Anagraecum Didieri culture?

[OrchidTraci]

I bought one of these lovely plants at a show. I know a little about growing needs, but want a little more detail to make this one happy. Any advise welcome.

[LJA]

Traci, make sure it's potted in media that drains well and fast. Angraecums like those need to be drenched, then dry off. No sustained moisture as you would for Phrags or some Paphs. Bright light will yellow the plants up in no time at all, so keep light levels similar to Maudiae Paphs. Drastic temps (either high or low) aren't welcome either; what's going to be comfortable for you (60F to 85F) will be comfortable for it, too. If you're going to put it under your HID lights, make sure you place it out to the end of where the light hits! They can tolerate ("tolerate") higher moisture or more dryness, but what's "tolerable" in the wild isn't necessarily the best. For sustained, good growth, keep humidity and air movement up.

[Forrest]

mount it.

[TundraKev]

Here's what I found about this one. It is a beauty. Congrats.

A miniature to small sized, angraecoid, hot to cool growing epiphyte with a short stem carrying 5 to 7, ligulate, coriaceous, unequally and obtusely bilobed apically leaves that is best wood mounted and likes hot to cool temperatures and a humid environment. It flowers between April and June in the northern hemisphere on a short inflorescence that carries a solitary flower and is from Madagascar in humid forests at an altitude of 600-1500 meters.

Synonyms Macroplectrum didieri Finet 1907

[OrchidTraci]

hmmmm, I'm going to get *real* technical here, so forgive me...
It is in a plastic pot with those round clay hydro thingy-majigs, charcoal, and a couple pieces of bark. Think I should move it to a clay pot or put it in a wooden basket?

[TundraKev]

best wood mounted

[OrchidTraci]

best wood mounted

does it need sphag on the mount ?

[Sue]

I wound one tha . . .

Man. I got distracted halfway through that sentence and now I don't know what I was saying. I've been hitting the cold meds.

Anyway. I found this:

Description of Angraecum didieri : A minature species from Madagascar. The small plants require a small pot or basket with a well drained media. An intermediate grower, these like other Angraecoids must have good air movement as they are intolerant of wet conditions.
Found as an epiphyte from 1500 m in the central mountain areas of Madagascar down to the coastal areas. Best grown on a slab or basket but can also be grown in a shallow pot.

[TundraKev]

Sorry Traci, hope I didn't come across as a jerk.

I'm not really sure. I know a lot of people do put a small pad of sphag on the mount just to get the plant started. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

I've talked to other folks about some of these plants and everyone seems to agree that if the recommendaton is to mount them, you really should mount them. Sometimes people are successful growing them in pots, put the casualties seem to outweight the successes. Maybe this one is different.

[LJA]

Traci, just enough sphag to give the roots some cushion--not so much that it keeps them wet for any length of time.