Question about Sophronitis coccinea

[orchidaddict789]

The more I look at it, the more I love Cattleya/Sophronitis coccinea. I was looking at photos of everybody's project plants and wow, they're so cute, adorable, and...so tiny. Now, that just kind of worries me, because they look like they were recently deflasked.

I don't have a greenhouse, terrarium, or much experience with seedlings, especially species seedlings that are so minuscule! The weather here isn't too helpful either, because it's either freezing cold in winter or scorching hot in summer. And I've never tried a mount before. So now, to the big question-should give it a try or not? For those of you who are growing it without a greenhouse, terrarium, or helpful weather, how are you doing with your coccineas?

I was kind of surprised when I realized that they're not that small when they're mature. Here's a pic of a blooming coccinea at an orchid show. Sorry about the picture quality--I took it in a hurry, and the glass case didn't help much...

[phalaephila]

Sophronitis coccinea is not going to enjoy the warm summers. Even hybrids with coccinea I've tried to grow have suffered because of too much heat. I now grow Sophronitis cernua (indoors - mounted), as I live in the very warm and dry desert southwest, and it blooms every year.

[orchidaddict789]

Uh oh...sorry I just realized I posted this in wrong forum. It should've been posted in Orchid Care and Cultivation. Can a mod please move this thread, if possible?

I think I could grow it indoors, with the AC it's usually 82 deg during the day and 80 at night. The temperature pretty much stays the same. I wonder if it's too warm? I've tried cool growing orchids like masdies and miltoniopsis and they've done pretty badly...

[psyc1210]

"This plant is a cool grower in nature, and requires 55 degrees at night, and 68-70 degrees in the daytime for winter temps. Summer temps can be several degrees warmer."- Quoted from OrchidWeb.

I don't know...I got one for the growing project, and I have it very close to my ESE facing window. I figured in the winter it will get some of the cool-cold draft that comes from my old windows.

[koshki]

I have been seriously tempted to get one of these for a while now, but hesitated...I've been a bit overwhelmed by all the plants that need daily care and watering. But I may have figured out a solution to my indoor watering situation. And if I have...well, I think I just might join the growing challenge soon!

Indoors with AC that have dehumidifiers will dry it...since its mounted, your best option is to put it in the bathroom window near the shower or a kitchen window where you cook and boil and steam most of the time. And water every other day...these kind dont like tap water; you will have to invest in distilled or rain water. But its just a very pretty flower. I myself cant resist it.

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by Anky

Indoors with AC that have dehumidifiers will dry it...since its mounted, your best option is to put it in the bathroom window near the shower or a kitchen window where you cook and boil and steam most of the time. And water every other day...these kind dont like tap water; you will have to invest in distilled or rain water. But its just a very pretty flower. I myself cant resist it.

I have over 30 mounted plants that are grown indoors, and I have a/c running when the temps get over 77-78 degrees. Humidity gauge always reads between 50-75% in this area of the room. So it's not fully true to say that being inside in the a/c will dry it too quickly. If I didn't turn the fan on in this room for the orchids, they'd still be sopping the next day.

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by koshki

I have been seriously tempted to get one of these for a while now, but hesitated...I've been a bit overwhelmed by all the plants that need daily care and watering. But I may have figured out a solution to my indoor watering situation. And if I have...well, I think I just might join the growing challenge soon!

I would like to hear your solution!!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by orchidaddict789

Now, that just kind of worries me, because they look like they were recently deflasked.

Cattleya coccinea is a small-statured plant. As your pics show, a mature flowering size plant can be quite small.

Originally Posted by orchidaddict789

So now, to the big question-should give it a try or not?

I can only answer this wuestion with another wuestion....actually 2: 1) do you know the cultural requirements fo this orchid, and if you do, 2) how well does the orchid's needs match what you can give them?

Originally Posted by orchidaddict789

For those of you who are growing it without a greenhouse, terrarium, or helpful weather, how are you doing with your coccineas?

Greenhouse and terrarium suggests to me the possibility that you might not be familiar with their needs? Cattleya cocicnea is a cool-growing cattleya. They can tolerate temps that are quite cool, down to the 40s F. They also like to be kept a little moist (though mine dries out a little from time to time) and they like lots of air circulation. They are not good candidates for a terrarium (actually most orchids are not good terrarium candidates) and if you are grown in a greenhouse, it's best they be grown in in a cool greenhouse or at least a cooler shadier part of a greenhouse.

Originally Posted by orchidaddict789

I was kind of surprised when I realized that they're not that small when they're mature.

Like many orchids they can be grown on into sizable multi-growth plants but they are not a large-statured plant. A growth including the leaf is only about 4-6 inches or so.

Originally Posted by Anky

Indoors with AC that have dehumidifiers will dry it...since its mounted, your best option is to put it in the bathroom window near the shower or a kitchen window where you cook and boil and steam most of the time. And water every other day...these kind dont like tap water; you will have to invest in distilled or rain water. But its just a very pretty flower. I myself cant resist it.

