Rhynchostylis gigantea - help with culture

[Lenka]

Last weekend I went to RHS Orchid show in London, my very first have to say and took my boyfriend with me. Spend a little over the budget but that’s understandable, right? But to my surprise, my boyfriend was soooo overwhelmed by it all, he actually bought himself one orchid as well! When I read the label on the plant I had an iffy feeling but didn’t want to spoil his excitement. He bought Rhynchostylis gigantea (red spots). When we got home I checked web for the right culture as I don’t have any chids from Vanda alliance and my iffy feeling was confirmed. On most of the sites it was listed as worm-hot/high humidity plant, only on one or two sites it was listed as intermediate – which I would like it to be true purely for the convenience as I can not provide right conditions for worm temp. orchids. Do you think it can survive in intermediate/ warmish temperature with nigh temp around 55F and day around 75F with humidity range 50-65%?

[cb977]

Hi Lenka

I think those temps should work out okay for you.

One thing you should know about these plants...
they do not like their roots disturbed...at all!

How cool is it that your boyfriend got a little nipped by the "bug"?

[Neverend]

It won't do well in that intermediate environment, but it'll survive. Humidity sounds quite okay too, maybe you'll have to water carefully, as it can make it rot more easily when it's cold.

[Lenka]

Thank you Sue,

regarding the roots disturbance, I might have done a little something....
We got it bare root and i put it in a pot with big chunks of bark and charcoal just to sort of hold it in place
there are lots of them coming out of the pot though.

[cb977]

Lenka, that's fine...you HAD to pot it

I was talking more about once it's roots have attached to a basket or something, they don't like to be played around with.

[Lenka]

Aaaaaa makes sense now! I'll take my boyfriend to another show or two to maintain the bug in the system and he might build me a greenhouse

[Angurek]

Don't fret...this is actually a very easy genus to grow.

The daytime temperatures are fine, but I'd recommend higher nighttime temp's (in the 60's). Rhynchostylis like high humidity, but you can get away with forgetting the occasional misting with no adverse effects. I've seen this one grown in baskets, but I grow mine in a pot (with a very coarse and free-draining medium).

Your boyfriend's Rhynchostylis should be blooming next winter.

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[Lenka]

Angurek thank you for your reply, it's very encouraging.
I confess - i can be the `worst scenario person` somtimes

[Don Perusse]

I have a Rhychostylis Gigantea Red and a Rotusa (white with rose lip) and both are in wooden baskets w/a little charcoal. Nothing else. Both just finished blooming and my winter temps do get down to 50 F at nightime but the summer temps do get to the 90-100 F daytime. Yes, once established they don't like to be moved. I do water daily during the summer and once or twice a week in the winter. Flowers are small, tho cute little buggers. Good luck with yours.

[honolulukid]

Dear orchidboard members;

I recently bought a medium sized rhynchostylis gigantea which is now done blooming. It has quite a few nice fat roots which stick out about a foot or more from the pot and they've been cracked in several places since coming home. They've been catching on furniture, etc, when I move it for watering. Would it be better to cut the roots back near the pot - seems a shame, but I don't want to make it grumpy and not flower forever either.

thanks!