Intake Photos- Details April 5 2008

[clarita]

2 Aspasia lunata's for this project.
1 Koellensteinia graminea in bud

Aspasia
Aspasia 1 (left)
5 growths
- Oldest growth measures 9.5" . There are 2 old previously bloomed bulbs.
-There are 3 new growths; ranging from 7" in height to 2.5"-3".
Plant is vigorously growing new roots

Aspasia 2 (center)
5 growths
-3 Older previously bloomed growths. 7" in height
- 3 new growths all the same height 3.75"
Plant is vigorously growing new roots



I have decided I would like to give them different conditions. Different types of light in 2 different indoor grow areas, ie wonderlight and cfl/incandescent combo. I may may put one outdoors for the summer and keep one inside. One will be grown a a median temp of 77ºF day and 60º Night, my main grow area conditions. The other will be grown in cooler conditions as indicated by cultural information I have collected on the species

Koellensteinia graminea

-Specimen is 10" at oldest growth.
-Appears to have 9 grwoths total, 1 in bloom at time of intake.
3 small white and red striped flowers with yellow centers. Slightly sweet fragrance mid-day

Koellensteinia will be grown in my main grow area in my standard conditions 77ºF day and 55-60ºF Nights. I may need to adjust the temps if the plant stalls. My research indicates that this is a warm growing species

-Blooming growth is 6".
-Newest growth is 2.5"

[clarita]

Update 4-30-08
Aspasia #1 has been placed under big lights (mercury vapour)
Aspasia #2 under a CFL set up for this experiment

Aspasia # 1 runs a bit warmer than cultural recommendations. It will be interesting to see if this impacts the plants growth.

Aspasia #2 is on a longer run time to compensate for the lack of fc's but is at a more appropriate temp. I don't like the look of the older growth. The bulbs are getting a little thin. It may be the growth habit of the plant or there may be something else going on. I have cut back on the water to see if I can't make the PB's fatten up. I feel this is a symptom of light and I am opting to water this plant seperately from now on (Mass watering)


The Koll is growing.
People mistake it for a pot of grass that needs a mow. This plants has also been placed under the stonger light and is a warmer growing species. It finished its bloom cycle soon after it was received. 3 new growths have begun. The thin leaves are a bit difficult to manage. They are long and can bruise easy. This plant is being watered during my regular "Mass Watering" schedule.

It is being grown a bit cooler than culture indicates. I may change its placement slightly to bump the temps and see what that does for it

[Tobi]

Hi Clara,
Nice blooms on the Koellensteinia. When I received mine about 5 weeks ago, it had
2 spikes but I lost most of the buds due to blast. I received it when it was about 40 F
here and it sat on my front porch until I got home from work. However it has recovered
nicely and now has 9 new growths that are growing faster than my hair. It is still in
my east window receiving minimal morning sun and I bumped the humidity up to about
65-70% in the room. I have been running my large ceiling fan pretty much 16 hours
a day. So far so good!

[clarita]

Hi Tobi
I picked mine up from Oak Hill. The blooms on the Koll. were very short lived. Gone in days. Do you think they are just that way?

[Tobi]

Hard to tell since most of mine blasted, but the two open blooms that survived are still
alive after 5 weeks. Might be an adjustment period to its new environment. I hoping
when the new growths do bloom, they will be around for a while.

[Stitz]

Re: Aspasia #2, "The bulbs are getting a little thin. It may be the growth habit of the plant or there may be something else going on."

I have grown this species for many years. What you describe is normal. The source of my plants is located in Santa Catarina, Brasil.

--Stitz--

[sandra]

Originally Posted by clarita

Update 4-30-08
Aspasia #1 has been placed under big lights (mercury vapour)
Aspasia #2 under a CFL set up for this experiment

Aspasia # 1 runs a bit warmer than cultural recommendations. It will be interesting to see if this impacts the plants growth.

Aspasia #2 is on a longer run time to compensate for the lack of fc's but is at a more appropriate temp. I don't like the look of the older growth. The bulbs are getting a little thin. It may be the growth habit of the plant or there may be something else going on. I have cut back on the water to see if I can't make the PB's fatten up. I feel this is a symptom of light and I am opting to water this plant seperately from now on (Mass watering)

Hi again Clara! So glad you posted updates.

Aspasia #2: Are the new growths showing any adverse signs? If the back pb's aren't as plump as you feel they should be, why do you think it's because of the light it's receiving? Have they gotten thinner/wrinkly since you've gotten it? Do you think it's because of the light or too much water? How much were you watering?

And how warm under mercury vapor does it get?

Speaking of light, please shed some on me. I haven't a clue with the Aspasia except a small amount of dappled light but mostly shady and it's proving to be a very thirsty plant!

[Stitz]

Sandra,

Aspasia lunata tolerates high levels of diffuse light, not direct sunlight. This species requires large volumes of water compared to many other orchids while in active growth.

--Stitz--

[clarita]

Normal by who's standards?
If a bulb is thinning and shriveling this is a strong indication of improper watering habits at some stage. I find that especially true of the new world species. If they don't have to work a little for their water then they don't store it.... Reliable source bulbs thin down

If you recall a previous discussion, the same principle is working with Ida locusta. The bulbs do not elongate. She is not being watered in the same way as she was...ida's PB's plumps out, rather than elongate (That and light source is not quite the same)

Looks to me as if the cultivar may have overwatered during dry season which isn't uncommon. This may compromise the plant in the future, time will tell

[Stitz]

Clara,

You wrote, "Normal by who's standards?"

