Ascocentrum miniatum - Orchid Board

Neofalcata · #1 (**permalink**) 06-01-2006, 04:59 PM

Does anybody grow this? If so, how do you grow yours and is it doing well? I just bought one, and it is doing OK, but I don't know if I am treating it right.

littlefrog · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2006, 11:17 AM

I don't know if I do anything special. If you are growing neos, same conditions except don't let them get nearly as cold. They would probably look pretty cool in a neo pot.

For me, they do well in baskets. Or mounted. But they don't do at all well for me in plastic pots.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neofalcata

Does anybody grow this? If so, how do you grow yours and is it doing well? I just bought one, and it is doing OK, but I don't know if I am treating it right.

Ray · #3 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 09:53 AM

Bright, bright, bright! They will get lots of spots that will worry you, but don't.

Like other vandaceous plants, their roots really seem to like to breathe, so Rob's comment on avoiding plastic pots is a good one, in my opinion. I have mine in baskets of nothing, charcoal, or PrimeAgra, and they do absolutely great with a lot of heavy watering and feeding (they dry out within a couple of hours of such treatment).

Oscarman · #4 (**permalink**) 06-10-2006, 11:12 PM

Mine did do well in a plastic pot. Upon reading about their love of air, I switched it to a plastic mesh pot something like this

Unfortunately it was not so happy afterwards and sulked. It seemed to loose it's will to live and packed it in!

Ray · #5 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 10:32 AM

One more thing - non-cultural - to keep in mind is that most of the A. miniatums in culture are actually A. garayi.

I'll be damned if I can tell the difference, though...

Mahon · #6 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 10:35 AM

...used to grow this one, along with the closely related Asco. garayi.

The true Asco. miniatum (which are uncommon), are tougher to grow... the plants tend to look ugly, and the leaves shrivel all the time (at least for me). I kept the plant wet, watered it almost as much as my high elevation Epidendrums (which = lots of water!).

If you have the other (they almost look exactly the same) species, Asco. garayi, they are better growers and flower more freely, less water. I kept it with same conditions as my Asco. ampullaceum and Asco. curvifolium... which is a slightly shady area, and allowed the plants to dry between waterings.

If you have Asco. miniatum, I grow it in a clay pot with a very course medium (to allow lots of air to pass through). If you have Asco. garayi, then it is best to put in a basket, most likely a wooden one (haven't tried the plastic one)...

(I'm replying a little late...)

-Pat