What did I get into....

[Medelia]

Hey everyone!
Me and my friend went to an orchid show today and we had the crazy idea to buy a Rhynchostylis Sri Siam. The thing is, we have no idea on how to care for it.
Help... please....
Here are picture of the monster:

[Shannara]

Oh my...what a big plant you have! If that were my baby I would put it outside and give it morning sun to start with...I would guess this guy wants good bright light, but I wouldn't put it in afternoon sun. Depending on your weather you may not be able to put it outside, so either near a sunny east window, or if you have a greenhouse even better. If there is no potting medium around the roots you could water/mist once a day...twice on hot days.

Someone else might chime in who has more experience with this type of an orchid.

HTH

Shann~

[Medelia]

Thank you for your advices ^^
But as the temperature here is still in the minuses I will wait until summer to allow them out!
I also have a question about dead roots...
Do we cut them off or do we leave them be?
And night time watering? Is good? Or should I avoid it at all cost?

[Shannara]

I would avoid watering at night simply because of fungal issues. Try watering earlier in the day. If your sure the roots are dead I don't see the harm in removing them. If you need to work the roots into a larger basket in the future you could soak them for 5 minutes first so they are pliable.

HTH

Shann~

[dounoharm]

definately avoid watering at nite....give it as much sun as you can....and mist the roots at least twice during the day...hang it in the shower and give it a good watering about every 3-4 days....gl

[Medelia]

Thank you for your anwsers.... but I have more questions.... (too many of them)
At what time should I stop misting them? How long before sun down? Or before I go to bed and there is no more light in the room?
And for the cuts, do I use cinnamon like for the phals?

[sunshine]

I am taking a wild guess here but your chid looks like it's in the vanda family. Learn the culture for your chid and you and your chid will be happy.

I see you live in Canada and I would not put my chid outside. Probally after Memorial Day or the last danger of frost has passed. I love vanda's. The color range is awesome but I donot have the right growing conditions or the time to care for a chid that needs constant attention. Before I buy I ask what type of growing conditons this plant needs. If it sounds like too much work and really complicated, no matter how pretty it stays at the nursery

Btw I can see why you bought it. The color is gorgeous

AOS | Vanda

[Medelia]

It is very pretty! And the color is the reason I bought it.... ^^
The care seemed complicated enough as the import person told me about it and I dried him of all that he knew about it!
Now I am just wondering about some specification I do not know about.
And one vanda, at least until I am certain that one will survive, is enough.
Now time to go back to the show!

[dounoharm]

generally speaking, plants sleep at nite...after the sun is down they no longer perform photosynthesis....therefor any water remaining on the leaves doesnt get utilized by the plant, so it just hangs out, giving all sorts of fungus and bacteria a place to get started....thats why you want to water early in the day, and not mist after about 3pm....give your babies a chance to dry out before nitefall....

[rcb]

ok, I'm going to jump in and give a different opinion. sorry all.

Even though Rhycos are related to Vandas, they are not the same as Vandas. Don't forget Phals are related to Vandas, but we wouldn't treat them the same right? Their light requirements are not as high, although they do like good bright light, and their leaves are much more succulantish (is that even a word?) I have about 5 - 6 of the Rhyncos in baskets and they get watered and fertilized well every day it's sunny. I do not mist - ever. It doesn't do anything for them. Misting does not totally saturate the roots, and water take up is when the roots are saturated.

As for the 'dead' roots, Rhyco's roots are different, and very thick and prone to cracking a little. But they are still working roots. Even if they are ugly. If they are not mushy, then they probably are still alive, a good way to tell, is soak the roots in water for at least 30 min, if the roots turn greenish at all, they are still good roots.

They do like it better warm, mine get moved outside when nights are 60F or so, and if it rains on them at night, then it rains on them at night. If it isn't raining one day, I get them with the hose, and come back and water them again, to totally saturate the roots.

When they are inside, I do try to water earlier in the day, as with all my orchids. But I take them to the shower, and totally saturate them.

One thing - Rhycos are a great way for people to have Vanda type flowers, if they don't have access to the high light a lot of Vandas require. So it should do well for you.

[Medelia]

Thank you sooooo much for the informations!
I will get started on it tomorrow! And will keep you guys aware of it's progress as it goes!
And today at the show we also got: sedirea japonica (a seedling), a dtps Purple Martin (though it is a bit damaged), a phal. lobbii (they say it's a mature plant but I doubt it), a neofinetia falcata (a seedling also) and a Ascps. Irene Dobkin 'ORANGE' (in perfect condition).

[Danelady]

I bought one of these at the show here a couple of weeks ago. I have had success with a Vanda, so I thought I would give this a try. I too love the color! The grower has it in a pot. I will probably move it to a basket and when it goes outside I will hang it with the Vanda, only on the shadier side of the arbor!
I look forward to seeing how yours does as this is a new plant for me as well!