Regretting an impulsive purchase/ Would this grow in S/H?
 

So I'm still in my "gotta grow them all!" phase, and I wanted to try purchasing from a different orchid greenhouse. I ended up purchasing a Rhyncholaelia digbyana, Myrmecophila tibicinis and Lycaste aromatica. They didn't arrive in the best condition (they don't have that typical "pristine" look that most orchids grown in a greenhouse have, they look like they were taken from the wild) and most of their substrate ended up all over the box, not in their pots so I want to repot them as soon as possible. I still have a lot of LECA because I grow the rest of my orchids in Semi Hydro.

I'm asking specifically about the Myrmecophila (I wanted an orchid I could grow in my tiny patio). It would be my only outdoor orchid. I read they are hot growers, that's why I'm kind of regretting purchasing it, because I'm worried it will die in the colder months. Mexico City has a subtropical highland climate, with a dry and sunny winter. It rarely gets below 5°C (41°F), and if it does, it's only for a couple of hours at night.

Do you think they would do okay Semi Hydro or is it out of the question? Should I bring it inside during the winter, even if it will not get as much sunshine?

The best time to switch anything to semi hydro is when you have fresh new root growth happening. If you dont have this going on currently, I would repot into something similar that it was in

Exactly. Semi-hydro will also cool the roots and might do harm on your coldest nights.

FYI- Myrm. tibicinis gets huge!

The Rhyncholaelia and Myrmecophila will probably do far better on your patio as mounts rather than in S/H. The Rhyncho comes from the Yucatán Peninsula.

Huge might even be an understatement.
Monstrous might be a better descriptor. :shock:

Yeah, that's why I'm a little worried about it. I just didn't think about it, I just fell in love with those flowers.

---------- Post added at 02:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 PM ----------

I'm not against mounted orchids (I've always wanted to try at least one), but I've shied away from them because I'm not sure I will be able to handle them. Do I need to water them daily? How do I water and fertilize them? What do I do if I travel? I'm nursing a Vanda back to health and I dunk it in a bucket for half an hour 3 to 4 times a week, is it kind of the same care?

You think the Rhyncho would do better mounted? My plan was to wait until new root growth and convert it to S/H and place it next to my Cattleya (I thought they needed similar care). It would get the royal treatment: grow lights, humidifier, heat mat (sometimes even music, haha), and would be living in the hottest part of my house. I wouldn't be able to provide all of that on my patio, but it would certainly get a lot more light outside.

---------- Post added at 02:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:07 PM ----------

I really hope it gets to be monstrous with my care! I'm not afraid of a flowering monster!

Both plants grow in tropical areas with noticeable dry seasons, when humidity can be much lower than in the rainy season.

Days are usually 20-30C / 70-90 F where the Rhyncho lives. I have seen Myrmecophila in habitat in Querétaro and Veracruz but I don't know which species. Nights are cooler. Your winter nights should not be a problem for either plant, even though México City is higher and cooler.

Both will probably do fine when adapted to your sun. The Rhyncho needs lots of winter sun to bloom well. Bob Fuchs of RF Orchids in south Florida puts his out in full sun all winter (in a wheelbarrow.) It develops strong purple pigmentation and blooms well in spring. Myrms are often grown on sunny palm trunks in south Florida.

Both plants become large and heavy, the Myrmecophila faster. Tie them to a sturdy branch with rough bark. They will attach with root growth. Water every 1-3 days during the growing season. Vandas prefer more frequent watering. Most people suggest watering Vandas daily.

I grow a lot of plants in S/H, but these get too large to manage that way. My plants are unbloomed seedlings, but still too large for 1-liter S/H containers.

Thanks a lot for the advice! I will look for a branch as described.

You might consider traditional culture using LECA as the medium...

I think you have no problems. I think you are in a perfect place to grow at least 2 out of three.