Koellensteinia graminea

[articuno75]

Received plant on Friday 4/4/2008. Plant is in a mix that consists of Spagh moss, Spagh peat, Dyna rock, Vermiculite? (The gold flakes ), Bark, and Perlite. Could have other stuff, but this is what I could see after digging around for a bit.

Just by the consistancy of the mix I'm thinking these are more semi-terrestial and that they like their moisture.

My plant has 6 growths, three spikes in bloom and what appears to be two new growths coming up.

The plant measures 12" leaf to leaf across and the tallest leaf is 9 1/2".

So far I have watered twice and misted with wormtea twice. I don't know about the mix, but I think I'm going to leave like it is for now.

[brandank]

Sounds like it is pretty happy the way it is. Very nice, I can't wait to see all the those blooms open. Good Luck!

[brookn]

It's so cute, I can't wait for mine to bloom.

[articuno75]

Well adjusting to the desert conditions of my apartment, the blooms fell, one of the spikes dried up, and a couple of the buds blasted.

I water when the medium is about dry, but not fully. I've only watered three times so far. Depressing.....

Still in low light and getting plenty of air.

Okay...Quit sulking already!!!

[jay]

Sorry to hear about the blooms. It is still a beautiful plant that once it adjusts should put on a nice show for you.

[janice]

Jenny, I received my Koellensteinia graminea about a week before you. Sounds like the plants are about the same size. I had one spike in bloom and another ready to open. I did repot into a fine bark mixture with charcoal, perlite and minimum sphag. It is in my living room with 2 large west windows.................and humidity can be a problem - generally runs 40 to 50 percent. The blooms are good and a lot of new growth. I did note that one new leaf is wrinkled but was that way when I got her. My blooms appear a little lighter in color. I can move it to the bedroom with the humidifier if I need to....

[articuno75]

I'm thinking I might have to do a repot and thought of putting into a similar mix, only without the spagh. If it's super dry in here at my apartment and I have to constantly wet the medium, with it having a soggy base, I'm fearing root rot. These plants need Phal conditions and I've got to find that happy medium I suppose.

[patticake]

Good luck, Jenny.

[Tobi]

Jenny,
I repotted mine in a fine bark, fine charcoal, and perlite mix. I also added some finely
chopped NZ sphag. I think if you chop it up really well and get it mixed in with the other
media, you would have less of a chance for root rot and still maintain the moisture.
I also lost my buds that were just starting to open. Prob. due to the 40 F temperatures
when it arrived and sat on my front porch until I got home from work. All and all, it
does have new growth and looks fine.

[articuno75]

I was going to do a repot on this a couple of days ago because of the bad roots that were sticking out of the bottom of the pot. I actually had this thing half way out of the pot and then I stopped. There are all kinds of new roots just shooting everywhere!

I just stopped what I was doing and stuck everything back in place. There's no point in messing with a good thing.

I think I can sacrifice a few bad for the many good to come. So if my plant bombs, at least we'll know why.

[articuno75]

This thing is spitting out the most ugliest roots I've ever seen! It kind of grosses me out. Unlike the roots of a Phal (that look cool ) or a Paph, (creepy spider, LOL) these to me look like nasty grubs! (oversized maggots) Yuck!!!!

[solay]

Ah, I think I will stay away from buying one of those. This is a first. I usually want to buy what everyone else has. Maggots!!! No thanks. The blooms are nice though. Jenny, you are right! YUCK!

[articuno75]

I'll get a pic up later so all can see.

[articuno75]

See what I mean? Eewwwww.

[brookn]

Wait till you see mine, little maggots everywhere. I think they are kind of cool, those Paph roots still make me shiver lol. I haven't even got the courage to repot yet, and that monster spider leg is crawling out even further ewww! Yours is looking good.

[Tobi]

Geez Jen, they sure do look weird! Made me run and take a look at mine. The roots look
pretty normal and healthy on the one I got. Looks like Brook has the same scenerio

Sorry about the blurriness. Too much coffee this morning.

[articuno75]

Originally Posted by Tobi

Geez Jen, they sure do look weird! Made me run and take a look at mine. The roots look
pretty normal and healthy on the one I got. Looks like Brook has the same scenerio

Sorry about the blurriness. Too much coffee this morning.

Mine look like that a little further down in the medium, but the ones growing near the top....They just freak me out to the point I don't want to touch it. I use my pokey stick instead.

[Tobi]

Originally Posted by articuno75

Mine look like that a little further down in the medium, but the ones growing near the top....They just freak me out to the point I don't want to touch it. I use my pokey stick instead.

I could almost visualize you poking around in your mix with a stick afraid
of what you might find.

[patticake]

Jenny, You're too funny! I think they look kind of cool...New roots mean healthy plants! Keep us posted on the maggots!