Oak Hill Gardens - Page 2 - Orchid Board

solo1979 · #11 09-29-2007, 03:49 PM

Reddish tinge if too much light, what should I look for if not enough light? So far, daily dunking might not be enough here. Maybe twice daily, or one dunk and 1 or 2 mists.

Ross · #12 09-29-2007, 04:25 PM

Why not daily? What are you basing this on? If the 'chid is mounted, then as many times as you want is probably Ok, but I question why more than once per day? "Enough light" should be south-facing window (east-facing at least). Remember in our latitude, the light is a lot dimmer in the window, than in Florida, where lotsa board members live.

solo1979 · #13 10-01-2007, 01:57 PM

Well, I was told to water again once moss gets crispy dry, which was happening like 2-3 times per day. East facing at my current place is actually hot sun for some reason, so that's where I have it. All my phals did best in east facing at my previous apartments, but for whatever reason, here, east is too hot and strong for them. I'm experimenting with different things for this little one. Last night, I made sort of a mini vivarium for her from a little plastic tank that was used for baby froglets. I'll try to take a pic later. The bottom has a bit of sand and a tiny bit of water, but the stick is above water. Hoping this will keep up the humidity since I'm not home to water 3 times a day during the week.

Ross · #14 10-01-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solo1979

Well, I was told to water again once moss gets crispy dry, which was happening like 2-3 times per day. East facing at my current place is actually hot sun for some reason, so that's where I have it. All my phals did best in east facing at my previous apartments, but for whatever reason, here, east is too hot and strong for them. I'm experimenting with different things for this little one. Last night, I made sort of a mini vivarium for her from a little plastic tank that was used for baby froglets. I'll try to take a pic later. The bottom has a bit of sand and a tiny bit of water, but the stick is above water. Hoping this will keep up the humidity since I'm not home to water 3 times a day during the week.

How do you water? I submerge my mounted minis every morning like clockwork for about a minute or two, till the roots turn green. I hang them up in the window where fans blow 24/7. The whole mount gets dry by next day and I repeat. Not sure what would need more than this, except high moisture-loving plants like Dykia which need nearly constant moisture and belong in a terrarium

Edit: I don't have this orchid (yet

) but I have several others that like it pretty moist and that like high light (like Dendrobium aberrans). You have nice fat, big roots with strong green growing ends which tells me you are still OK. I say you have three choices: either keep worrying about "crispy dry" (whatever that means) or move the mount to a dedicated terrarium with frequent mistings under very strong lights like T5 florescents or my favorite: leave it where it is and soak it good in the morning (I recommend a mix of RO/distilled water with MSU mix at 125ppm Nitrogen) every day, then mist the roots when you get home at night and don't worry. This guy looks great in the photos. Just don't overdo. It's pretty easy to kill one of these minis with over concern. Hope this help alleviate your fears.

solo1979 · #15 10-01-2007, 05:43 PM

I have been dunking for about 30 seconds or so in the morning. The roots stay pretty green, with that white waxy look over them, pretty much like this is a micro version of a phal. I will borrow the gauge from my iguana's tank when I get home and check overall humidity of the room to see if it's just super dry in there.

Ross · #16 10-01-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solo1979

I have been dunking for about 30 seconds or so in the morning. The roots stay pretty green, with that white waxy look over them, pretty much like this is a micro version of a phal. I will borrow the gauge from my iguana's tank when I get home and check overall humidity of the room to see if it's just super dry in there.

See my edit

gmdiaz · #17 10-06-2007, 05:03 PM

Hello,

Thought you'd like to see what I got from Oak Hill Gardens. All the plants arrived in great condition.

Eria carinata
Micro-mini Schoenorchis fragrans
Sedirea japonica
Tolumnea maliwan "Kultana"
Phal braceana

Ross · #18 10-06-2007, 05:10 PM

Really nice. I love it when the end of summer gets here and those of us looking forward to winter buy out the place!

gmdiaz · #19 10-06-2007, 05:13 PM

I know it's weird how we have to stock up on orchids before the cold weather hits. . . much like (I am assuming) the squirrel's over-powering need to store nuts. ROFLOL

Ross · #20 10-06-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

I know it's weird how we have to stock up on orchids before the cold weather hits. . . much like (I am assuming) the squirrel's over-powering need to store nuts. ROFLOL

Not a good analogy. I shoot squirrels around here 'cause they destroy my gardens, lawn, etc and I refer to then as "tree rats"

They've been known to go down a row of newly planted bulbs and dig them all up and chew out a section! They're vermin around here