Renanthera growing : Pot or Hanging basket?

[Naoki]

Hi all, although I have been growing Vandas under my setting rather successfully, I am bit confused on growing Renanthera. Maybe due to my being in Pacific NW, all I have seen so far are in the potted culture. But, I cannot grow it well.

This is the 3rd time I am trying to grow this sucker. Should I take it out of the pot and grow with other Vandas? I also would like to know how I can grow it in a pot. I bought it in March, but it only put out three new leave. Are they slow growers?
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[Dorsetman]

I grow a dozen or so Renantheras - mostly species - with my ( strap-leaved) Vandas - all hanging up , all potted. The renantheras get sprayed daily in summer, twice daily in hot weather ( pretty rare this year in UK ! ) and every few days in winter. Spraying is with rain water. They also get dunked in water/fertiliser mix, every couple of weeks. Ren. storei and phillipinensis for example grow several pairs of leaves a year, and flower every few months ; monachica and bella, with different kinds of leaves , much thicker, narrower, and harder, are much slower, and usually flower only annually. R citrina is also a fast grower, as are the few hybrids I have.
The first one I had, bought perhaps 8 or 10 inches high, grew too tall - over 5 feet including the spike, and I couldn't get it in my car to take to shows, so I recently chopped it in half - there were plenty of long aerial roots on both parts - and it took 6 weeks for the bottom half to break out a new growth ;the top half has started some new roots and a new leaf too. I reckon I have had that plant about 3 years.

[eorchids]

so I recently chopped it in half - there were plenty of long aerial roots on both parts - and it took 6 weeks for the bottom half to break out a new growth ;the top half has started some new roots and a new leaf too. I reckon I have had that plant about 3 years.

I did the same for my Renanthera storiei which were too big. I got 2 new growths for the bottom half and the top half grows well.
I grow it in the same conditions as for Vanda, in a clay pot with bark. It blooms with 1 or 2 spikes, 2 or 3 times a year.
Here it is before I cut it (about 1.80m high, I bought it 60cm high 4 years ago) :

[Naoki]

Thanks, Geoff. I just pulled it out of the pot and decided to grow it with my other Vandas without any medium.

It is Renanthera Nancy Chandler ( = R. storiei x R. Brookie Chandler ) is about 12 inches tall. Hopefully, it gets adjusted to the new environment.

[Dorsetman]

I bought a seedling a few months ago - Nancy Chandler - its growing leaves bigger than any I have seen on a Renanthera so far, but still only six inches high. We can compare flowers one day.....

[Roy]

I have 1 Renan', a hybrid, growing in a basket pot in the same basic mix I use around some Vandas, coarse bark & perlite. It hangs up with the Vandas & Ascda etc, in a little more light than then & is growing will. I have a few smaller plants, species, growing in pots of straight perlite on the bench. They are also doing well.

[pavel]

Glad Roy posted. I was just going to suggest that if you don't have success this time perhaps try in a basket with media (kind of a happy medium between potted and "naked vanda style"). With Roy's post, now have affirmation from an experienced grower that that method can work.

[Naoki]

I like the idea of "growing in pots of straight perlite".

Thanks, Roy.

[pavel]

I like the idea of "growing in pots of straight perlite".

Alternatively, as I find perlite to be a pain with its being so 'fly away' and 'float away', you could also pot in straight hydroton/primagra.

[catttan]

Among the vandaceous, I have found Renantheras to be the most difficult to grow. At the moment I have Ren Singaporeans( a mini type), 2 varieties of Rnps Lena Rowold, Ren Nancy Chandler x storeii, and Rnst Bangkok Beauty ( Rnst Azimah x Ren Bangkok Flame). I have posted pictures of the latter. It is the most robust renanthera hybrid I have ever grown and very free flowering - flowering at every leaf axil but only on one side of the plant. However I have over the years, grown and killed Ren storeii, coccinea, Nancy Chandler, Hirohito and Brookie Chandler. All my Renantheras and hybrids are grown in clay or plastic pots in charcoal medium - our 'normal' growing medium here; under the same growing condition as for strap leaf vandas.

I'm posting a picture of the last blooming of Rnst Bangkok Beauty with 3 side branches and 90 flowers. The plant is still only 18 inches tall and the 12th spike is already 3 inches long. I just hope it doesn't bloom itself to death! Sorry for the poor quality of the picture.