Malleola punctata - how to grow it? - Orchid Board

cbuchman · #1 10-31-2016, 10:30 AM

I just acquired a Malleola punctata at the AOS Fall Members meeting. There seems to be very little information on the Internet about this orchid and almost none in Orchid Wiz. Does anyone have any experience with it?

All advice gratefully accepted! Thanks in advance.

WhiteRabbit · #2 11-01-2016, 09:35 PM

u bada · #3 11-02-2016, 02:03 AM

I grow a different malleola species, that one you have is a cool one... how on earth did you get that?

Only asian vendors seem to have cool stuff like that... well there is at least a couple on the east coast that grow things like that...

anyway, mine is even more minute that your species and grows in a grow tank/ case with high humidity, medium light and low air flow... pretty standard mini/compact vandaceous asian species care is probably what will work with this species.

cbuchman · #4 11-02-2016, 08:32 AM

I got it from an Asian vendor at the fall AOS Members meeting in California. I'm glad to hear it is a cooler growing one since I really can't provide a great warm environment with our winters here in the NorthEast.

u bada · #5 11-02-2016, 12:54 PM

Ah, you made it out here, that's great! I was there on the first day, kind of a day of madness! I didn't attend any classed though, didn't have too much time... but yes at least a couple of the asian vendors had lots of stuff like that... being my preorder was already high, I had to pass over the asian vendors *sniff*...

I didn't mean this species is cool growing, just meant it was "a cool" plant... sorry for confusion. Many plants like these are pretty warm growing actually, but as a general rule I find plants from lowland asian countries are fine at intermediate with lows not being less than 60F/15C, and I figure if you're growing in the house, you probably won't let your house get less than that? and if you're growing in a gh and do let it get lower than that, then I'd say just bring it inside the house on a warm windowsill in winter... watering it a fair amount if you're keeping mounted...

cbuchman · #6 11-02-2016, 01:05 PM

Thanks for the clarification. I grow in a converted sun room which does go below 60F at night in winter. So I will put it in one of my small wardian cased in the sun room that sits on a seedling mat to keep it a bit warmer. It is currently mounted with a small amount of moss and coir. I've thought about moving it to a cool log for the constant moisture it provides Any recommendations? The plant is not yet established on its mount. so I can move it without too much disturbance.

u bada · #7 11-02-2016, 02:53 PM

I never found my malleola too fussy... I've mounted it couple times and doesn't skip a beat. I've let it dry out completely, wasn't set back, but definitely appreciates lots of water then drying out just a bit. Originally it was on those strange nets that asian vendors grow on, with coir fiber, then I had to take it off... put on cork, then moved to tree fern so the fine roots can grow into it when it needs extra moisture while letting crown stay dry. I have killed related mini vandaceous rot at main growth before so definitely keep water off the main growth as you would phals and such...

as for what you mount on... doesn't think it matters all that much, but if you're an underwaterer a cool log may work. If the wardian case doesn't have fan/ air flow inside, then you shouldn't have to water all that much anyway... when it comes to the miniatures i love- pleurothallis and related, miniature bulbophyllum, I tend to prefer tree fern mounts for the reason I mentioned above- it holds moisture inside it so roots can stay moist, but allows for crown to stay dry. Perhaps the cool log is a different way of doing that. I've been planning to try using cool logs for a while now, I should just go and order some soon...