I described my Aspasia lunata plants. They came directly from Santa Catarina State, Brasil—their natural home. Standard?

In the Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids, Alex Hawkes refers to the pseudobulbs as "laterally compressed". In the Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia, they are described as "strongly laterally compressed pseudobulbs".

Charles Baker (Orchid Culture - Charles and Margaret Baker) as quoted from OrchidWiz: "WATER: ….in the habitat, rain is relatively heavy most of the year, but for 2-3 somewhat drier months in winter conditions are drier, but it is not a true dry season. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily most of the year, but conditions around the roots should never be stale or soggy."

--Stitz--

[clarita]

Sandra They allegedly do well in 1500-2300fc's according to Baker's. I am running #1 in catt light. The situ temps are low side of intermediate nearing cool. Typical cloud forest upper 60's-70's day and 50's night. My Mercury lamps are upper 70's. I have started to put them outside when I can. We have been having some perfect cloud forest weather.

Yes I think that they may be a bit warm and stalled out. Lunata #2 wasn't super plump when I received it. It has slightly declined. That may be the light it is receiving and my "mass watering". I have to water that less frequently b/c its under a cfl. So yes I think I am overwatering. I have been watering it once every 6 days.

Lunata 1 is getting up near 80º daily and about 55-60 at night. I think its heat stalled and I am, moving it

While Bakers does decribe Moderate to heavy when actual rainfall numbers are reviewed, this is not moderate or heavy rainfall. In an indoor condition the key sentence is
conditions around the roots should never be stale or soggy."

That is dependent on light heat humidity and air. I am not growing in situ. I cannot replicate but rather interpret Baker's data for my own environment. Monthly rainfall averages for the 3 summer months 6-9" 1/2 the year they receive 1-3" Hardly Moderate to Heavy, especially when applied indoors.

My suspicion is really what I wrote above. The plant didn't rest this past winter or 2 so I have to keep an eye on the water. Dry it up. It hasn't affected the new growths other than to slow them down. If I continue as is the new growth will be affected

Is anyone finding they like to dry out like a catt in between watering?

[clarita]

#1 is in spike- It was the less vigorous growing. I've had that under vapour lights and warmer than #2

#2 had more vigorous growth and is under a cfl. No sign of spiking or any significant growth

Lunata #1 Spike


Observations:
Looking at some of the other posts, heat may be a factor. Even though cultural recommendations are on the cool side of intermediate, I'm not finding that the plant grows as well as it could under cooler conditions.

Diurnal range may also be a secondary factor (?) Lunata #1 has a more substantial drop in night temps...

Indoor growers tend to be about 1 month behind G/H and more temperate growers

Sandra what are your temps currently? I'm curious as I believe yours was the first to flower and you live on the opposite end of the USA

We still aren't out of 60's 40's range

[sandra]

Originally Posted by clarita

Sandra what are your temps currently? I'm curious as I believe yours was the first to flower and you live on the opposite end of the USA

Clara, sorry for this late response, I've just noticed your question.

I thought this was intermediate to warm growing but anyway, temps have been steadily climbing since I got this. Average temps by the time it started blooming was low to mid 80's. Heavy humidity is upon us now and prior, was averaging around 70-80% I also thought this needed low light which is definitely not so. Brooke's Aspasia is phenonminal...check it out. She's growing in higher light than described also. Since moving mine into brighter light, I'm having more success (the 2 stems with the buds that were stuck are slowly growing). I also noticed this morning that one of the stems has a second bud on it.

[patticake]

My Aspasia lunata has gotten a few new blooms. I have it in a south window (but up-north!) I water her when she starts to looks dry, but I am enjoying the new blooms as they pop up! I have 4 blooms, now, and a few on the way! It surely isn't a low-light plant. I have mine where I have my Catts, and it's doing well! Go figure!!
I know that she probably wouldn't like a lot of direct sun, but she sure tells me that she likes where she is! Yay!

[Stitz]

patticake,

You're right! Aspasia lunata is definitely NOT a low-light plant! Charles Baker indicates a light level of 1500-2300 for this species. I measured light at the plant's level today at ~ 5100 fc during midday hours. My plant has been thriving for several years. Today's measurement is consistent with one that I took in late summer of last year at ~ 4900 fc. These measurements are substantially higher than the levels cited by Baker.

--Stitz--

[clarita]

I wouldn't grow lunata in anything approaching vanda light. That is extreme. Asp lunata doesn't have thick enough foliage to endure such a beating, however Sandra and Patti you are finding the same as I am; Aspasia definately needs more light and heat than indicated by Bakers. Mine went into spike when I moved it into catt light. Nights are still very cool but temps with the lights are averagting 80's

The one I have under the cfl and the lower temps is doing nothing... I am going to leave it there for a time to see if its just "delayed". Indoor growers run about a month behind, but I suspect the light and temps are wholely inadequate to bloom this plant.

[Stitz]

Clara,

I agree with you. I won't grow my Aspasia lunata in anything approaching Vanda light!

Super Moderator jerrymeola once wrote, "Vandas require very high light levels around 8000 foot candles. I grow mine outside year round without any shade in full southern light. (Mature plants) Here in SW Florida that is up to 11,000 foot candles of light."

--Stitz--