Sophronitis Cernua Mount

[moniluhum]

Purchased some orchids and received this one as a freebie. Read it likes dabbled light and lots of water. Any idea what temps it can handle. Thought i would put it in my greenhouse where the temps can get in the upper 80's these day, but the temps are going down. It doesn't look the healthiest. Puny I'd say but hey it was free.

[catttan]

That's a very healthy S cernua . I find that this mini catt likes to be mounted.

[chingjervis]

Wow... small but terrible...hehehe

[PaphMadMan]

It is naturally a very small plant. That is probably blooming size and looks in reasonable health. Temperature range from mid 60s to upper 80s F is ideal. A temperature drop at night is best especially when the days are near the upper end. It needs pretty strong light, nearly as much as a typical full size Cattleya hybrid. Since it is mounted you can't really over-water it. It should dry between waterings but not for more than a day if it is warm.

[kspalding]

awww its so tiny :-)

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hey no, it looks great! I can't wait to see it in bloom for you!

cheers,
BD

[Wade's Orchids]

I agree with what Kirk said. I am growing mine in a 2 inch clay pot that sits in a 3 inch pot. The media is NZ moss. If you don't like it mounted you could try that but I'd wait for spring when it will be in active growth. The light should be enough that the edges of the leaves and the central rib are reddened. Cernua is closely related to S. coccinea but doesn't need to be kept as cool. It is actually a fairly tolerant species.