Anky is right about the AC, AC does cool the air by drying it out so if you have a place with AC you will need to water more.

I disagree with his suggestion to put it in the kitchen near your cooking area. These plants do not want hot steam from boiling and cooling, they want cool humidity not hot humidity. The bathroom might work ok because the steam there isn't as hot and bathrooms tend to cool off quickly.

I also disagree with his insistence that they must have distilled or rain water. I certainly do use rain water when ever I can but I never use distilled water on my Cattleya coccinea (or any of my orchids for that matter) and I frequently use tap water on it.

[orchidaddict789]

Thanks for the great information, Kmarch. And yes I only started looking up info about this species about two days ago. I just assumed that since they enjoy high humidity and do well mounted, they'll be happier kept "under glass." My humidity indoors is around 50-60% in summer and 40% in winter. I can keep the temps low in winter but I don't know about the humidity.

I was mostly surprised at the comparison between the coccineas from Oak Hill Gardens (with growths only 1" tall), and the blooming ones in my photo. I heard that Oak Hill says that they'll be blooming sized in 1 year or so, which makes me wonder...is that really possible? I think even if I go ahead and take the plunge, I should start off with a larger sized plant. But... I don't see any other vendors selling this plant, so I guess I'll have to put off starting this new adventure.

[koshki]

Hi all,
I finally succumbed to my desire and purchased a coccinea from Orchid Eros, which arrived today. It's blooming, in a 3" clay pot and is in sphagnum moss.

I was surprised by this, and checked OW for cultural recommendations, and then was further surprised to find that this is a catt that shouldn't be allowed to dry out.

So, my questions are: do any of you grow yours in a pot? If so, what do you use as the media and why?

I'm not adverse to putting this on a mount, but having it in a pot would be easier for me both from a watering standpoint and where to hang it indoors for the proper light.

TIA!

[orchids4me]

Originally Posted by koshki

Hi all,
I finally succumbed to my desire and purchased a coccinea from Orchid Eros, which arrived today. It's blooming, in a 3" clay pot and is in sphagnum moss.

I was surprised by this, and checked OW for cultural recommendations, and then was further surprised to find that this is a catt that shouldn't be allowed to dry out.

So, my questions are: do any of you grow yours in a pot? If so, what do you use as the media and why?

I'm not adverse to putting this on a mount, but having it in a pot would be easier for me both from a watering standpoint and where to hang it indoors for the proper light.

TIA!

Hi Katherine!
Yeah another one for the growing project!!
I have a few flask babies of this that are potted in sphag. And I have the mounted one from oak hill. All of them are on a shelf near an east facing window and under lights. Its hard to keep the mounted one moist in the heat because its such a small mount with small amount of sphag. I've been considering either a larger mount because its over grown this tiny thin with a bit more moss or just potting them up... Haven't decided which yet..
Good luck with yours
Emmaye

[ArtGeekMark]

Although I don't have Sophronitis coccinea I do have the somewhat similar looking Sophronitis alagoensis - as for similar in care I don't know at the moment (sorry it's been a long day at work) however my alagoensis is mounted to tree fern slab and "hitch a ride" off the side of the wire hanger for our Cirr/Bulbo Elizabeth Ann 'Buckleberry' and has done so all summer since we bought both plants at an orchid show in May. They are hanging from a crab apple tree in our back yard. It must like the bulbo's conditions and it does get some setting late sun, for it has had growth and appears to be comming into sheath now. If this doesn't help any I'm sorry again, like I said it's been a "fun" day at work!

[syndywindy]

Moved the thread for you. I keep mine indoors and so far since I got it for the challenge it is doing fine. Some great new root growth and a couple new leaves. It did drop a couple leaves before finally settling in to its new home, but doing well so far. I have never given any of my plants distilled water and I don't think they have suffered due to lack of it. Mine is mounted and I water it each morning.

[Brooke]

Katherine if you understand the correct way to water sphag I would keep it that way. Life would be much easier for you and it would not need daily attention. Once my catt seedlings are out of compot I use sphag/clay for them and they love it.

Brooke

[otis 226]

I have some deflasked Soph. cernua seedlings on their way. From what I understand they are the only sp. of the genus that is a warm to hot grower, so hopefully, I will get some of them raised to adulthood in my warm, wet conditions here, without having to baby a plant whos requirements I can't easily duplicate. Still I wish you the best with your little one. Where there's a will there's a way, they tell me.
Best,
Tony

[koshki]

I decided to peek at the roots and discovered bark in the pot. So I went ahead and repotted it, removing some dead roots and repotting it with Orchiata and a top dressing of sphag...put it right back into the same pot.

In looking at it closely today, I realized that was its first bloom...no sign of any other leftover spikes anywhere. So maybe I'm not so far ahead of you guys as I thought!

Cute little bugger, isn't it?