some new blooms in the tanks

I apologize I have not posted any pics in a while so here are some things in bloom at the moment:
Lepanthes inca


Masdevallia manchinizae




Chilostachia species (sold as viridiflava, most likely parishii)


Dendrobium unicum


Pleurothallis amphigya



Dendrobium bracteosum var. tanii


and 2 of the 4 grow areas


ENJOY!

 

I don't think it is. The first time I have seen it was at Andy's and he reluctantly parted with one. I have not seen it listed for sale anywhere. It grows and blooms easily for me.

 

I mist all of them 2X a day and I water through the potted plants as needed. Everything by hand. I have 5 grow areas. 4 for miniatures. The last for paphs.

 

Thanks Scruffy.
Here are a few more South American species.

Masdevallia prodigiosa trying to open.


Lepanthes caprimulgus


Phloeophila carrilloi


Masdevallia sanctae-inesae


Lepanthes tsubotae (for Tom-DE: not too bad for 2 months to the day)


Porroglossum portillae

 

Scruffy I am more than happy to help and share with you my successes and failures. I have prepared some I go for my local society and a few other people like yourself.

Diurnal range is met by keeping myself uncomfortable sometimes. I see it as all for the greater good. I grow all my species together hot-cold. There are some that do far better than others during certain parts of the year . I seldom lose plants to temps in my opinion. Maybe a telipogon here or there. I can send you a message with some more detailed info.

 

Scruffy- since I moved out of Chicago, the nights are much cooler here (I know live in the mountains-more or less). I can get temps down to about 60F in the tanks during Spring and Fall just by opening the windows in the house or having the swamp cooler on. In the summers I have used an additional window unit AC for more help. In the Winter I keep the room COLD. Temps in the tanks can get down to the high 40s or low 50s consistently at night and the highs never get over 65F or so. If all the other cultural conditions are met, less than ideal temps are an irritation but not detrimental.
In the past I used to pot all the colder plants in Terra Cotta/clay pots to help keep temps down but I have found issues with drainage and such. I often get a big mat of moss that restricts the water flow through the media. So now most things are in clear plastic which makes it much easier to keep an eye on.
I also use a cool air humidifier that pumps into one tank that has most of the PNG Dendrobiums and Lepanthes.

 

I use the fogger 3X a day at 15 min intervals about 3 hours apart. The last time is about 3 hours before the lights turn off.

 

Thanks Tom. The inca is from Andy. I have only had it since March so I may still screw it up. He has it mounted on a slim piece of cedar that dries out VERY quickly. I believe that the moss is wrapped to tightly. Do you have any suggestions for a proper mount to keep it happy?

 

I know what you mean. I often hesitate to remount minis such as Lepanthes that are freshly imported. If I can get the plant to establish better on the mount as is, I usually will leave it. On occasions that has proven to be a mistake-and most often with tree fern.