Angraecum didieri

[Wynn Dee13]

I'm glad you got one Sonya! Is yours mounted or potted? My plant is under 4 T8 florecent tubes. It is about 7 inches from the lights. I haven't had my plant very long. I just got it with my project plant so I'm still figuring out how to grow it. Mine is in a clay pot with meadium to large bark chunks. I water it a couple times a week and spray it heavely (tell its dripping wet and the roots turn green) with a spray bottle in between waterings because it has a lot if aerial roots. I have been using distilled water because I heard they are sensitive to bad water quality. I think my tap water from our well is fine but I don't want to risk it with some of my orchids. Most of them get the tap water though and do fine. Good luck with yours!

[WhiteRabbit]

cool - thanks for that info - this is potted - I do know they are frequently grown mounted, but for now I'm going to stick with potted. I got one with a nice big bud - there were lots in bloom, but I thought I'd wait for the bud to open. It also has two little baby fans, and a tiny spike nub. Hopefully I won't kill this one

[Wynn Dee13]

I would of got the one in bud too. It's neat to see it develope and uncoil its spur. On my second bud the spur got stuck in the dried sheath. I was on vacation when it opened so I wasn't home to help it get unstuck. The first bud didn't need any help with its spur. Once the bud gets going they grow fast! Post a pic when it opens!

[WhiteRabbit]

It actually started to open last night - not quite fully open now. I'm glad you posted about the spur issue - mine seems to be a bit hung up. I gently pulled off the sheathy material, but it still seems hung up. I'll wait and see - I don't want to force things, and break it A couple petals are slightly bruised, probably from transport - the vendor did give it nice protection, but these things happen. I'm quite happy with it just the same I'll try to get a pic when it's fully open

[Wynn Dee13]

If you freed the spur from the dried sheath it will uncoil by itself. They are very delicate when they are uncoiling. I was quite surprised how strong they are once matured though. My blooms had some bruises too. They seem to bruise easy. I can't wait to see your flower!

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

If you freed the spur from the dried sheath it will uncoil by itself. They are very delicate when they are uncoiling. I was quite surprised how strong they are once matured though. My blooms had some bruises too. They seem to bruise easy. I can't wait to see your flower!

good to know - yeah, I didn't want to risk breaking anything

should have some pix soon

[nenella]

Sonya, If you don't want to risk breaking it a thing you could do is gently pull the plant out of the pot so that the flower isn't 'stuck' but has space to develop fully.
I did this last time it flowered & no probs.... the very first time It flowered I put a small bit of styrofoam under the flower to pull it away from the pot. But have found the 'best' is to pull plant out of the medium as long as you moisten the roots. Hopefully the next buds will be higher up and won't need to do this anymore.

Look forward to seeing pics

[bballr4567]

I've got one that had two bud nubs from Ray and they have grown a tiny bit. I'm so excited for them to bloom.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by nenella

Sonya, If you don't want to risk breaking it a thing you could do is gently pull the plant out of the pot so that the flower isn't 'stuck' but has space to develop fully.
I did this last time it flowered & no probs.... the very first time It flowered I put a small bit of styrofoam under the flower to pull it away from the pot. But have found the 'best' is to pull plant out of the medium as long as you moisten the roots. Hopefully the next buds will be higher up and won't need to do this anymore.

Look forward to seeing pics

Thanks for the tips, nenella. Since removing the sheathy material, it looks like the spur is unfurling a bit. It is a bit above the media, so I don't think that's a problem. We'll see how it comes a long.

I am curious about light requirements - if you don't grow under lights - I see some info saying it's quite a low light plant, other says moderate light
And also - should this dry completely inbetween waterings? Thanks

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by bballr4567

I've got one that had two bud nubs from Ray and they have grown a tiny bit. I'm so excited for them to bloom.

Very cool! I believe a good deal of patience may be needed - I think they are quite slow