Angraecum Germinyanum Madagascar

[StellaMaris]

Greetings All,

I'm a new grower, although I've done quite a bit of online research, and I'm a member of my local Orchid Society.

I recently acquired an Ang. Germinyanum Madagascar.

I've got it suspended in/above a globe shaped vase, with damp sphag at the bottom (roots not touching) for humidity. The bulk of it's roots are outside the vase (top of vase is approx 3" in diameter) with some short, bottom roots inside the vase.

I keep it outside on a covered porch, but the humidity here is on the low side (~50% RH on the high side).

I've posted some photos-hopefully they're clear enough to show what is going on.

My question: What am I doing wrong that it's lower leaves are yellowing and falling?

It's possible I'm not watering enough-I've been dipping it in a shallow bowl and letting the roots soak for 3-5 min, every 3-4 days...after reading some of the boards I'm thinking that's not enough.

It has several keikis...but some of the root tips are dying back...
Thoughts?

[WhiteRabbit]

And

[StellaMaris]

Good Morning WhiteRabbit, thank you.

[Brooke]

You need to water this orchid daily and treat it like a mount. The roots on the outside of the globe are not getting enough moisture so you need to water them daily.

The keikis are the way this plant creates more growths. It eventually will become a shrub. I grow mine mounted on a tree fern totem and it gets watered daily.

The yellow tip is probably an old leaf and I wouldn't worry about it.

Brooke

[StellaMaris]

Brooke, thank you-I'm looking for cork bark suitable to mount this and the Neostylis on; any thoughts on where I can find cork bark for that purpose? I'm searching online-but finding something suitable may be a bit of a challenge.
Much appreciated.

[Brooke]

I finally found the picture of mine to give you an idea of the growth habit.

Angraecum germinyanum JCL_0655 by kentucky4, on Flickr

I used the tree fern totem which I feel holds water a little longer than cork. If you have your mind set on cork you will need to contact the supplier to see about the length you think you will need.

Try contacting Kelly Korner, Repotme or CalWest for supplies.

Brooke

[StellaMaris]

Brooke,

That is an amazing orchid; inspirational indeed. I'm just too new to be set on anything in particular-if you are using a tree fern totem for your A. germinyanum, I think that's an example that I would do well to follow. Do you have any thoughts on a fertilizer regimen? At the moment I'm using a general fertilizer (20-20-15)-weakly, weekly.

Very much appreciated,
Dana

[Brooke]

Dana it gets watered every day with water and three times a week I spray fertilizer solution on it. I use MSU for pure water at half strength. About once a month I use an additional cal/mag supplement at the recommended strength on the container.

Make sure whatever fertilizer you use also has micronutrients in it.

Good luck with your germinyanum.

Brooke