Coch. Amazing

[Mark V]

This little cutie just opened up this morning. This bloom doesn't have as much scent as the ones that came from the green house when I bought it.

Juilie, it only started spiking two weeks ago. Now we'll see how long the bloom lasts.

[Tmai]

It's a beauty! Love that purple veining in the lip!

[Molly Taco]

I would like to have one of those!!!
Cin

[Diane]

How large is the bloom, and what conditions do the plants like?

[desertgal]

That is simply gorgeous! Good job!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Mark!

That is a nice bloom!

Cheers,
BD

[Mark V]

The bloom is 3" across. It came from a grower in Hawaii through my local vendor. The grower pllanted in a mix of bark, charcoal, lava rock, perlite and a healthy amount of a timed release, encapsulated fertilizer. It sits in a south facing, screened window, gets watered about every five days. Full strength fertilizer once a month just after leaching(very hard water in my town), 1/8th strength fertilizer foliar misted daily. There are two new shoots and I've been told this type of plant will bloom year round. It has a nice delicate scent. I bought a Milt. at the same time and it is crapping out on me while this one thrives. Go figure?

As you can see I have a repotting question. The present medium is very fresh. I am thinking of moving it to a round clay pot that snugly fits the corners of the square rootball, leave the present medium intact and fill the edges with new medium. How does that sound?

[Piper]

That's a nice, healthy plant, Mark! Lovely flower too.

I always like to work ord media out, but given that you've got a bloom, you might just want to repot it with as little stress as possible. Once the bloom fades, I'd soak the root mass to make the roots more flexible, and then work the roots free and get the old chips out of there. By loosening the roots, you'll need a bigger pot, but think of the extra aeration they'll be getting!

My plants love clay, but it does require more frequent watering.

McJulie

[Diane]

The media may be fine, but if you dont loosen those roots up, when you check again in 5 months you will still have a square rootball in that round pot. I'd follow Julies suggestion of enjoying your bloom, then working the root mass loose.