Q's on mounting Aerangis articulata

[koshki]

Hi all, I'm building a collection of aerangis (what's the plural form?). I have a nice spot that I think will be good for them, and would like to have them all on mounts. I'm going ahead with mounting a couple, but the articulata that just arrived has a two inch spike.

The grower suggested I wait until after enjoying the blooms, but it has three very healthy aerial roots that also have growing tips, which I thought was a good indication to go ahead to mount it. I'm also a bit nervous about maintaining the proper watering schedule while it's in a pot. So I thought I'd ask the experts here for opinions...go ahead and mount or wait?

[kmarch]

Wait until the blooms are done. They're vandaceous orchids so their roots should be nearly perpetually growing.

[koshki]

Vandaceous, really??!! I would never have guessed! So do you have any advice about the watering? They are in my bathroom and get as much humidity as I can offer in this house.

[davetheorchidaddict]

I mount them in a 4" wooden basket, like a vanda.

[katrina]

I have a mix of mounted and some in pots...several in spike. With this one...I would also wait until it's done flowering to mount it.

My mounted ones are on a a mix of cork and tree fern...all have a healthy pad of sphag so the roots have sufficient time to absorb the moisture from each watering.

I water mine once a day this time of the year. In the summer, if it gets really, really hot...I will water 2x a day.

I've found them to be a fairly easy orchid.

[koshki]

The watering schedule of a mounted plant is one of the things that appeals to me...if I haven't watered yet today, it's time to water.

But the ones in the pots? I'm nervous about over/under watering. I have a hard time judging about plants in bark.

The aerials on this one dry out just like the mounted plants (daily). But what the heck is going on inside the pot??

[katrina]

My potted/basketed ones have "aerial" roots too...I hit them well when I water and then don't worry about them until the next watering.

My potted plants are in aircones...easy to see when I need to water. The basketed ones...easy too...I just feel. I tend to water them just before they are completely dry. Oh, and they are all in a mix of sphag and shredded chc.



Almost forgot...w/the "aerials"...I do try to work them back down into the pot and/or back into the basket.

[koshki]

Kat, that's part of my problem. It's in bark in a green pot. I've realized that this is my least favorite potting method. I'm still learning and need more input from the plants.

Here are a couple quick pics of the little gal:

[katrina]

I know what you're saying about the green pots and bark. For most of my moisture lovers I've really taken a liking to the net baskets w/sphag in the mix or the aircones....they all seem to be doing very well.

I definitely don't care for bark and began switching away from it early last year...I'm down to only a small percentage of my plants still in it. By Summer, I anticipate I will have it all gone.

For now I would use weight/feel as your gauge. Water it really well...soaking it as best as you can...maybe even letting it sit in some water for a good half hour. Gauge the weight and then try to remember that feel. You'll be able to feel the difference between a really well soaked plant and one that's getting close to dry.

The bark is on the large side and looks to be in excellent shape so I don't think you'll have to worry about it being mushy wet down in there. It likes a lot of moisture so I wouldn't worry too much about it having any problems while you wait for the blooms.

FYI -- have patience w/the spikes...these guys tend to be a little slow to elongate those spikes and open their little buds. But...it's soooo worth the wait. My sloooowest is citrata...I've been watching her grow her spikes since last Sept.

[rcb]

Kat, I noticed you referred to them as moisture lovers. Do you not let yours go a little dry in the winter time?

[katrina]

Renee -- Good catch on that! My statement was tooooo generalized to cover all of the aerangis. I find that most do best w/more moisture than the powers that be state...when I tried to follow the recommended dry time my leaves got too shriveled because of the lack of humidity. I believe it has a LOT to do w/the being in a heated house.

Those I have in pots/baskets require more consistent year round moisture. For these, I don't ever let them completely dry out btwn waterings. They aren't soggy 24/7 but I try to never let them dry out completely. For example...my citrata does better when it is always moist.

Those I have mounted do require a little drying between waterings...they come from areas where the rainfall isn't high year round but they do have such high humidity that overnight dew contributes a great deal of moisture. I water these just about every day because even w/a healthy pad of sphag they are dry in less than 24 hrs.

All the way to the one extreme I have....kotschyana...it comes from an area that has only seasonal rainfall with a long dry season where little to no dew accumulates. This one requires a long, dry winter rest. I have it mounted and it only gets lightly sprayed when I think about it (about every 10-14 days unless I see too much shrivel) from around late Oct/Nov until I see new growth in the Spring. [fyi - I have not yet bloomed this one...it's newer.. so I may find that next year I change things a bit.]

I am planning on getting the articulata this year....because of it's natural habit I will mount it and treat it like my other mounts.

Did that help or make things more confusing?

[rcb]

Kat - it wasn't a good catch, I was worried I was growing mine wrong lol

And your explanation makes complete sense.

I only have about 7 or 8 Aerangis, but mine are all mounted, and they each have their own requirements. One I even have out with the intermediate/cool growers getting down to the low 50s at night.

My mooreana and kirkii have started active growth, so I will start increasing watering for them - long story on the kirkii, it's been sulking for almost a year now, but I think it's decided it's done punishing me at least for now. lol

So Koshki - first of all that looks like a beautiful healthy plant, and I agree with Kat - their spikes take forever to develop, but imho also these are very rewarding plants.

[katrina]

OOOOO the mooreana is on my list too! I'm not familiar w/kirkii...sulker or not...now I'll have to look that one up.

Mine are getting the temps that everyone else is...like it or not. So far...so good.

Glad I didn't confuse things more.

[bloomorchidguy]

Just wanted to point out one thing here with Aerangis articulata it tends to be better mounted. Reason being is the pendant inflorescence, like Kat said it is very slow when it comes to elongating its inflorescence.

I grow almost all of my Aerangis mounted, bright shade,and high humidity as well as daily waterings through the spring and summer months. I usually increase the light towards summer to early fall seems to give me a better blooming period. Usually I tend to get more then 1 or 2 spikes on each plant.

Troy

[koshki]

Here are the two I've mounted (my first attempts at mounting!), the aerangis biloba and the modesta. The biloba is not very healthy, and really needed to get out of that pot. Most of the roots were bad. The grower gave me a credit, because this was not a healthy guy. He is sprouting a new leaf, however, so I still have hope for him.

The modesta is cute but very small!

Finally, the citrata that has two long spikes. I'm going to wait on mounting this one, too, but as Troy mentioned, I'm a bit concerned about it being top-heavy once it blooms.

[katrina]

The mounts look great Katherine!

The citrata gets VERY, VERY top heavy. I plop it down into a clay pot and then wedge some small cardboard folded pieces btwn the pots to keep it from wiggling around.