Angraecum sesquipedale growth
 

I have a Darwin’s orchid that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I received this orchid on September 13th and it has done exceptionally well! It has already grown over an inch and I thought this was supposed to be a slow growing orchid. I also noticed that when I started giving it kelpak that one of the new growth roots started to grow two roots. I know it’s nothing wrong with it, but I wonder what causes this? Could it be the kelpak or is that just coincidental?

I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy this one. I actually had wanted one, but it wasn’t at top of my list. I added it to the cart as an afterthought. It’s now the one I’m most fond of. Who would’ve thought?

If you got it Sept 13 of this year, any changes you see are what the plant "planned" on doing before you got it. You got a good one! Orchids don't respond dramatically to treatment in just a few weeks. Over the long haul that kepak will certainly help, but I don't think you can give it the credit for the rapid growth you are seeing. That plant is a keeper! It is a very young plant (a baby!) , so keep up the good work.

I don’t think the kelpak is responsible for the growth of the plant. It was doing great and only when I added the kelpak did I see the root start forming the two that you can see in the second pic. I just thought maybe the kelpak could have caused that, but also realized it is likely coincidental. I’m mostly curious as to what causes a new growing root to start forming two roots and stop the growth of the original

Edit: I don’t think I’m at all responsible for this btw. I think I just got lucky and it likes the growing conditions. I keep the humidity at 65% and the heat is high during the day reaching up to 95 and at night gets down to around 67

Keep on doing what you're doing!

These grow much faster than they're reported to when they're warm and get plenty of water. They like fertilizer, too.

I kept reading about slow growth and that is not what I’m seeing. I really think the humidifiers have been the best investment I’ve made growing orchids indoors. All of my plants like the humidity

Well, on this one I'm going to have to disagree. When using Kelpak on new plants I have noticed consistent quick new root production within 4 weeks of treatment. Before I started using it new roots would take a very long time unless there was a new growth an the plant when I received it. It is mind boggling how this product has affected my plants. Now, every new plant gets a Kelpak soak upon getting it home.

I have two of these, and when they are happy they are either growing a root or a leaf or both. I watered the whole collection with a dose of kelpak a couple weeks ago and I did think that might be why both sesquipedales put out two new roots each. But it could be a coincidence! On the other side of the coin, when I was treating the whole collection for mealies with imidacloprid, their newest roots turned yellow (but did not seem to stop growing or wither). I skipped them on subsequent retreatments. So yes i do think they are very responsive!

When I got my larger one, I potted it in a spag and bark mix and it did nothing… and started gradually losing leaves. After six months I unpotted it, and it had no new root growth. I repotted into semi hydro and it started growing new roots like crazy. It hasn’t stopped growing since, it seems to love having a resevoir of water.

They haven’t bloomed for me yet… high hopes that I’ll see some buds this winter.

[QUOTE=groundpounder17;1009914]I have a Darwin’s orchid that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I received this orchid on September 13th and it has done exceptionally well! It has already grown over an inch and I thought this was supposed to be a slow growing orchid. I also noticed that when I started giving it kelpak that one of the new growth roots started to grow two roots. I know it’s nothing wrong with it, but I wonder what causes this? Could it be the kelpak or is that just coincidental?

:biggrin:
Welcome to my World.

I’m now trying to figure out which Angraecinae I want to add to my collection next :biggrin:

Totally opposite of Angcm. sesquipedale: small, relatively-fast growing, extremely floriforous, blooms multiple times per year - Angcm. distichum. It also has very interesting, succulent leaves - attractive also when not in bloom.

Angraecum germinyaum - really interesting flowers.

Angraecum viguieri - failry large flowers, adds a bit of color.

(Just a few standouts)

Thanks, Roberta! I’m familiar with the Angraecum germinyaum and have that on my short list. I also really like the Angraecum eburneum var. superbum

Roberta, I looked up the Angraecum viguieri. Wow! I really like it. It would require a different set of growing conditions from my other plants as it prefers to stay much cooler, but what an interesting Angraecum. I did read that they are incredibly challenging to grow. It is now on my radar!

I'd consider A. viguieri a "warm grower" ... everything is relative. I think pretty much the same as A. sesquipedale. (My situation is binary... either outside or in greenhouse, that one is "in greenhouse") It is not as as easy as some of the others (my long-term success on it wasn't great, lasted a few years), but it sure is pretty and I'd get another if it jumped out in front of me.:)

An update: I now have a third new root and a new leaf while the plant in general continues to grow taller quickly. I’m so fortunate to have got a such a good one!

Angraecum Eburnam
 

Hi There

I am new to this site and I hope you don’t mind me hijacking this thread but…….
I have an Angraecum Eburnam but it has developed two dark spots on one of the leaves.
The outer edges of the spots are lighter than the centres and I am really worried there is something wrong with it
Can anyone help as I don’t want to lose it

Angie

First, Welcome to the Board. Second... I suggest that you start a new thread. (Just click on the blue button on the upper left of the Forum area). While supposedly one has to make 5 posts to upload a photo, I have seen photos from newer members. At any rate, it is easy to get to 5 posts. You can introduce yourself by starting a new thread in the Break the Ice forum which will bring you to 2, if you start a new thread in the Beginner forum, that will be 3...

Then, the more that you can say about your growing conditions (light, temperature, etc., anything that has changed, how long you have had the plant...), the better the advice you receive will be.

Thank you