Aeranthes Hsinying Ramosa languishing

[Rothrock42]

I got a Aeranthes Hsinying Ramosa (Grandiose x ramosa) about 7 months ago. It really isn't doing much. It has been on my lower light shelf and I've tried to keep it fairly moist, but it hasn't done much.

I'm now reading online that it might want almost cattleya level light and even in a saucer like a phrag.

I'd really like to get mine growing. Anybody grow this or either of the parents?

[MrHappyRotter]

I've got one. I grow it in a wooden orchid basket, and yes, I water it frequently and allow water to sit in the saucer. However, the basket keeps the mix & roots above the water line so that the plant itself is not soaking wet.

Seems to do okay in low(er) light by the side of the shelves, but grows faster & better directly on a shelf. I wouldn't call it cattleya level light ... more light bright paphiopedilum level lighting.

[Rothrock42]

Thanks MrHappyRotter. I think I'll step it up a bit and see if that gets me anything.

[Rothrock42]

Well that stirred things up a bit. There was a small keiki at the base. Today I noticed it had sort of flopped over and that was because it had rotted! Two days seems awfully quick for that to have happened, maybe it already had a spot or something that I hadn't noticed.

I had the pot in a shallow saucer and there are rocks in the bottom of the pot which kept the media above the water line. But evidently that was too much.

I've taken the pot out of the saucer and have put it under some led grow lights to boost that and it is above the humidifier. So hopefully that will up the moisture, but not too much.

[Leafmite]

I have grown Grandiose x ramosa in the past. Mine had been newly taken out of flask and I put them in small chips of red lava rock and eggshells, basket pot. I watered with distilled water daily and rarely used fertilizer. Water was always in the saucer. The area in which they grew had many other plants so they had good humidity. They received very bright shade. They did very well this way. In April, I bought a rootless Aeranthes grandiflora so I have been keeping it in a tank with the Bulbophyllum until it has a good root system. It seems happy there for now but eventually, it will need more light....

Here is some good information about Aeranthes.....

Angraecums...: Aeranthes Grandiose