I may be in over my head!

[Mandy2705]

I saw this aerangis luteo alba rhodosticta at Island Orchids with loads of spikes. It has a total of 5 spikes. I have always admired this orchid's flowers, but I wasn't sure I could keep it alive. It spent weeks at the shop and no one would buy it. I couldn't resist any longer and bought it. It was a reasonable price too so I thought, what the heck, let's give it a shot. It's potted in medium bark, with small strands of moss around the roots (not completely covering them). I have read that they like to be mounted, however I live in CO and it's so dry up here that I may have to grow it potted up. Do any members grow their aerangis in a pot?

[reliablefool]

I've just been slowly killing mine so I can't really help. That's a great looking plant though!

[Mandy2705]

I am scared that I may do the same. I have been reading about it and they seem very finicky 😁 do you have yours potted or mounted?

[reliablefool]

my fastuosa seems to be doing fine potted in sphagnum moss and a clay pot. My luteo-alba v. rhodosticta has not been happy. I have it potted, but I THINK I've kept it way too dry, but I'm not sure. I recently repotted it with a little moss to help with moisture.

[unhappykat]

Aerangis luteo-alba is very readily adapted to pot culture as long as you can cycle it between wet and dry, as if it were a succulent but without the extended dry cycles. Similar to Neofinetia falcata with the dry cycles between heavy waterings but with a little less light for culture, I grow this species low with my Phalaenopsis and Eurychone and it seems to really enjoy it.

I have grown the species in small clay pots with sphagnum moss and as long as the moss dries out, or nearly dries out, between waterings the plants seem to do just as well as their mounted siblings. They do tend to 'crawl' out of the container with age but as long as the roots are happy the plant stays happy and should flower regularly.

[Mandy2705]

Thank you reliablefool and unhappykat, this makes me feel so much better. I have potted it up in a 2 inch clay pot with 1/2 inch leca on the bottom and the rest moss. We shall see how it turns out, fingers crossed.

[calvin_orchidL]

I haven't managed to get this species to do more than produce multiple keikis. Wait no, I've managed to get it to bloom. Once. In 9 years.

[Mandy2705]

😱 omg Calvin, well should that happen to me, at least it doesn't take up too much space.

[calvin_orchidL]

Originally Posted by Mandy2705

😱 omg Calvin, well should that happen to me, at least it doesn't take up too much space.

I look forward to seeing photos of yours when it blooms..maybe I'll show them to mine, just to give it a hint

[Mandy2705]

Originally Posted by calvin_orchidL

I look forward to seeing photos of yours when it blooms..maybe I'll show them to mine, just to give it a hint

I only hope that I can get it that far Calvin, I really hope all spikes flower.