Just got an Aerangis biloba!

[Neverend]

Hello,

I just got an Aerangis biloba in spike today! There were luteo-alba and Angraecum leonis to choose, but I ended up choosing this, since the leonis was out of my budget and this has a fragrance.

Can anyone give tips on its culture? I hope I'll be able to take care of this well, given how I killed my fastuosa last time.

[shakkai]

Looks like a great plant! Congrats!! Let us know when those flowers open, I'll be looking forward to some photos.

Later today when I get more time, I'll look it up in the Angrecoid Orchid book I have and see if it gives more info that you could use.

[FinnBar]

Congrats, that's a great choice

mine is kept mounted inside a tank, high humidity. i mist daily and soak with 125ppm N every third day. it likes to get dry between waterings.

supposedly one of the easiest Aerangis to grow indoors. grows bigger leaves and a sturdier root system when kept in low light. never direct sun.

considering yours is in spike i'd try to keep it as humid as possible. let's hope it'll bloom for you soon and when it does...

[smweaver]

Congratulations on your purchase. Aer. biloba is a nice little species. Just give it warmth, low light, lots of humidity coupled with lots of gentle air movement and it should be happy. Supposedly, unlike many other Aerangis species, it tolerates being in a pot pretty well. But personally, the best grown plants I've ever seen have all been mounted. The issue with mounted plants, however, is that you really do need to make sure that the humidity is kept pretty high. And, as FinnBar indicated, never give it any direct sunlight. Good luck with your plant, and please post some pictures of the flowers when they open.

Steve

[shakkai]

Well, the book isn't going to add much to what has already been said. It likes shade, and in the natural habitat grows from sea level up to 700m, so likes to be warm. It says that it is easily distinguished from other Aerangis when in bloom by the relatively closely spaced flowers and the apical flower being the largest and opening first on the inflorescence. (From Angrecoid Orchids, by Joyce Stewart, Johan Hermans, and Bob Campbell)

Enjoy your new baby!!

[Neverend]

Thanks a lot for the information guys! I hope it blooms for me...

[Neverend]

Still taking forever to bloom, I think it might be stalled...

[cb977]

Originally Posted by Neverend

Still taking forever to bloom, I think it might be stalled...

Whenever I have one like that, I move it around. They all have a "happy place" and it's up to us to find just where that is

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Neverend

Still taking forever to bloom, I think it might be stalled...

Many of the Angraecoids do this. My citrata has added two more spikes which are growing rather quickly but the main spike looks a lot like yours, only longer. It's been a couple months like that.

[Neverend]

Haha Sue, I live in an apartment, all I have is 1 happy corner, 3 not-so-happy corner and many very unhappy corners :P

I think I'm dreaming but I seem to find that the bracts on the spikes are shifting outward as compared to before...