Sarcochilus (ceciliae) care

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

This was my first Sarc. I grew it successfully in a spagnum/bark mix (about 50/50) in small plastic pots for 6-7 years.

Then I attended a talk on Sarcs, by someone, who has grown Sarcs extremely well for 30+ years. He mentioned that ceciliae tends to suffer from SSDS (Sarc Sudden Death Syndrome) - in part because it hates getting repotted.

Within 30 days he was right.

Had you never heard that, you’d still have the plant!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Then I attended a talk on Sarcs, by someone, who has grown Sarcs extremely well for 30+ years. He mentioned that ceciliae tends to suffer from SSDS (Sarc Sudden Death Syndrome) - in part because it hates getting repotted. Within 30 days he was right.

Kim ----- my first ever Sarco. ceciliae was growing on a piece of bark when I first bought it in June last year in 2020. I pryed its roots from its mount, and potted it in scoria ---- and it's doing great even today. At first - it was hard to say how it was going to go ----- but over several months of watching some juvenile leaves and roots get longer and longer ------ I give it the green light.

That's only for sharing my experience of my first Sarco. ceciliae. I have other ones too. I loosely popped baby ones into scoria - and the baby roots just nudge the side of the scoria. I can take pics later and upload here.

[SouthPark]

Back again! With some pics now.

The first couple of pics are baby ceciliae in scoria.

The other pics are of my first ceciliae that I bought in June last year.

There is quite a long root that is hugging the rim of the pot on the right-hand-side - seen in the very last pic. There was no root there at all when I first potted the ceciliae into this pot last June. So quite nice to see good activity for the root growing.

[neophyte]

Thanks for all the discussion! I will be aiming for a well-drained mix for sure, it seems. Very nice growing, by the way, SouthPark! It's kind of amazing these tiny plants can survive in such chunky scoria – true lithophytes.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by neophyte

It's kind of amazing these tiny plants can survive in such chunky scoria – true lithophytes.

Totally agree with you neo! The small baby plants with their fleshy leaves and their chubby little roots can handle rocky and dry situations really well. Handle better than other sorts of baby size orchids under the same conditions that is. That was so nice that you mentioned you grow ceciliae too!

[OrchidChimp]

A bit of advice from my grower, in order to flower these plants, they need a fall cool down. I was told they can endure night time temps into the 40s but must be protected from frost. Pictures of mine below.

[SouthPark]

One extra recommendation from me regarding Sarco. ceciliae is ------ if they're doing great with a watering plan that doesn't involve long-term wet/moist roots (eg. roots touching media like volcanic rocks etc) ----- then try to maintain those conditions (with that nicely working watering plan) ---- even though we know that it can rain for ages sometimes out in the wild.

If the media and roots of Sarco. ceciliae become super wet, and remains damp and moist for relatively longer periods than usual ------ then it is possible for these orchids to run into health problems. Not necessarily - but is possible ----- just like other orchids.

[neophyte]

Thanks! Also, what temps are you keeping your S. ceciliae at? Some websites say it's a cool grower; others same cool to intermediate... I really hope I can keep this little one alive!

[Roberta]

I think that Sarco. ceceliae is more on the intermediate side... it has a wide range, but in northern Australia it gets decidedly tropical conditions.

[neophyte]

It's currently in the room where most of my other orchids are: plenty of sun and usually quite warm (unless my dad forgets to close the windows, and then it can get drafty). I think I'll keep it there unless something goes drastically wrong. Looks like there are a couple new roots on the way, which is good because it didn't have too many to start out with, and a few of them were damaged in transit.