A New and Unruly Angraecum Sesquipedale

[Phillip C]

Dear Amey,

Thank you so very much for taking the time to answer all my questions about this sesquipedale. As you know, it is my first orchid that is really mine, though I have helped Maura with hers a good bit. There is something about having your very own that I can't describe, but I can say that I want to do it all correctly and you have been such a huge help with that. I have made an "airy" pot out of the 8 inch nursery pot that has many holes in the sides. It isn't as pretty as those you show, but I think it will get the same results. I am going to hide that inside an open weave basket and I think it will get plenty of air movement around it. I have cut the 4 inch pot off and shaken the old medium out and had to dig in the center to remove all the old stuff, but it didn't harm the roots while doing so. There were very few dead roots to worry about so I think I kept the root disturbance to a minimum. It very well may decide to be temperamental this winter and not bloom, but if it does, I will send you the first pictures.
Again,thank you for your patience, time and effort in guiding me through this process. "Charles", the sesquipedale will receive the best I have to give him in hope that he will decide to favour us with a nice bloom or two. Phillip

[cindiras]

I have been thinking of your hanging problem and looking at my coattree. Have you thought about using a coat rack or coat tree to hang some of the orchid plants beside the south door?

[Phillip C]

I hadn't thought of that, what creative idea. There are several things along those line that I will certainly consider, thank you. Phillip

[cdayinflorida]

Hi! It would be really easy to make a stand out of PVC. Just a few couplings, a couple of elbows and probably two lengths of pipe. About 20.00 US would cover it.

[Phillip C]

pvc is a great idea, cheap and easy to work with. Thank you

[Phillip C]

Thanks to everyone , they are all great suggestions. I have now repotted this beast in a larger pot with a few holes around the sides in a very course medium of radiata pine bark, charcoal and lava rock. There may be something else in there, but I don't remember. It is very free draining, nearly like pouring water directly through it, and it will fit nicely with the watering schedule of my bonsai. It is living in a south facing sliding glass door and sometimes spends the night outdoors. He even gets to go outdoors in the daytime as long as I can keep him out of direct sunlight. I expect him to live, but it's anyones guess as to whether or not he blooms this winter. Thank you all for your valuable assistance, without which I wouldn't have had a clue what to do with this monster. I'll be sure to keep y'all updated with his progress or lack thereof.

PS i got my second very own orchid yesterday, an angraecum leonis, not nearly the beast that the sesquipedale is, but just as fun. Now I have 'Charles' and "Terry, the terridactile'. Maura's leonis is named T. Rex so I continued with the dinosaur theme. The sesquipeddale is of course named Charles because he is also known as Darwin's orchid - quite a story. Again thanks for all your invaluable help. Now I must turn my attention to figuring out if Maura's paph I stepped on the bud and flattened has a chance, however small of recovery. See the thread 'Lady Slipper Murder - Ruled Accidental'. Thanks again and watch out for orchids on the floor.

[Austen]

Wow! What roots ... good luck!

Interesting thread.

[mauraec]

Wow! What roots ... good luck!

Interesting thread.

thanks - the big test is whether it will bloom at Christmas or just pout - stay tuned.

[Phillip C]

I am hoping that it will bloom, but not expecting it too. I will be most pleasantly surprised should it bloom. I have fallen victim to the orchid collecting bug and have acquired an angraecum leonis, and two neo falcatta's. I like the species and odd specimens and will be thrilled to have any of them bloom. As far as that goes, I will be more than pleased if I keep them alive for any length of time. They, along with my Bonsai tree's are in Maura's quite capable hands today and tomorrow as I am away on family business. I miss them, but have to admit, I miss her more.

Thanks for all the good ideas. I am going to treat it with loving care and hope for a bloom. Pictures will follow very shortly after it blooms as I will have my chest held high. Thanks again. Phillip