Angraecum didieri

[Goods14]

I grow many Angraecoids and have had this one for about 5 years. I grow mine mounted, but I have not had any blooms mostly because of all the abuse this plant had gone through. Squirrels have eaten the newest leaf off twice, thus destroying the apical meristem. The plant sent off a side growth which also fell victim to the squirrels, so a new one is now growing. With all this in mind, it is pretty hardy for a finicky family of orchids. I grow mine mounted. Just a few general notes about the family.... most HATE their roots being disturbed, so only do so when necessary and take this into account when potting/mounting; this family also likes pure water, many of the more delicate species will only grow well when watered with RO/DI or rain water.

Lastly, I've seen some of the larger species (eberneum, sesquipedale, magdalenae) being grown well in SH media. These aren't necessarily grown SH but the hydroton allows for them to be planted in larger pots to cut down on repotting, and this also allows the roots to be kept moist but not wet. Hope this helps

[stefpix]

thanks. I will try to repot mine in hydroton maybe will have the pot sit in a saucer of water so it would be like SH. Need to wait some longer roots maybe. I abused it as well it fell, broke a leaf etc. How much light do you give it? I think my other Ang the sesquipedale can take almost full sun for some hours with no leaf burn (i put my plants outside, some got some burn, some turned purple). Regarding the squirrels, I blend water, garlic and fresh habanero peppers and I think the squirrels stay away... They caused damage in the past, although not to orchids.

[Goods14]

I have since moved all my warmth tolerant plants into a shadehouse set up, so hopefully no more squirrels. I'm not exactly sure on the light levels. I bloom Phals and Aerangis in the same area, so not extremely bright. I've also had some Catt hybrids bloom there too, so I would say medium light. The whole shadehouse is under a tree, so it gets some morning sun, very filtered mid-day light and then shaded afternoon light.

My sesquipedale's leaves turned yellow and started to burn when it was in high light, so mine's in the same shadehouse though a little higher up. It's too young to bloom as of now, but I get good root and leaf growth where it is.

[calvin_orchidL]

Mine is mounted and I've found that the roots prefer the raw ceder over the sphagnum mount. Compared with ang. elephantinum, this one really has adherent roots, although who really knows why roots do what they do . I've heard that potting in charcoal is also good. Mine takes quite high light (near-catt levels) and blooms 2-3 times a year. They can bloom when quite small...having it mounted makes watering much easier - I water every day and it's dry by night...it seems to enjoy that.

[zxyqu]

Great growing Calvin. You sure do have a lot of roots. How big is your leafspan, as from the pic it appears similar to mine, and yet mien has many fewer roots. I agree though, mine has at least 3 roots that are completely flat and grown into the plank it's on. Wish all my mounts would do that.

[zxyqu]

Also, Calvin and others with their's mounted, I've come to a realization that maybe I should be growing this with the leaves hanging downward. I was thinking about the spring project Gastro, and asked there, so I'll ask here as well. Or does it really matter?

[Jennyfleur]

Originally Posted by zxyqu

Also, Calvin and others with their's mounted, I've come to a realization that maybe I should be growing this with the leaves hanging downward. I was thinking about the spring project Gastro, and asked there, so I'll ask here as well. Or does it really matter?

Hmm, but other 'vanda types' tend to grow up, right?

Edit, but then I'm not growing mounted, so I should really keep out of it!!

[zxyqu]

Agreed, that's why I asked. I couldn't find a "natural" pic online, so I wasn't sure whether this likes to grow north or south.

[NeoNJ]

I have 3 Angraecum Didieri - 1 potted, and 2 mounted - the 2 mounted orchids both bloomed recently - the potted one, in a small 2.5" pot bloomed also, which surprised me since the plant was so small. Nice flowers, and the plants do well mounted, although they tend to grow very slowly.

[Goods14]

I grow mine mounted upward. If I'm not mistaken, they grow upward or perpendicular to the tree in the wild, so it's probably not necessary to grow this one upside down.