Aerangis distincta culture
 

I picked up a little Aerangis distincta at the Seattle orchid show this weekend. It's a pretty little thing. I haven't grown Aerangis or Angraceum before and I'm really excited about this little one.

I was planning to mount it on a piece of cork or branch. Is a bit of western cedar branch okay or Douglas fir branch okay? Should I add a tiny bit of spagnum on top of the roots? Behind them? There's a growing root tip,so it seems that now would be okay for mounting it - would that be right?

https://beta-static.photobucket.com/...080&fit=bounds

It will be grown on a plant shelf inside my home. The humidity is between 41-55. I'll be misting it gently twice a day.

Any culture recommendations would be appreciated!



Thank you,
Leslie

These grow well mounted. Either type of wood is fine. An ideal mount has a rough surface, and most tree branches meet that criterion. When you mount, make sure that new root is toward the mount to give the best chance of its attaching. I'd put just a little sphag between the root and the mount so that the growing tip doesn't get damaged by rubbing against the mount as you are working with it. But most of the sphag should go on top of the roots not under them, because you want the roots to grow into the mount not the moss. You can't overwater a mounted plant, so don't be stingy with the water - it will dry out fast under the lights.

Thank you, Roberta.

Any chance you could get the picture to show?

Reloaded image
 

Hi Roberta. I've reloaded the image. Is this better? I appreciate your assistance.

Leslie

Much better... that is one happy-looking plant.
You might find it easier to maintain adequate moisture (while still providing the necessary air that a mount would provide) by using a net basket with some sphagnum, very loosely packed (just enough pressure to hold the plant in place). Then it will dry rapidly enough to meet its desires, but still have enough moisture. Don't try to get all the roots into the basket... just the presence of moisture is sufficient, the roots need to be allowed to wander.

Unless you get into setting up a terrarium (check out the forum on that topic, ,with lots of excellent info on doing that) it's pretty hard to keep mounted plants adequately watered indoors.

I've mounted it
 

I mounted my little Aerangis distincta 3 weeks ago. It seems to like me. I've been misting it 3x a day with distilled water, sometimes more often, but it does dry out between mistings, and it lives where the vaporizer mist blows onto the plant shelf. The humidity in the house, with the heater on, is 40-45, but my extra work seems to be making a difference. That new root (pointing left) is growing happily. The little nub on the right ... is it a root, or maybe a spike?

https://beta-static.photobucket.com/...080&fit=bounds

Do I dare to fertilize it?

Leslie

Dilute fertilizer should be fine.