Angraecum culture

[poetiscariot]

Just opened an orchid order that included an Angraecum magdalenae. I'm so happy to finally have one of these -- I've been wanting one for a while but I'm cautious about taking on new genera. So it came, and it's a nice-sized plant, and then I saw --



What's that down at the base? I don't think I ordered a spiking plant, that would have cost more. Huh.



Why. That's an entirely unanticipated flower spike, is what that is!

My question is, what should I do to keep this plant happy to make sure it'll bloom for me? Anything in particular? I have a general sense of the culture but I would love advice/experience from those of you who've grown these.

[Roy]

Thats a flower bud you lucky thing!! This Ang, is the slowest growing one that I know of. Repot it up a size or 2 after flowering, keep it warm with good but indirect light. Don't over water it, it doesn't like it, for me anyway. An open well draining mix is best.

[Germinatorman]

I am with Roy on the culture, but as far as potting up, if you think it needs repotted I would give it a rest after it finishes blooming before repotting. Looks kinda like the media is breaking down. One trick I use is to catch the water that comes out the bottom of the pot when you water. If it appears there is coffee grounds in the water - that is broken down media and a repot is overdue.

[Dorsetman]

[QUOTE=Germinatorman;231449]I am with Roy on the culture, but as far as potting up, if you think it needs repotted I would give it a rest after it finishes blooming before repotting. Looks kinda like the media is breaking down. One trick I use is to catch the water that comes out the bottom of the pot when you water.

Well spotted - that was my first thought - looks like 20th century compost...way, way, overdue for replacement. No wonder it's spiking - it thinks itts last days have come !

As to the tick of looking to see if the drainage water looks like pale coffee or whatever, I go one further ; I use an EC/pH meter to adjust my nutrients etc, and from time-to-time I collect the last 3 or 4 teaspoons of water draining out of a pot and check to see what readings I get. If they are wildly different froim the readings of what I have just poured in - then it is time ( overdue ! ) for a repot. I have seen pH 3.5.... I have seen EC 1999 - and my meter doesn't read any higher ....wow- that was a[plant I just rescued !

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Both Roy and Don offer excellent advice. I just wanted to throw in a "LUCKY YOU"! That never happens to me. hahah...

Cheers,
BD

[poetiscariot]

Yeah, the medium looks pretty old -- that was my first worry, was that I might need to repot it right away. The leaves look maybe a little dehydrated & I wonder if it has root loss down in that decaying bark. But if you think I'll be good letting it bloom (eeeee!) first, I so will.

But I know, super lucky! Plus the main reason I made the order was for this particular plant, so it's definitely orchid magic.

Thank you all!!!!!

[Germinatorman]

It looks like there may be a new root emerging just to the right of that spike. If it develops then I would be comfortable repotting as soon as the bloom is done. This is not going to happen overnight - waiting for a spike to open is torture, especially when you first notice it this early.

[smwboxer]

I would also suggest that when you repot, use a medium that does not break down as fast as bark. Angs really don't like having their roots disturbed and kind of resent repoting. I grow mine in a coconut husk mix so they don't need fresh medium for a couple of years at a time.

[Halloamey]

You are really lucky !! These guys are really slow, I got a small sesquipedale, and it grew vigourously, so I thought ok, lets lets a small magdalene, and after 1.5 years it has just 4 new leaves LOL !

[poetiscariot]

That's about what I've heard! At first I was going to get a cheaper one from a different grower, in a 2.5" pot, but I said, man, at that size, it'd be so long before it bloomed it'd be ridiculous.

Thanks for the tip on medium, Stephen. I don't have any coco husk but I know where to get it for when I'm ready to repot (which will be. . . months from now). I was describing to a friend today how slow most orchids grow and he was clearly amused that anyone would ever enjoy growing them. Little do these people know, huh?