My first Angraecum - Orchid Board

Pokey49 · #1 12-04-2014, 01:39 PM

I got my first Angraecum (sesquipedale) yesterday and have been reading more about its culture requirements. I have it sitting with my other orchids in my sun room. The sun room is on the north side of the house and has multiple windows on the west east and north sides and two sky lights in the vaulted ceiling. Temps are from 60-62 at night and 68-70 in the day. The room is heated with a mini split ductless system so there is plenty of air movement. Humidity runs 60-65%. It's not clear to me on the water requirements. One source says let the roots /medium get dry between waterings. Another says to water daily which I find hard to believe. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Paul aka Pokey

Leafmite · #2 12-04-2014, 05:09 PM

I grew this for about seven years (until the dog decided to shred it to bits), starting as a very small seedling. When I started with Angraecums, there was a wonderful online source, "The Angraecum Encyclopedia" but it is no more. Your Angraecum grows in the lowland area of Madagascar where it is always hot, very humid, very breezy and rains more often as it is near the ocean. It tends to grow in the higher part of trees where it gets much light (it can take full sun!). I hope this helps. Good luck!

Pokey49 · #3 12-04-2014, 07:35 PM

I may be pushing it in winter, but it gets plenty hot temps and bright light here (southern Oregon) in summer, though humidity decreases. Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. I will do my best with it

Leafmite · #4 12-04-2014, 08:32 PM

It should be fine. Mine was okay for seven years with the cooler winter home temperatures...and it was just a tiny seedling when I bought it ($2).

Fairorchids · #5 12-04-2014, 09:54 PM

You can grow it in Paph to Cattleya light. You can give it close to full sun, if you water it more frequently (daily).

I would not let it go dry. If you grow it in a pot, you should water when it is just barely damp in the pot.

Pokey49 · #6 12-04-2014, 10:45 PM

As always watering is the most challenging. I water my paphs weekly with a mid week misting. The Angraecum is In the same sized pot and mixture as my paphs and watering once per week keeps them happy. As for feeding I assume weakly weekly is fine as well????

RJSquirrel · #7 12-10-2014, 03:20 AM

They do like very high light. They do like to stay moist on the roots. Mine grows right next to the catts on the sunny west side of the greenhouse. I do grow mine outdoors in the greenhouse all year long typically 70% shaded thru out the year. They are getting full unfiltered sun all day long now since the angle of the sun has changed with the season and I dont get the afternoon texas daily heat wave. And it has been down to 'too cold' and survived with flying colors. The plant has done well the buds have not.

oh yes I do have a spike now and one fat bud this year. Im yet to get it to flower bec the buds dont like the cold very much.

Pokey49 · #8 12-10-2014, 11:47 AM

We are in the midst of a southern Oregon winter. Quite a bit of gray skies and not much sun. My sun room is begging for sun now but it shall return. I keep the sun room between 60-70 and humidity is at 68%. I think will do ok. If not I can always move it to a south window.

RJSquirrel · #9 12-11-2014, 05:10 AM

get yourself some room

these are a little over 2 years old maybe closer to 3..I have one bud.

They all blasted last year. Lost some already this year on the rest of the plants. Got one here though and its never bloomed for me yet with all the blasting.

Pokey49 · #10 12-11-2014, 11:58 AM

Nice looking plants. To bad the buds blasted on you. Was that due to being to cold for them? Or any bodies guess? I have purchased a light fixture with 5 heads that I am going to use with some full spectrum cfl bulbs to see if I can help my lighting situation during our gray winter that we are have. I have some other genera that I think could use a bit more light. Don't think it will hurt and might help.