my S/H is going well so far...

[s.kallima]

I just wanted to share my (very newbie) experience with S/H, as I started in early August, after intensive reading of Ray's resourceful website and the OB threads.

I grow on a north windowsill with an extra fluorescent 40W spot ( I didn't have time to install the 2 x24 W high output T5 I got last month), between 60 to 70% humidity (on a humidity tray, and in humid Vancouver BC ), and actual temperatures day: 68-73ºF and night: 64-68ºF. I mist it every morning when I'm around, and water once a week with a mix of hydroponic fertiliser 5-0-1 and 0-5-4 (at 130 ppm Nitrogen = 2 tsp of each per gallon) flushing the reserve.
I also flush with pure water every other watering.

Everything has been doing good so far except Bulbo. wendlandianum (not doing anything and most of the new roots died when coming in contact with the leca) and Coelogyne cristata which has grown 3 new psb but no new roots... I really hope this one survives as I love Coelogyne !

Here is the list of my S/H :
- Neofinetia falcata (cf my other post on this one), photo 1 and 2
- Dendrobium kingianum (lost of new growths and few new keikis), photo 3
- Pleurothallis restrepioides (very small plant, lots of new roots and 3 new leaves), photo 4
- Masdevallia Dean Haas, only in leca since sept 12th, lots of new leaves and new roots, 1 flower bud, photo 5
- Phalaenopsis noid (Yellow treasure I think) : new leaf and new roots, photo 6
- Coelogyne cristata photo 9
- Bulbophyllum wendlandianum photo 10

I also repotted my newly bought Howeara Lava Burst, hopefully it will be ok (only a few new roots on one young psb), as it was flowering but in very bad decomposed soggy sphagnum ball when I got it last week photo 7-8

Comments are welcome, please tell me if you think I'm doing something wrong ...

[Sandy4453]

Originally Posted by s.kallima

and Coelogyne cristata which has grown 3 new psb but no new roots... I really hope this one survives as I love Coelogyne !

Comments are welcome, please tell me if you think I'm doing something wrong ...

As for the Coelogyne, I don't think you've done anything wrong. These are the most temperamental of all orchids when it comes to any change in their environments; same conditions, different locations can cause the plant to stall and usually skip a blooming season (or 2) until they adjust. This one will really test your patience but will be worth it.

Your collection is fantastic.

[s.kallima]

Thnaks Sandy,

I knew about the Coelogyne, and that is also why I was surprised it grew 3 new psb in a month after I transplanted it into SH !!! Right now these psb seem to be maturing, and 2 of them even have "something" growing at their base ( new psb or spike ???!!!). Hopefully it will keep going

I fell in love with Coelogyne(s) in 2001 when I hiked in the himalayas in february and had the chance to see C. cristata blooming in the mountains, especially a huge plant growing on a cliff, with hundreds of flowers (no kidding ! ). I have a photo of it somewhere, I should try to find it ...

[s.kallima]

My Coelogyne keeps growing well . 2 new growths at the base of the pseudobulbs newly grown this summer. I don't know if they are spikes or new pseudobulbs