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Aerangis ellesii - culture

Discussion in 'Orchid Culture' started by Chalti, Jun 23, 2021.

  1. Jun 23, 2021 #1
    Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    Hi everyone,

    Just got Aerangis ellesii as present from a friend. I have searched internet for culturee tips, but they are somehow controversal... Anyone has experience? Can you please evaluate my conclusions?

    Light : something like Phal's,
    Temperature: room temperature will generally do, likes pretty good drop in temperatures between day and night, in winter can tolerate pretty low temp at night (source says even 9-11C). Likes air movement, like most of orchids
    Humidity: 75-80%´summer, 65-70% winter. Here is a question: can it still do ok in usual room humidity of about 40% + spraying once/twice a day? Or it is quite demanding about humidity?
    Water: heavily during spring-summer, but roots should dry out between watering, and quite fast. So I would say, soaking quite often but ensuring fast drying out of roots. Autumn-winter (not in active growth) - less water, let it stay dry for a couple of days + misting once in a while. Will this do?
    Media: shallow pot or basket with middle-size bark, no spagnum to ensure fast drying... Or some water retention is needed? My weather conditions are quite moderate, we live near sea in nother Europe, so extreme heat/dryiness happen very rarely. Mount is not for me, it seems, since they write that it may require several waterings a day.

    What do you think? Did I get it right?
     
  2. Jun 23, 2021 #2
    Raven

    Raven Well-Known Member

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    I wouldn't try to increase your humidity by spraying it several times a day. Water droplets produced by spray can increase the chances of bacterial or fungal infections. I have an automatic sprayer in my greenhouse activated when the humidity gets below 65% and the only plants that enjoy it are the ones that like to stay constantly moist, ie Pleurothallids, some PNG Dendrobiums, some Bulbos. None of the Angraecoids enjoyed that environment. IMHO, this species can tolerate humidity down to 40% very well during winter when it is resting. Why not move it outside during the summer months (balcony, etc) so it can enjoy higher humidity?
     
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  3. Jun 23, 2021 #3
    Raven

    Raven Well-Known Member

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    Just saw that you are in Denmark. I would grow this species much brighter than Phalaenopsis. In your northern location, it can be a south-facing window during winter months and an east-facing window during summer.
     
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  4. Jun 23, 2021 #4
    Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    Raven, thank you for reply... Ok, understood with sparying and light. I actually have some of my Phals on a big West-facing window with 2 hours of afternoon sun, but they seem to manage ok. Would that be fine for Aerangis as well? What about my Media / Watering ideas? Does it seem to fit?
    20210622_171139.jpg
     
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  5. Jun 25, 2021 #5
    Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    Hi, anyone else can comment something?
    I am reading at one source that the planr should be planted in shallow pot/basket with middle size / fine cork to allow good aeration and fast drying between waterings, and in the other - that the plant enjoys moisture and should never dry out... First sounds like Catleya-type, second - closer to Oncidium-type watering scheme... so what it is?
     
  6. Jun 25, 2021 #6
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I have grown this plant in warm (65F minimum winter nights) and cool (50F minimum winter night) and it has done well in both. In both cases, the plants put out a lot of aerial. I would put it in medium bark and water it as is approaches dryness at the bottom of pot but not let it go dry for any extended period of time.
     
  7. Jun 26, 2021 #7
    Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    Thank you, Marni! And what about winter? they say it should get a lot less water... it sounded to me like it should actually go totally dry. What do you think?
     
  8. Jun 26, 2021 #8
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I just looked up a rainfall chart for this species and it does come from a dry winter area. I haven't been doing that, so maybe I'll give it a try. I wouldn't leave them completely dry. Some occasional watering or periodic misting would probably be a good idea. Even though precipitation is low in winter there looks to be a 20F day/nigt differential in temperature at this time which would give a lot of dew to increase the moisture they receive.
     
  9. Jun 28, 2021 #9
    Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    yes, true, I thought so too... Ok, I think I understood the mail guideline. I something - I will screem for help again :) Thank you, Marni :)
     
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