Aeridis Flabalata not growing

[Longroots]

I've had this Aeridis about 2 years now and have got it to flower twice. It was on my windowsill in the UK, through summer and winter, with big temperature differences. It used to look pretty happy and put out a lot of sap.

I have done a few things with it however as its roots were in a bad way, and it's leaves never seemed properly plump. I moved it into this leca and wick setup recently and as soon as I did, it's leaves plumped up and seemed to respond well. However I recently had a Vanda that I suspected had fusarium and I used a systemic on all my orchids. The new leaf growth is growing really slowly and honestly the plant hasnt produced a whole lot of foliage since I've had it. The aerial roots used to have active growing tips but now they're just little green nubs.

There are 2 new healthy looking root growths attached but they've seemed to slow their growth down now also and it isn't putting sap out, which I know these are sticky plants normally. I'm not sure if this is a reaction from the systemic I used paired with the transfer. It was planted in leca and sphagnum moss previously and often dried out completely. The light it's under was a sansi 15w grow bulb, about 1 ft away from it. I've now moved it to about 1.5ft away as a leaf yellowed and has been removed and another one is starting to yellow. I fertalise it with 'rainmix', using their recommended growth.

Any opinions on why it's not growing as crazily as other Aeridis and why it's not putting so much sap out would be greatly appreciated. It normally flowered in May/June time for me.

[estación seca]

You're probably not watering enough. It looks dessicated to me.

What are your temperatures?

I strongly doubt you had Fusarium unless your temperatures and humidity were very high. Every Fusarium-in-orchids video I've seen on YouTube was misleading fearmongering.

[Longroots]

It's in semi hydro, and I only let the reservoir run dry for 1 day and top it back up. Despite rainmix saying no need to flush, I still flush just in case.

[estación seca]

S/H requires the reservoir not dry completely. If that happens non-flushable salts build up in the LECA, and roots adapted to staying moist are unhappy. You do need to fill the reservoir at each watering for long-term success. More frequent watering in S/H is always better. Ray has written he wasn't successful with Vandas in S/H in his conditions, and speculated about it being temperature related (too low.)

[Longroots]

My cattleya is doing well in s/h so I assumed something else I was providing wasn't making it happy. I'll try keep the reservoir permanently filled for a few weeks first. I open the window at night to drop the temperature then close it in the day to give day/night drops also. I thought maybe the fungicide knocked it back a bit but who knows!

[estación seca]

If you're in the UK March nights might be too cold.

[Longroots]

It's warmer than what it used to have. When it was on the windowsill, I'd have the small window open in January for airflow in my bedroom and the Aeridis was ok. It probably dropped to about 8c, maybe less.

Now it's probably about 12-14c at night and 22-23 daytime.

[SouthPark]

It could well be the temperature lows doing its thing on the orchid's growth processes.

I just have a single Aerides orchid - which is doing nicely in the tropical conditions here.

I grow it in 100% scoria. I water the scoria regions around the outskirts (rim) of the pot, and I spray a little bit of water on any roots along the surface of the scoria. Once a month - I give it relatively weak fertiliser and relatively weak mag-cal.

The other thing to consider is temperature drop or roots temperature ------- due to evaporative effect associated with LECA growing. Wet plus cold roots could possibly lead to a slow down or even halting in processes.

[Diane56Victor]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

I just have a single Aerides orchid - which is doing nicely in the tropical conditions here.

I too have a single Aerides, Aerides leena. Bought from Bunnings in July of 2019, one of their polypak orchids. It was tiny when I bought it but has powered on in the environment here.
Growing outside under a verandah protected above and at rear by shadecloth.
Its in Orchiata bark in a clear pot with lots of holes. Watering probably once a week at the moment.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

I too have a single Aerides, Aerides leena. Bought from Bunnings in July of 2019, one of their polypak orchids. It was tiny when I bought it but has powered on in the environment here. Growing outside under a verandah protected above and at rear by shadecloth. Its in Orchiata bark in a clear pot with lots of holes. Watering probably once a week at the moment.

Thanks for sharing that nice experience DV with your Aerides from Bunnings. I didn't know Bunnings sold Aerides before! That's excellent to know about. And thanks for sharing details about how the leena is being grown in your growing area.