Are angraecum leonis slow growers?

[Daenerys]

I've had an angcm leonis for a year now, and in that time it has grown a number of roots, and almost finished growing a leaf. Compared to the rest of my orchids, this is remarkably little progress for a year's worth of growth. Right now, the plant seems healthy enough, but it's not really growing.

It was supposed to be blooming sized when I purchased it last summer (there are 6 leaves that are just under 5" long), but didn't bloom for me yet.

I grow it in vase culture and water daily. It gets as much light as my cattleya, which bloomed a few months ago.

Are these just a really slow species? Or is there something I can do to give it a bit of a kick?

[Bud]

it needs bright light, warmth and humidity....to really push it; put it in direct sun from dawn to 11am shaded til 3pm....in the original environment this is the time of the monsoon rains the dry season is over; but since you are in NYC....it means you need to put it outdoors in the warmth and humid New York summer and drench it twice a day
*it looks like its not doing any growing but the leaves and roots are gaining energy to produce a spike of bloom

[Daenerys]

Hi Bud,

I'm in a studio apartment, with windows that face a brick wall. (And a cat that likes to topple over anything that I dare place on a windowsill). So I'm pretty much dependent on my lighting fixture as the light source. Thankfully, it's pretty darn bright.

I appreciate your reminder about the monsoon season, and will try to water twice daily whenever I can get around to it. When do you think might be a good time to cut back again to once a day watering? (or should it even go down to every other day once winter hits?)

[Bud]

yes yout instincts are correct. every other day watering in winter and every other week of fertilizer....I dont know what your indoor temps are this summer but if it is a centralized airconditioning like my apartment its going to dry the plants bigtime.
Maybe invest on an old aquarium you can find on the 26th street and 8th av flea market on saturdays.... a proper lighting set-up is cheap; the humidifier and small oscillating electric fan is also a great help.
I am an apartment/windowsill grower from the east Village of Manhattan and I try to bring the best orchid environment in my apartment in spite of the space and intermittent sunlight

[Daenerys]

No airconditioning for me. I get to 'enjoy' the warm humidity of the upper west side--or at least my orchids do.

[ronaldhanko]

Bud is right - Very good light and warmth are the key with this species.

[NeoNJ]

Manhattan with no airconditioning ? OUCH ! Been there done that ! Don't wish to repeat it ....

I tried 3x to grow this Angraecum, and was totally unsuccessful. I realize now that I should have summered it outdoors from Spring thru Fall. Right now I have a Brassavola nodosa blooming its head off the 2nd year in a row because I summer it outdoors.

I've just failed miserably with Angraecum, even though I love them all - they will not bloom for me indoors....