Angraecum sesquipedale, my first S/H plant

[estación seca]

Didn't want to hijack Kevinator's thread so am starting a new one.

I had always wanted to grow Darwin's Orchid and began contemplating it seriously in spring 2015. I read everything I could about it on Orchid Board and was worried I couldn't grow it. Then I stumbled across this page discussing growing angraecoids in S/H:

Angraecums...: Growing Angraecum Orchids Using Semi-Hydroponic Techniques

I ordered one from SVO in early June 2015. It arrived bigger than I expected, eight leaves with a span of 8" / 20cm, in New Zealand bark, which came off the big healthy roots easily. It was the first plant I put into S/H. I didn't break any roots at all. I kept it in my growing room with temperatures 80-100 F / 26-38C and RH 50%-60%. I watered with MSU in RO or rain, initially at about 125ppm nitrogen, moving down to about 20ppm nitrogen now.

The plant sat for a couple of weeks, then took off growing. It still hasn't lost a leaf it came with. One leaf developed a rapidly-advancing soft black spot. I cut it out with a sharp triangular hobby knife, leaving a circular hole, and treated the cut edges with cinnamon. That stopped the rot.

The plant is in a 1 quart / 950ml container. The measuring tape is in inches. You can see the droopy leaf and hole.

It's not quite big enough to flower yet. I think I'll have to wait until next winter. But for those of you who have wondered about A. sesquipedale... just look at that blogspot page above. You can do it!

[Ray]

Chris, the guy who wrote that, is a long-time customer, and he does really well with S/H plants of a wide variety in his relatively dry environment.

I am not a huge fan of angraecoids - not enough color - but I have grown a number of them in S/H as well.

[Leafmite]

These do like quite a bit of water but I never thought to grow an Angraecum sesquipedale in that manner. It must be great! I have mine in a basket pot with large red lava rock and need to water every day. From the looks of the roots, I think I had better keep it in this manner now. :|
Good luck! I am looking forward to the day you are posting pictures of the blooms!

[No-Pro-mwa]

I am going to try S/H one of these days.

[DeaC]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Didn't want to hijack Kevinator's thread so am starting a new one.

I had always wanted to grow Darwin's Orchid and began contemplating it seriously in spring 2015. I read everything I could about it on Orchid Board and was worried I couldn't grow it. Then I stumbled across this page discussing growing angraecoids in S/H:

Angraecums...: Growing Angraecum Orchids Using Semi-Hydroponic Techniques

I ordered one from SVO in early June 2015. It arrived bigger than I expected, eight leaves with a span of 8" / 20cm, in New Zealand bark, which came off the big healthy roots easily. It was the first plant I put into S/H. I didn't break any roots at all. I kept it in my growing room with temperatures 80-100 F / 26-38C and RH 50%-60%. I watered with MSU in RO or rain, initially at about 125ppm nitrogen, moving down to about 20ppm nitrogen now.

The plant sat for a couple of weeks, then took off growing. It still hasn't lost a leaf it came with. One leaf developed a rapidly-advancing soft black spot. I cut it out with a sharp triangular hobby knife, leaving a circular hole, and treated the cut edges with cinnamon. That stopped the rot.

The plant is in a 1 quart / 950ml container. The measuring tape is in inches. You can see the droopy leaf and hole.

It's not quite big enough to flower yet. I think I'll have to wait until next winter. But for those of you who have wondered about A. sesquipedale... just look at that blogspot page above. You can do it!

So you had to change your avatar! Almost missed this great post and the angraecum blog is fantastic.I've a small,mounted scottianum that could be still too young to bloom but have never found as much info on it as here.TY!

[Helene]

Its a beautiful plant indeed, the beauty of nature☺️😉

And it is fascinating seeing how different orchids have different flowers, attracting different kind of partners in this game of life.
It sure makes me in the philosophical mood, thinking of these things. Maybe thats why I like orchids- they give me peace and quiet time to think

I am looking forward to seeing how your plant is doing, sharing your knowledge and what you learn from trying is really helpful for others, and I enjoy reading your posts

Lol, I think I love this forum- simple as that😍

[NYCorchidman]

Good luck!

I will follow this thread.

[Tindomul]

Great article. I think if I ever tried these again I would also go with S/H.