Aerangis luteoalba var rhodostica (Project 4 - Summer 2007)

[Frdemetr]

Khill, gixj18 and Gwen,

You could try vitamin B complex (or pure B1 vitamin - tiamine). Besides its root growing properties, B1 vitamin is useful to 'waking up' some orchids (personal experience). 'Superthrive' has B1 plus hormones, it will work too!

[gixrj18]

I use Superthrive on a lot of other things, but I had a grower tell me that it wasn't very good "long-term" for orchids. Heard anything like that?

[Frdemetr]

Hi Jasen,

The concern about Superthrive long-term use in orchids is correct; Ray posted the following infos some time ago (about Superthrive and K-L-N):
[...]They are very powerful chemicals, so only a drop or two per gallon of fertilizer solution is effective. More has been shown to deformation of flowers (observed by me at 1 teaspoon per gallon on phals) and even stunted vegetative growth (anecdotal only)[...]
But I guess using hormones for a limited time, only as a 'startle' for 'dormant' orchids, are not dangerous! Vitamin B complex ou pure tiamine (B1) are completely safe, you could try first.

[gmdiaz]

I am using KLN on my little slow mo. . .seems like it's just been in a state of struggle the whole time but it is putting out new roots. I've only been using the KLN for a couple of weeks now. And I have to say, that stuff works!

As soon as it gets it's grip and vigor. . .we'll be moving ahead. As for now, it's the waiting game for us.

I chant my mantra. . .roots are good. . .roots are good.

[gixrj18]

Thanks for clearing that up Frederico, Jesse Rosanski told me that about a year ago, but he never told me why it was bad. Also, that slowing the upward growth with low nitrogen (and higher potassium) allows it to concentrate on root growth more vigorously.

[Tindomul]

These flowers are so nice. Great Job Sir Frederico! I'm impressed.

[quiltergal]

Nobody has reported on their Aer. in a long time. I took mine out of it's thumb pot and repotted it in coco/perlite/charc in a 4" slat basket. I borrowed an idea from Kiki and lined it with one of those plastic net bags that shallots come in to keep the medium from falling out of the slats. It seems lots happier, and is growing a new leaf, a couple of new roots, AND a baby spike!!! It's way to small to capture in a picture but I'll snap one when it gets a little bigger. I'm still watering weekly with distilled and 125ppm N MSU.

[caseydoll]

Wow, congratulations Terri! It must be really happy! Mine isn't doing much of anything. I mounted it on a Swampstick and while it seems happy and was putting out new roots a few months ago it seems to be at a standstill right now. I'm thinking of remounting it on a piece of cork because that will free up some floor space in my exo-terra. Maybe it will be happier that way.

[gmdiaz]

OMG! A spike! Quiltergal, I am so impressed. . .cause I've got to say, these are not the easiest orchids to make happy.

Mine has a new leaf and new roots. . .which is an improvement. It was looking ugly there for a bit of time. But flowers seem so far out of reach for us. lol

We'll keep trying though!

Keep up the great growing!

[Becca]

Sarah, I mounted mine on a cork slab and it is loving it! And guess what? Even after it bloomed this last February for me, it has put out another spike for me, along with several new roots, and a new leaf here and there! I will take pictures when I get a chance!