Euanthe sanderiana stops growing roots

[Sak_ikim_lol]

Originally Posted by MeDeL

I have this species of orchid, yeah it grows very slow and takes years to adapt, mine 3 years! At first 2 years, it doesn't respond well with all the care I'd given. You know, it shows black dots on its leaves, the roots are actively growing at first but the green tips will rot and stops growing which is disappointing. I thought there's something wrong with my care but it is really the plant that doesn't respond so don't worry. After 3 years, it felt at home and is growing normal. It just needs to be acclimatized with the unfamiliar temperature, humidity, sunlight, etc. though it takes long time, and this is the drawback of this species. Mine is spiking now. I bought it last September 2011 in flowering size. Since then I had waited for the blooms but still unsuccessful. In less than 3 years last month, a small bud spiked! Hope the spike send blooms this August or September. The plant doesn't like direct sunlight like the terete Vanda enjoys. The surrounding area should be bright but the plant itself needs to be lightly shaded. I planted mine in a driftwood covered with coco husks shaded by tall a coconut tree. It also surrounded with some papaya and small spanish plum tree. There are minutes (not hours) the plant was exposed to direct sunlight but most of the time, it wasn't. There are parts of the plant beamed with sunlight and but the light changed position as the earth rotates. But most part still lightly shaded by the leaves of the nearby trees. Take note the trees I mentioned don't provide heavy shade and this orchid loves that. This orchid really like humidity wherein I used to install a mini pond just behind the driftwood. The fat roots linger with the coconut husks I also mounted in the driftwood because this medium retains much moisture every after watering and I think Euanthe sanderiana loves that. The leaves are in perfect shape and color and are wider straps with no dark spot or blemishes. You need to water the coco husks again when it became slightly dry, so don't water every day. But your orchid in that small plant basket requires regular watering when its not rainy. Most of Waling-waling here in our country were grown in a small plastic pot and let the roots hang down exactly like that one you had posted above. But I achieved best result with mounting it in the driftwood with coconut husks. The base of the plant where the roots originate must not be wrapped with coconut husks though because the roots need aeration. Just let the plant with its roots hang or sit in the driftwood with coconut husks, then one day you will see that the roots will dig and hide beneath the coconut husks by themselves, which proves they really like moisture. Of course tie the plant in the driftwood so that it will not struck by the wind and fell down It also don't like strong fertilizer, so use about a half or one-fourth of the recommended strength because the roots is very sensitive!

THANKS MeDeL!!! I really appreciate your long reply explaining how you grow this species. As you say I have seen that is a slow growing plant. Less leaves than my other vandas, but indeed the plant is stretching, I mean it isn´t growing taller but wider, having long leaves. So I stopped worrying about. I just watering and fertilizing in the same way as the other vandas and I see that is growing -slow- but reactivating root tips and having new root from the main stem.

I will take a picture to show you the plant nowadays.

By the way I love Philippines. When I have the opportunity I wear my barong tagalog with pride.

Regards

Mario

[MeDeL]

Hi Sak ikim. This month is the blooming season of Waling-waling here in the Philippines. Mine also flowering too. I want to post the photos here but the site doesn't allow me too because I'm a newbie. Anyway just visit my profile page if you want to see. Anyway, why do you have Barong Tagalog there in Mexico? Nice huh! hehehe

[DQinPhil]

I live in the Philippines too! I've got over a dozen Sandies in bloom at the moment. =)

[Sak_ikim_lol]

Originally Posted by MeDeL

Hi Sak ikim. This month is the blooming season of Waling-waling here in the Philippines. Mine also flowering too. I want to post the photos here but the site doesn't allow me too because I'm a newbie. Anyway just visit my profile page if you want to see. Anyway, why do you have Barong Tagalog there in Mexico? Nice huh! hehehe

Excuse my delay to reply you. INDEEED, I know last month and September is sanderiana season. I saw pics from an orchid show in Quezon City (I think the place was at Memorial Circle) from few weeks ago. And there were a lot of blooming Sandies. Great for all of you.

I have a Barong Tagalog that I bought in Makati when I visited your great country some years ago. Here is hot and humid so fits perfect. And by the way, our typical Yucatecan shirt here is named "filipina".

---------- Post added at 08:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DQinPhil

I live in the Philippines too! I've got over a dozen Sandies in bloom at the moment. =)

A dozen Sandies!! I really envy you!! Any special tips for great success growing them? I really appreciate them!!!

[DQinPhil]

I would say to look out for 5 things: water, temp, humidity, air movement, and light. Whenever one is out of balance, I try to compensate by adjusting the others.

I fertilize twice weekly WITHOUT watering first. They grow like weeds and dont burn. =)

[Sak_ikim_lol]

Originally Posted by DQinPhil

I would say to look out for 5 things: water, temp, humidity, air movement, and light. Whenever one is out of balance, I try to compensate by adjusting the others.

I fertilize twice weekly WITHOUT watering first. They grow like weeds and dont burn. =)

OK!!!! Me too... Two months ago I started to fertilize without watering first and no prob. It seems better.

THANKS!!

Mario

[DQinPhil]

Yeah. It works better. The roots can only absorb so much in a day. So if we water first, the roots cannot absorb the nutrients and the salts just pile on the plant.

I say dont water first. Just monitor and observe after fertilizing. If the plant starts to get burned, then lessen the fertilizer concentration. =)