Quickie Project updates - Orchid Board

cb977 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 02:54 PM

Hi everyone

Kiki-do asked what the process is in our project...so I'm posting this thread for us to add information such as our growing conditions and any progress reports.

Layla is living happily in a 5" tall tea light candle holder with great drainage, planted in straight aliflor and hanging out with the Catts so she's getting high light.

Becca · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 05:09 PM

I haven't named mine yet....I don't think any of mine have names....but mine is in my orchidarium on a shelf...the top of the leaves are about 6 inches from the lights...it is putting out new roots, but I think it came that way....other then that I haven't seen much change since I got it, but it has only been a couple of weeks....I plan on putting a clay pot hanger on it when I receive my supplies some time next week and putting it in my Exo-Terra as soon as I get it up and running. I never realized how much space I have available in my orchidarium until I bought this one along with the TC's....I was like wow....I could put tons in here as long as they are hanging!

kiki-do · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007, 08:41 AM

I received my Laelia reginae on Nov. 1st and repotted her (Gina) on Nov. 2nd into a wooden basket using coconut husk, bits of a cut up wine cork, very small amounts of fir bark, perlite, and tucked in with live sphagnum moss. I have it in a wide-mouth glass bowl I'm useing for a drywell. My biggest concerns here is humidity. Right now I have about 48% to 50% humidity. I do have a humidifier (still put away from the summer)for during the hardcore winter months. We heat with wood, but also use oil. I have a fan going several hours of the day. Gina is on a table facing south in my newly heated sunroom. Daytime temps range 70 to 80 due to the natural sun, nighttime temps are set at 62. And please feel free to make any suggestions if I am doing something wrong. I don't have much practice with real young plants.

I will attempt to load a picture...keep your fingers crossed. I know, I know, this should be getting easier for me, huh?

cb977 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007, 08:48 AM

Gina looks lovely

Yours is green like mine!

Per Andy's web site:
Moist; 2-3 waterings per week(let dry slightly between waterings)...
the mix you've put her in is bound to hold some water so make sure you really pay attention to the moisture in the mix before you water.

These are blooming sized plants so although she's little, she's not necessarily young...you'll do fine

kiki-do · #5 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007, 08:53 AM

Thanks Suzanne! Always appreciated!
kiki-do

Grandma M · #6 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007, 09:27 AM

Suzanne

Your plant looks great and I love the pot it is in. The pot makes it look really special.....of course the fact that I love anything blue has something to do with it.

cb977 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007, 09:52 AM

Thanks M

I'm always looking out for items that can be used for the orchids even if that's not what they were meant for. I guess the hubby has been paying attention because he's the one that spotted these candle holders!

I've picked up 5 or 6 of them and the plants that they are now holding seem to like them too

Lindafvb · #8 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007, 04:14 PM

My Laelia reginae arrived on November 2. After speaking with Harry, he assured me the orchid would grow just fine among the catts. So it is growing under lights with a background E-S window. It is approx 7 inches from the lights, 4.0 FC. My fan runs daily for 12 hours this time of year. I did not transplant yet. I figured I would leave well enough alone for now. Lets hope I can report in a month that "all is well".

Linda

Ross · #9 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindafvb

My Laelia reginae arrived on November 2. After speaking with Harry, he assured me the orchid would grow just fine among the catts. So it is growing under lights with a background E-S window. It is approx 7 inches from the lights, 4.0 FC. My fan runs daily for 12 hours this time of year. I did not transplant yet. I figured I would leave well enough alone for now. Lets hope I can report in a month that "all is well".

Linda

Linda, can you clearify something for me - (4.0 FC) What is this? If you mean 4000 foot-candles, that's super. If you mean 4 foot-candles that's dismal. I would not recommend repotting anytime soon. I have L. briegeri, another rupiculous Laelia, and these guys need really high light and dry between waterings. Andy has potted them in a granitic mix that should be ideal for them well into the future.

Lindafvb · #10 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007, 08:10 PM

Hi Ross, The light meter I have does measure 4000FC as 4.0. Sorry for the confusion.

And thanks for the reassurance.