Restrepia striata &/or brachypus

[Pattywack]

Hi U bada,

The Restrepia is doing fine though not doing much. The newest leaf has grown to its full size but there has not been any more new growth. No more flowers yet. It's still in moss, in the window. The window is more southeast than east actually so it gets good light. It's sitting on a humidity tray of sorts, little jar lid with cork & water.

The window it is in is just above my little greenhouse and the humidity in there is usually 90% so I keep the top partially open a lot of the time. That alone increases the humidity at the windowsill.

Al's Orchids is funny in a way. He mentions, a lot, how well plants grow for him, in his conditions. Some of his plants are kept in conditions that are not ideal for that species. This Restrepia was dry dry dry. And blooming! I enjoy going to his greenhouse but scratch my head while there sometimes. I'm just trying to acclimate this plant slowly to the more moist, humid conditions I understand it needs.

[u bada]

Some like to stay wet, but most like to dry out just a bit... as compared to other pleuros. I only currently have 2 different species, but lost one from being to wet... the happy one, lansburgii, is in a growing case in high humidity but is right next to the fan and dries out completely... it sits there for a while then all of a sudden puts out 2-3 leaves at a time, flowers, then sits there again... maybe yours in it's cycle... but nothing like catts and related and dens that can sit there for forever before putting out new growth! that's why i love pleuros! very rewarding once you get it right...

well I'm sure i'll bug you again about this one... almost got a couple from a friend but held back and you know how hard that is LOL

[Pattywack]

u bada, just looking at Andy's Restrepia listings and most of his are shown as shade to bright, intermediate temp and moist. He has a few that require shade. I may have to try another just because I love the blooms. I'll wait a bit until this one does something, anything. It's still soon after I bought it so could be adjusting...

---------- Post added at 05:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 PM ----------

I also think it would be cool to grow three different Restrepia in one hanging basket. Three with different colored blooms! There I go, thinking again.

[Tindomul]

Great blooms everyone. I have this one too, but in a terrariums. Interesting to see attempts at growing al fresco.