grammataphyllum scriptum

[cassier]

It's been a while. Been busy with school and work.
A few weeks ago our society had a show in a local mall.
I bought a gramm scriptum with blooms on it. So far so good
they haven't blasted yet (which is what i expected). The potting medium
looks like a promix of some kind. Is this a good mix? How much water should I give it? How much light should it get? I live in south louisiana.

thanks
cassie

[digitalgate]

You stay in an area where humidity is low. Light is also low by my standard. For watering
why don't you use Cynthia's skewer method. It is prefer much fool prove. Put a bamboo skewer in the centre of the potting mix. For watering pull it out and see if it look wet. IF it
look wet dont water. Just remember never share skewer and never recycle water.
Dont repot the plant it cannot handle repotting often. Leave it, just enjoy the plant. Post
the picture of the plant if you are not sure.

[cassier]

thanks for the info. greatly appreciated. well as i said i was surprised that the buds did not blast. got home from a over night trip and noticed that half of the buds blasted. will enjoy the others. that sounds like a good idea about the skewer thanks again.
cassie

[jerrymeola]

I am surprised the buds blasted. I seldom have problems with Gram buds.

Do not be concerned about the potting medium. The plant will eat the medium in about a year. They are very fast growing and feed heavily. I usually re-pot mine twice a sumer. I have gone from 5 inch pot to twelve inch basket in one summer.

[cassier]

jerry,
wow! that's incredible! i wasn't expecting it to grow that fast beings that it is a "miniature" (that's what i was told anyway). from the promix to a basket will be ok? i probably would have to put some moss in there.
thanks
cassie

[jerrymeola]

well if you realize that Gram speciosum grows to 2000 pounds with 7 foot leaves and 8 foot flowers than scriptum is a 'miniature'

The plant will stunt to the size of the pot in which you grow it. Rapid re-potting will make it grow faster.

The plant has two types of roots. Regular roots grow down into the pot or basket like other orchids but there is a second type that is very thin and grows straight up. In a basket it grows out of the sides as well. These roots are to catch debris which then decays in the root mass and feeds the plant.

[HawaiiMiki]

it is a "miniature" (that's what i was told anyway)

I guess in relation to speciosum, scriptum might be a "miniature". In relation to Phal. appendiculata, for example, it's more than gargantuan. This is what my "miniature" Gram. scriptum citrinum (which is slightly smaller than the type scriptum) looked like after a few years. Weighed well over 100 pounds and had over 30 spikes.

Anyway, it needs lots of water when actively growing (including when it's putting up buds), and good amount of light (about same as Cattleya). Temps. shouldn't have too wide a range (E.G., better to be less than 20 degrees difference between high and low).

[cassier]

yes, i did know that speciosum did get that big. guess the buds blasted because i was away during the day a was not able to water at the usual times. i had it with my dendrobiums. they are on the same side as my catts. thank you all for the great info on my gramm.
cassie