Does anyone grow rupicolous/saxicolous orchids mounted...?

[Jeff214]

I have an obscure (?) orchid species that is noted to be saxicolous that grows in similar habitats to some rupicolous laelias. Due to its rambly nature, I have mounted it but I'm slowly realizing that it needs very high moisture to thrive.

I just read a paper noting that my plant supposedly grows on inselberg rock croppings amongst the mosses and lichens, rupicolous laelias and relatives. (alas! i.e. very high humidity. I thought it was very dry based on in situ photos I saw before.) While I know it isn't the same, I was curious if anyone grows rupicolous orchids mounted and how they've fared.

While it has done fine for the last 6 months, I'm trying to decide if I should try to pot this plant somehow.

[Roberta]

Which species? Many of the rupiculous orchids also grow epiphytically.

[Jeff214]

Renata (Pseudolaelia) canaanensis.

In a couple of references (Brazilian orchid sites) I've found, it mentions that it is rupicolous/saxicolous with photos (not sure if there's a technical difference between the two).

(excerpt from "Taxonomic revision of Pseudolaelia" Neto et al)

"the species occurs on the inselbergs of the mountainous region, in the northwestern and northern parts of the state of Espírito Santo and eastern part of the state of Minas Gerais, at 550-1300 m above sea level. It forms large populations with many saxicolous individuals among mosses and lichens."

---------- Post added at 08:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 PM ----------

I don't think anyone grows it so I thought about asking how people manage other rupicolous orchids that grow in similar areas. It did say Hoffmannseggella colnagoi grows near similar plants... but I don't know what that is either!

It has been trying to make new leads but it sort of shrivels after an inch of growth. I thought it may be a lack of water to getting too damp, or both...

[Roberta]

Some of the Pseudolaelias also grow as epiphytes on Vellozia but this seems to be from a different habitat. IOSPE describes it as terrestrial. So your guess is as good as mine...

[Jeff214]

It is making new roots and several leads are developing so... I'll keep at it.

[Shadeflower]

sry if I have no real practical info on the matter at hand..

I had to look up saxicolous and it does describe the same growing environment as rupiculous does, ie on rocks.

But saxicolous seems to be related to mosses and lichens whereas rupiculous is to describe orchids growing on rocks instead.

according to orchidspecies Pseudolaelia canaanensis is a 100% terrestrial species.

With terrestrial species it is more about the water amount they receive. The mix should still be more airy than soil but terrestrial means they will drink copious amounts. I am picturing it growing in the Rainforrest underneath a waterfall - on a rock for arguments sake but with water splashing on it all day long...

Just my thoughtful speculation.

[Jeff214]

Thanks! The papers that describe the species, couple of Brazilian websites, AWZ orchids, describe them to be rupicolous. In situ photos appear to show the plants growing on or near rocks. Related species seem to just grow on bare rock surfaces too. Admittedly, I can't say exactly what the rhizome is on - some crack in the rock, dead shurbbery... etc.

It does have very fine roots, which is suspiciously terrestrial. but the roots are short. I dunno.

In either case, I agree that this plant likely needs copious amounts of water. I just hope the new leads keep on growing!

---------- Post added at 09:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 PM ----------












And I guess I would still like to return the question to:

Does anyone grow rupicolous laelias mounted?

[itzi]

Not quite sure if im understanding all the terminology in this thread, but I found this forum post on garden.org that may be relevant:

Orchids forum→Rupicolous Laelias - Garden.org

[Shadeflower]

feel you there itzi
I think the lundii as the first plant shown in that link is a great orchid which would also confirm it most likely is not a rupicolous orchid as you'd expect. (ok I only say this because I love the lundii and dislike the rupicolous ones)

Here is a site explaining in great detail why a lundii is not a rupicolous one but honestly it's all a bit of showing off with terminology isn't it. he lundii grows on rocks yet it isn't a rupicolous?

Untitled Document

I know the laelia millierii and birgerii are supposedly rupicolous even though for them I wouldn't have expected them to be... Just because I have a few hybrid plants with them as parents. Knowing that they grow on rocks would just make caring for them in an indoor environment very difficult imo. Rocks just block airflow.
Like I will admit I went to check it on google and MOG's video popped up first and I browsed though it - she literally grows them in a pot filled with pebbles... Why not use sand while she's as it. The point of the rocks is not to use them to block air flow. Literally a board of lego would serve just as well as a slab of rock.

To add my honest thought - I grow most mine in self watering pots and that is what I would be doing with a terrestrial orchid that likes to drink more than I can water. I don't know why I don't like saying it more, I just feel like I get weird reactions to saying I use lecca or self watering pots (no joke, on some forums the use of lecca is practically unheard of!, even frowned upon)

[Roberta]

Remember, rupiculous orchids root into cracks in the rocks where there is moisture, organic matter, and water. So they don't really grow on bare rocks, though they may expand onto the rock surface once they have found a suitable area for their roots. I grow my rupis in gravel (well drained) with a thin layer of organic matter (such as potting soil) to mimic this environment. L. milleri and probably L. briegeri grow both rupiciculous and epiphytic. In both situations, they want very good drainage, and spend considerable time on the dry side.