Water Culture is Working

[stefpix]

i had a vanda tricolor that died - i am not sure why. nothing would work.
the one that is larger had a bud that blasted at 2 inches long - but i think it had to do with adjusting from a florida greenhouse.
I feel the rubber bands work better than wire.

alsoi I have a tiny brassavola David Sander that started growing 2 new leaves/ leads as soon as I put it in coco coir in a 1 " clay pot.
I feel hydroton dries too fast and i need to mist the top of it almost daily. some new roots in a catt were set back.

I am trying more coco coir - I feel it absorbs water faster than bark and dries out faster.
maybe mix it with some aquarium gravel and or perlite.
what really grows best in my conditions are an Epidendrum and Epicattleya i think.
Also the 2 Masevallias grow many new leaves.

What I find most temperamental is Phalaenopsis


I had a Blc from parlside that died of black rot and was in bark hanging on the window - not sure why. Maybe old medium?

Looks like now all my hardcane / warm dendrobiums started growing new roots/leads.
wonder if it has to do with the heat in the apt.
well wish i had more space.

My Dendrobium formosum hated SH - almost died now in some coco / leca mix is growing new roots after having lost all the leaves.
Before SH was really healthy.
Maybe repotted at the wrong time or maybe some do not like LECA.
Also a Yamadara hat was in SH was growing roots that were going up instead of down.

[Ranchnanny]

Hey There Stefano most of my orchids are Phals. I had a Masd. but I lost that one to. I had it in my Orchidarium and maybe it was to hot in there.

My setup is taller with 5 shelves and grow lights.

Sheridan

[Ranchnanny]

Oh no what happened to the photo's lets try that again....

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Hi Stefano

Thanks for posting the photos. It is nice to see some of your healthy new roots. The Vanda and Masdevallia look like they really thrived in your care.

I am really interested in hearing about your experience. Just want to repeat my previous comments. I have zero tolerance for dead or sick plant material and try to remove them from the grow area as soon as I see them and treat for any visible signs of infection. As you know, spores of pathologic organisms spread easily in close spaces. I can't see the details of the apparent spots on your new Laelia leaf. If it looks like infection I would treat it promptly before it has a chance to spread.

I think trying many different orchids is one of the best ways to end up with some that really grow and bloom well in your space. I expect to keep less than half of the orchids I try since my indoor grow are has very low humidity in the Winter, gets too hot in the Summer; some get too big for my limited space or never bloom well. Over the years some will actually look better than I have seen anywhere else and I still ended up with too many orchids that have to be divided every 2 years and given away.

Happy growing!

Happy growing

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Sheridan

Thanks for posting photos. I will really enjoy looking at how your plants develop in the future. Most of them look like they are off to a good start and I am sure next year this time you will just have to worry about keeping all the spikes from getting too close to the lights.

[stefpix]

Sun
I think the shadow makes the spots on the Laelia look darker - I do not think it has an infection. I think it may be some sun marks from the summer.
Some leaves have some purplish shade that I think may be a characteristic, I have a photo from a few weeks ago that I can attach.
Only the older longest leaf has those markings so I assume if it was an infection it would spread.

I wonder anyway if it is good to use a fungicide once a month or 2 as a preventive measure.

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Stephano

You are probably right, it could be that it had received too much light at one time without having been accustomed to it, just like a sunburn. This can happen outdoors or if it is too close to the light. A lot of orchids in the catt. alliance, as well as young plant leaves in many tropical plants develop this reddish coloring. This is usually OK unless the whole leaf is starting to turn yellow (too burned to produce chlorophyll) and indicates some type of sunscreen defense going on, from what I read.