Ansellia africana

[Fairorchids]

I believe that there is some debate, whether this is a swarm of closely related species, or a single species with considerable variation. Anyway, a couple of years ago Cal-Orchids had the Afri nursery from South Africa as a guest vendor at their summer sale. I bought 6 seedlings, and have now bloomed the first two.

The first flower is 2.5" natural spread, so it is large:

The second flower is 1.7/8" natural spread, but it is very full. As an experiment, we have used it to pollinate a good pendulous Cymbidium.

[Keysguy]

OK Kim. Why doesn't mine grow? Or do anything actually. It just sits there and does absolutely nada for 2 full years so far.

I pulled it out of the pot a couple months ago just to take a peek under the hood. Roots were "meh" but there were a couple of really healthy looking ones so I put it in a basket with fir bark to see if it needed to breath a bit more. Still no change, but like I said, it's only been a couple months.

[isurus79]

These are beautiful! Congrats!

Originally Posted by Keysguy

OK Kim. Why doesn't mine grow? Or do anything actually. It just sits there and does absolutely nada for 2 full years so far.

I pulled it out of the pot a couple months ago just to take a peek under the hood. Roots were "meh" but there were a couple of really healthy looking ones so I put it in a basket with fir bark to see if it needed to breath a bit more. Still no change, but like I said, it's only been a couple months.

Not enough sunlight maybe? They like to be on the brighter side of Cattleya light.

[estación seca]

I only have small seedlings from SVO. If they dry out once they sulk for many months. I haven't moved them to S/H (from the bark they came in) because I haven't seen a good flush of new roots. I have a hard time giving enough water unless I stand the pots in dishes of water all the time. Even with old roots they take up that water much faster than it could evaporate. Of course your growing conditions are a lot different than mine.

[Keysguy]

Maybe. I can try that.
Thanks Stephen.

[Fairorchids]

Keysguy:

I grow these in clay pots, with a spaghnum/bark mix (4:1 or so). I try to make sure that they never dry out. I hang them high, so they get good light.

I bought 6 of these from the Afri guest visit:
4 are growing very well (2 blooming)
1 is not doing much
1 has lost two recent new growths

I bought some new ones from SVO, which I left in his 3" plastic pots for now (I was too busy to repot). They have not done much in the 3-4 months I have had them.

[isurus79]

That's interesting, why don't you let them dry out, especially during winter?

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by isurus79

That's interesting, why don't you let them dry out, especially during winter?

Most orchids need much more water than most growers provide. I do give a winter rest to my Australian Dendrobiums (and true decideous Calanthes), but nothing else.

The Cattleya 'rule' (= should dry out between waterings) is patently false. It dates back to a time when people overwatered and killed the roots.

I keep seedlings and NBS plants consistently moist. Mature plants are potted in clay pots, with a bark/charcoal/perlite mix (2:1:1), where bark & charcoal nuggets are +/-1/2" size. This allows water to drain quickly, so I water 3 times a week in summer (and 1-2 times a week in winter, depending upon how much sun we have). With this approach, plants grow far better than what I see in other nurseries.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

The Cattleya 'rule' (= should dry out between waterings) is patently false. It dates back to a time when people overwatered and killed the roots.

Yes, I agree. In fact, I've made many videos saying as much!

That said, Lourens Grobler does say a drier period (not bone dry) is beneficial to Ansellia blooming. I was wondering if you had some experience with the species indicating otherwise.

[DirtyCoconuts]

KG, me too! mine has done zero but lose a few leaves in 2-3 years. i have it with my cattleyas.


i have no idea, maybe they are smart and therefore dont like Florida?