Regretting an impulsive purchase/ Would this grow in S/H?

[marcmaubert]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I think you have no problems. I think you are in a perfect place to grow at least 2 out of three.

"Optimist" really suits you, Optimist haha. I should change my name to Pessimist

[marcmaubert]

So today I re-potted all 3 of them. This is how it went down:

I'm pretty disappointed in that vendor, I will not be purchasing any orchid from them again. The Myrmecophila was damaged in transport and it split into 3 sections: one big one (thankfully it's the one with the newest cane and it's currently in spike) and 2 small ones with old canes. I mounted the main one to a log of wood I had laying around (my brother uses them to smoke the meat when we use the grill). The other smaller divisions went to a small ficus tree and a really young orange tree (I don't have a yard, so I keep my trees in containers). I took a picture, I think it looks great mounted.

The Lycaste and the Rhyncholaelia were not in great shape either, specially the Rhyncho, it almost had no healthy roots (most of the old ones were dead and the newer ones are sooo small). Their newest growth seems smaller and smaller, so I'm guessing they have been neglected. So I followed my instinct and re-potted both of them in LECA (traditional culture). They will be inside under artificial lights, heat mat and humidifier. Hopefully that will encourage healthy root growth. Once they're doing better I will move the Rhyncho outside, but I don't want to risk it right now. Do you think I did the right thing?

[estación seca]

The mount looks great. The Rhyncholaelia will probably be fine. I don't know much about Lycastes.

[marcmaubert]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The mount looks great. The Rhyncholaelia will probably be fine. I don't know much about Lycastes.

Thanks! And thank you for all of your insight! I know a couple of people that grow them successfully indoors in Mexico City, so I'm hoping they'll be ok

[Roberta]

Lycastes like to be pretty damp all the time, but a little drier in winter when they are sitting there with leafless bulbs. If the pseudobulbs are firm, don't worry about it... it will probably start new growth in the spring. Depending on which one, it may bloom from leafless bulbs, and then grow new leaves. Lyc. aromatica and relatives do that... they sit there doing nothing, then put out flowers in late spring, then the new growth. Others (such as Lyc. skinneri and relatives) do the growth first and then the flowers. I grow them outside, in the shade, water all year but a little less when it is cold. They'd probably be happy to be warmer, but they get what they get, and grow for me quite well.

[Optimist]

I only say that because I have a mermecophilia and it does fine in 6a. You are in 8 or 9 better, you also actually have warmer winters, cooler summers, and more humidity than I have. It looks like Mexico City is sort of perfect for Orchids. I'd love to go down there but no habla Espanol, you know? Por lo menos no lo suficientemente bien como para evitar la risa.

[marcmaubert]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Lycastes like to be pretty damp all the time, but a little drier in winter when they are sitting there with leafless bulbs. If the pseudobulbs are firm, don't worry about it... it will probably start new growth in the spring. Depending on which one, it may bloom from leafless bulbs, and then grow new leaves. Lyc. aromatica and relatives do that... they sit there doing nothing, then put out flowers in late spring, then the new growth. Others (such as Lyc. skinneri and relatives) do the growth first and then the flowers. I grow them outside, in the shade, water all year but a little less when it is cold. They'd probably be happy to be warmer, but they get what they get, and grow for me quite well.

Thanks for the tip! I'm growing them indoors this year and see how they like my setup. I'll keep you posted!

---------- Post added at 10:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Optimist

I only say that because I have a mermecophilia and it does fine in 6a. You are in 8 or 9 better, you also actually have warmer winters, cooler summers, and more humidity than I have. It looks like Mexico City is sort of perfect for Orchids. I'd love to go down there but no habla Espanol, you know? Por lo menos no lo suficientemente bien como para evitar la risa.

Oh, then they'll do great! Mexico City indeed has great climate that allows me to go crazy trying a lot of different species and growing habits. And you should come down here! There's a lot of neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa where you could find people on the street talking in English, French, Chinese and nobody would care if your Spanish isn't great.

[daddydoall]

TheR digbyana failed SH for me. I tried again media-free in a well perforated pot with some LECA at bottom, roots would grow then rot. Temperature and humidity were close to ideal. Took the plant and tied it to fern bark in same location, and roots / plant now happy. Maybe it would have been happy on loose organic media in an airy pot. Most orchids will adapt, but some orchids seem to reject inorganic media at least for me.

[marcmaubert]

Originally Posted by daddydoall

TheR digbyana failed SH for me. I tried again media-free in a well perforated pot with some LECA at bottom, roots would grow then rot. Temperature and humidity were close to ideal. Took the plant and tied it to fern bark in same location, and roots / plant now happy. Maybe it would have been happy on loose organic media in an airy pot. Most orchids will adapt, but some orchids seem to reject inorganic media at least for me.

Oh, that sounds terrible. Only my Den. Phal is doing something similar, all of the rest are producing a lot of roots. Right now my R. digbyana is doing ok in LECA (traditional culture) and I don't want to disturb it until springtime, so I will asess the roots then. Thanks for your advice!