How to care for Microcoelia cornuta?

[Wolfram1]

I don't own any other Orchids so i am unfamiliar with how to best care for them.

The friend i got mine from keeps his in a plastic bag on a windowstill, spraying it rarely and that seems to work and it has flowered a couple of times, but i was wondering if there was a better method since it doesn't look very nice.

I tried putting it in a container, laying atop some damp sphagnum-moss, but it didn't seem to like it and the new root emerging died back. So i am thinking there was too much humidity.

The same conditions seem to work for my bromeliad seedlings though...

How important is water quality with this kind of species?
Our tap water is very clean with minimal additives (Cl, F), great to drink, but it does contain some calcium.

[Burgos]

From the plastic bag growing method, my guess is that it needs more aeration.

[Louis_W]

The purpose of the bag is get super high humidity which is required for most leafless species.

Ideally you would find a high light spot with humidity above 70% and mount the root mass to a clean stick or some othe kind of mount. Then you would water it daily.

It sounds like you already have experience growing bromeliads and stuff so its not too much of a stretch but you have a challenging orchid on your hands.

My usual 2 cents for people who are new to orchids is first learn what kind of conditions are easy and natural for you to provide, then pick your orchid based on that. It sets you up for success. Then later when you have a deeper understanding of how they grow you can push the limits if you like.

All that said, i hope that one works out for you! Wed loce to see photos when you get a chance!

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!

I don't grow this particular species but do have two other Microcoelia. Humidity is, indeed, the vital factor, so either the "plastic bag" approach or a grow tent that can give that. Daily watering, since it has no "storage capacity". I have a Microcoelia stolzii that I laid atop a wood basket (no medium) and it has grown really well.

[estación seca]

You can use a cylindrical vase tall and wide enough to hold it with a glass dish on top for a lid.

[Wolfram1]

Thank you all for the many answers!

Ok so i acctually thought it was too humid in my propagation box and that was the reason the root died back, but perhaps the problem wasn't the humidity but the lack of airflow.

I should mention the plastic bag my friend uses is partially open in the top.

I have seen an example of the cylindrical vase with this species, but i don't have one myself so i cant replicate it. There were some great pictures of the species grown in this manner here:
Microcoelia cornuta | Orchids Forum


From what i could figure out of the genus the roots don't acctually attach to anything but are growing like a stiff noodle salad reaching for the sun.

I was considering treating it similar to my Tillandsias exept just dunking it quickly every day and hanging it back up into my Ficus benjamina.

That would be similar enought to laying it atop a wooden basked no? What does daily watering mean to you? I grow it in my appartment, amongst many other aroids but without additional humidity.

If you guys don't think thats a good idea i may go back to the plastic-bag-method that should work.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Wolfram1

From what i could figure out of the genus the roots don't acctually attach to anything but are growing like a stiff noodle salad reaching for the sun.

I was considering treating it similar to my Tillandsias exept just dunking it quickly every day and hanging it back up into my Ficus benjamina.

That would be similar enought to laying it atop a wooden basked no? What does daily watering mean to you? I grow it in my appartment, amongst many other aroids but without additional humidity.

If you guys don't think thats a good idea i may go back to the plastic-bag-method that should work.

That works - I like the "noodle salad" metaphor! I think they really do like to run free. Mine get a "bath" each day from a sprinkler system. Indoors, the daily "dunk" should work. You want to see those roots change from silver to green. They do have chloroplasts in the roots, so that's where photosynthesis takes place.

I have a warm-growing Microcoelia aphylla in my greenhouse (quite humid) and Microcoelia stolzii (a relatively cool-grower) outside where it does get a daily sprinkling but then has to tolerate ambient humidity that can get quite low. And that's the more robust of the two, so I think that they can forgive relatively low humidity if they get nicely saturated with water each day.

[Wolfram1]

Originally Posted by Roberta

That works - I like the "noodle salad" metaphor! I think they really do like to run free. Mine get a "bath" each day from a sprinkler system. Indoors, the daily "dunk" should work.

Thanks

Alright, then i will go for that. Thank you very much for your input Roberta.

In the end i only have a very small piece and if it doesnt work out there are quite a few other propagates so it's not like all is lost. The one in the dartfrog vivarium at my friends house is doing very well for example.

The point is to not put all the eggs in one basked and perhaps learn what works and what doesn't along the way.

Cheers,
Wolfram

[Wolfram1]

quick update, no further dieback and one of the older roots has started to grow again

it has grown about 0,5cm, dunking or spraying it once a day seems to be working so far

[DirtyCoconuts]

microcoelia can mount- i have this species and it does like the noodle salad growth habit but i took a bit and put it on a pine board and it is growing and it attaches when and where it wants.

about the culture. they need a spot where they get a lot of moisture, air movement and light and where they dont get neglected.

i just mean that their care must be regular and consistent bc as Roberta mentioned, they have nothing to liv eoff of if they get forgotten for a day or two

the cortuna loves my yard so i dont have to do anything but my stolzii is almost about to die bc it wants a little more shade or more water, i cant figure it out

i have had about 10 Chilochistas too and i only have three left..all grown the same, some ar ejust happier here and one or two days of a care breakdown can kill them