Arachnanthe (Esmeralda) clarkei culture

[ozorchid]

Good evening to all. Just managed to score a plant/ cutting of Arachnanthe clarkei. Now, the confusion begins!! some say it needs intermediate culture with bright light and others that it requires cool conditions with low light...which should I adhere to? I was under the impression that it is a Hymalain species thus needing cool temperatures as per my Vanda coerulea but with the difference being that it needs low light? would someone help with this and maybe provide some culture tips as it is one of my most wanted orchids and I would hate it to not survive. I am mounting it on a slab of tree fern this evening and am wondering where to put it in my greenhouse, which by the way is not heated here in Melbourne Aust.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
A good evening to all.
Cheers

[clintdawley]

Hi There. This plant is a cool-growing plant that requires medium light levels. (At least according to the 'Orchid Bible')

Common Name Clark's Arachnanthe [English Botanist and Orchid Collector in India 1800's]

Found as a large, cool growing, monopodial epiphyte with a pendant stem carrying oblong-lorate, coriaceous leaves that blooms in the fall to late winter on a 8" [20 cm] long, 3 to 4 flowered inflorescence with fragrant flowers.

[ozorchid]

Good morning and thanks for your reply. That was what I read too, so I have mounted the little guy on tree fern and will keep all informed on how it goes. As far as light goes though, how bright would medium light be? dendrobium light or should I give sarcochilus light? I guess over winter not so much of a problem here but would you say 50% shade cloth? let me know what you think. Cheers

[clintdawley]

Gosh, without knowing how "harsh" the light is in Australia, I have no idea as to how much shade cloth you would need...I would think hard-cane dendrobium type light. Fort Worth, Texas is 32.77 N latitude and Melbourne is 47 S. You are farther away from the equator than we are, so I would assume you would need less shade cloth during the hot summer months..but I'm just guessing..

Any other Aussies want to chime in? I've never had the opportunity to visit your country, but I've always wanted to go to Alice Springs..

[ozorchid]

Thanks for that, I think you are right...we are further away from the equator, but...in summer we have very intense sunlight and scorchingly hot days, very much like the mediteranean climate, winter though it gets cooler and sunlight is less intense thus much more ameable to growing orchids in full sunlight. This summer I will try 30% shade cloth and see how I go. Would love this plant to flower. Thanks for your help.
BTW Alice Springs is fantastic, quite a majestic place but a word of warning...don't open your mouth to speak! you'll end up with a mouthful of flies!!LOL they are everywhere and on you...
Cheers

[clintdawley]

*grin*

I thought you were going to say, "Don't open up your mouth there, because they don't take kindly to Americans."

Flies I can handle *wink*

Keep us posted on your progress. Hopefully this guy will bloom for you soon. (Maybe next Fall/Winter?)

[ozorchid]

He he he... No, we love the yanks here. Pretty laid back kind of people,not much bothers us, unless it's those pesky orchids that refuse to flower!!! take care and again, thank you for your help.
Cheers from OZ

[Shaydra]

Hehe... Ozzies would always ask me to say certain words and then laugh and tell me they loved my accent... Feeling is mutual! By the time I left, I could tell the difference between an aussie and kiwi accent.

[ozorchid]

He he he...Yeah the accents are kind of similar until you ask a kiwi to say "chips" and "fish". BTW I love new zealand, beautiful place and beautiful people.

[orchid-man]

30% shade would be worth a good starting point but I think that your winter temps may be toooooooooo cold for it,without some heating