Aerangis ellisii windowsill culture help

[Giraffidae]

My Aerangis ellisii var. grandiflora has been growing leaves and roots quite well in semi-hydro culture, but I'm afraid that because I grow on a windowsill, it has prevented flowering.
During the first two years I've grown this plant, I have been rotating it every few weeks or so, in order to have a plant rising straight up into the air in response to the natural light source emanating from one direction only. There have been no bloom spikes so I have stopped rotating the plant, fearing that this is something that just doesn't occur in nature and would prevent the plant from trying to bloom.
Over a year ago, I inserted a stake for the thing to lean on and put it in its own spot in the collection to grow without rotating it. Nothing special going on with this plant as of today.
Does anyone have any opinions about this plant and its requirements for flowering on a windowsill?

Thank you,
Bill

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Maybe you could increase the light levels? Is there a brighter spot for it to grow? Could you supplement the light with artificial light? Usually when an orchid is old enough to bloom and doesn't it is due to insufficient light.

Cheers,
BD

[navyderek]

Maybe you could increase the light levels? Is there a brighter spot for it to grow? Could you supplement the light with artificial light? Usually when an orchid is old enough to bloom and doesn't it is due to insufficient light.

Bruce has it right.... usually orchids that don't bloom in cultivation are not receiving enough light. Based on its home climate, I wouldn't think the particular species needs any kind of significant resting period or temperature drops to initiate flowering. So, I'd just do what BD said and move it right up into a window and see how it responds.

[leisurely]

I just came across your post and was curious to find out if your Aerangis ever bloomed.

[Orchidmorris]

What a great plant you are growing, especially knowing that it's grown inhouse! Congratulation. This elisii is normal to grow with stilts to stabelize itself so it can grow higher and higher.
Stewart in Angraecoid Orchids states that it's an epiphyte from Madagascar growing in forest and open scrub from 300-2000m. So knowing this the most likely reason for not flowering is light. Light gives energy and flowering costs a lot of energy. I also grow inhouse and I had the same problem with some species. Scince a few years I bring my plants outside during summertime. They don't receive direct sun light but being outside in the shade give such a huge impulse for my plants that they reward me with a lot more flowers than before. Also you see the leave turn darker green and some species start making a lot of antocyanines (purple colour). This is also pure energy inside the plant.

I hope you have the opportunity to get your elisii outside and that you can show flowers next year !!!

Good luck!

[Giraffidae]

Wow!
It's been seven years since I posted that request for help on Aerangis elisii. It still hasn't bloomed but at least it's still alive. It's been dropped, broken, chopped down, repotted, divided, and for the past two years it's been able to go outside in the summer.
Thanks for the interest and help, but I believe this one needs a greenhouse, at least here in Oregon. It's almost July and we're still getting night temperatures in the forties and during the day, when temperatures rise to what this plant likes, the humidity drops below 10%.
Not giving up!
Posted via Mobile Device

[78Terp]

Wow!
but I believe this one needs a greenhouse, at least here in Oregon. It's almost July and we're still getting night temperatures in the forties and during the day, when temperatures rise to what this plant likes, the humidity drops below 10%.
Not giving up!
Posted via Mobile Device

I am thinking of moving to Oregon after I retire. Eugene probably and my hope is to build a greenhouse there.