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Discussion in 'Introduce Yourself' started by rollinkansas, Sep 22, 2009.

  1. Sep 22, 2009 #1
    rollinkansas

    rollinkansas Active Member

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    Hey,

    Im a newbie as well to orchids, hailing from NY. I love really small things, and the animals and plants I keep reflect that. Small geckos, and now small plants. However, orchids scare me due to the stereotype that they are so hard to keep alive....yet they offer the most amount of small-leafed plants. So its a balancing act. I have a few small pleurothallis and bulbophyllums now, and if I succeed with them, I hope to get many more in the future.

    BTW, is it bad if new bulbo cuttings are turning yellow at the leaf? Or a normal process of acclimating to my conditions?

    ai44.tinypic.com_k9ynax.jpg (one of my tiny geckos)

    Thanks,
    Mike
     
  2. Sep 23, 2009 #2
    Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    Is that thing full grown?!?!? I want some!!!

    As for bulbo leaves, it's possible that it's an acclimation issue. Do you see any new root growth on the most distal growth from the division point?
     
  3. Sep 23, 2009 #3
    harrywitmore

    harrywitmore Member

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    I recently received a Bulbo that within 24 hours of it's arrival it dropped leaves on the oldest growth. I chalk this up to acclimation since I doubt there was much I could have done to cause it that soon. I have had the plant for about 3 weeks now and it seem to be doing well.

    That is one sweet Gecko. While in Panama I saw many very small species but none like that one. Is it a Caribbean species?
     
  4. Sep 23, 2009 #4
    rollinkansas

    rollinkansas Active Member

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    Hey Harry,

    Panama actually has a species of this gecko living there that is very cool looking. But the one in the photo is from Cuba.

    Im sure its acclimation but its scary when you have a 4 bulb cutting, and 2 of the bulbs are already turning yellow.

    Im thinking of taking a 10 gallon tank, lining all the sides with eggcrate, get a small computer fan, and getting a small compact fluorescent and calling it a day. Should be sufficient I think for growing these.
     
  5. Sep 23, 2009 #5
    harrywitmore

    harrywitmore Member

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    Mike there are members here that know WAY more about growing Bulbophyllums and Orchids in general than me. The setup you mention may work well. Mine are in a greenhouse so that's where most of my experience has been. I do know that I have abused and ignored many Bulbos in my past and they seem to be very adaptable. The one i did lose was due to lack of moisture. But, there are many species and it's hard to generalize about such a huge group of plants.

    I think I saw a yellow headed gecko and a small brown species but that was about it.
     
  6. Sep 27, 2009 #6
    Manuran

    Manuran New Member

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    Mike,
    I would also tend to think it is acclimation. Are the leaves on the back bulbs turning yellow or are the bulbs themselves turning yellow. I wouldn't worry too much. In the beginning I think we have all lost a few things. Since you are starting with real miniatures, the challenge will be there. I can always send more.