potting media for Anguloa

[Psyched]

hello guys,

Few months ago I purchased an Anguloa ruckerii. It gave wonderful scents and the flowers were amazing. Months passed, the flowers withered, and sadly the new growth too. In time it gave off new growth but after it grew bigger, the leaves started to turn brown before the bulb even matured. Maybe this time I hope I could save it since I see a new growth is coming from the side. I always expected the culprit to be the current media: mix between sawdust and compost.

I am thinking to change it to a more porous and longer lasting media like charcoal/fern/compost mix. Before I change that, I'm going to need the help of any experts here.

Help is appreciated!

[smweaver]

While I'm certainly not an expert, I do have an Anguloa that is growing in nothing but small-grade coconut husk chunks. It's in a clay pot with large rocks in the bottom to assist with drainage, and the plant seems to like this arrangement. I water it ever other day in summer, so the mix never dries out; in the cooler winter months it also gets watered regularly so that the mix is never completely dry. One thing you might want to watch for is getting water in the new growths. The new leaves are all curled together in a tight formation when the growths are young, but they aren't so tight that water can't get into them if you're not careful. And, in my experience, the new growths on Anguloas (just like the closely related Lycastes and Idas) are highly susceptible to rotting if they get water inside of them until they are around 15 to 20 cm tall (which is what your description sounds like may have happened to the ones on your plant). I would think that you should have a ready supply of coconut husk chips in Indonesia, but even though the supplier will probably say that they are clean and ready to use, I would still take the precaution of letting them soak in very clean water overnight for a couple of nights, then dumping the water out and repeating the process. This will help remove any residual salts that may be present. Mixing the coconut with a handful of small pieces of charcoal might also be beneficial. Good luck with your plant.

Steve

[Psyched]

Thanks steve. I will see if I can post some picts so you can get a better picture. I really hope i could save this beauty.

Is it possible I'm growing at a place where it is too hot for Anguloa? I'm growing under tree shade, temperature is about 30 degrees centigrade. Give 3 degrees during the hottest day, take 3 degress during the coldest night.

[smweaver]

To be honest, yes, that's probably pretty warm form plants from this genus. I actually have an Angulocaste, which might benefit from the more warmth-tolerant lycaste genes in its background. The pure anguloa species, however, really do appreciate cooler temperatures, especially at night. But plants are adaptable and there are lots of people who have proven that you can grow many different types of demanding orchids in less than ideal environments. If I were you I would try to find the coolest place available for your anguloa, and keep it well watered (but taking care to avoid getting water in the newly developing growths) and under fairly shady conditions to offset the heat.