikis have four leaves, one of them has five leaves and is still blooming. I hope in a week or ten days I’ll know if they are going to adjust and grow. Fingers crossed!

Dolly I will be happy to send you a plant, might want to give it a few days before popping in the mail. I’ll update this soon. Here are a few pics:

Pattywack! Soooo cute! I'd love one, let me know.

I definitely will! They look healthy, roots should take off. They are just the cutest!

Tropical Orchid Farm has them on occasion.