Sam, Sam, Sam... all this angst. What's it all about... Sammy? I recognize your username but I don't recall what you grow or how. That is what is important! Do you grow phals? Are they happy? Oncids?, Catts? Then you can grow Angs. Watering? Potting? Well chances are whatever you get will arrive potted. Problem solved. Watering? 1x/wk in plastic, 2x/wk in clay. Too simple, right? Can't possibly be as simple as that. There has to be a catch. Not really. About the only catch is that if you do not have a reliable supply of artificial light you will steadily overwater your Ang. at the watering frequency I have suggested so if you do not have lights you are on your own.

H

Okay howard i grow primarily catts that during late spring and summer i grow outdoors. my cats are happy and blooming. i have one right now that should be in bloom within the next month or maybe even in a few weeks. Right now the plants are in my house under flourescent lights. the lights put out 5000 lumens and they are about 6 inches from the bulb. i run a humidifier at all times and have a thermometer hygrometer mix right in with the plants. i care deeply for these little guys and am always looking to improve my skills i only want the best for anything i grow. thats what and how i grow. if i need to get more lights i will without any inhibition! I really started this disscussion because i just want to know all that i can because i know what happens when you know too little! and i dont want to deal with not knowing and knowing that i killed it. Howard thats all im looking for.....

Sammy

I grow my leonis in sphag in a plastic pot to keep it from drying out. The roots can handle the heat build up in a plastic pot better than it could drying out in clay (the reverse is true of other orchids). I'd say give it a little less than catt light but mine is sitting next to a Blc that just bloomed, so I guess it's getting catt light. Other than that, since I'm in Florida, I can't help much. If your setup is right, angs are pretty easy.

Breezie must be working today (?!!) or he'd have answered by now.

Howard you kill me Ang. Angst. ThatÂs a good one.

I have a leonis (Comoro) that is just in bloom. Very cool and subtle but heavenly scent in the evening that seems to be building as the flower matures. It is competing for scent honors with a Zygopetalum (I know we are talking about Angs) and Angraecum magdalenae that bloomed first. The magdalenae is the second to bloom for me and is around 6 inches tall. This one was a surprise as it was purchased as a seedling, and is fairly small to have bloomed. It also has been grown only under artificial lights. The larger plant is more specimen sized which first bloomed outside under natural light, the second blooming occurred after a period indoors on the high light Dendrobium / Cymbidium shelf. Virtually all these others I mention are grown with less light I think than "Cat light"

My leonis is happy in bark and really has smallish roots compared to my magdalenae, which has roots more like sesquipedale. The specimen magdalenae is growing in a very course bark mix, and the smaller magdalenae is happy in CHC. I have 2 Aerangis citrata that both have flowering spikes, both I purchased as seedlings. Both are in fine bark. Both have been grown only under artificial light. I have a seedling sesquipedale that appears to be pretty happy but is very young growing in a CHC mix.

Earlier this summer I bloomed a distincta x biloba and a punctata, both growing in my office on cedar shingle mounts under CFLs. Thus far I have been very unhappy with my ability to provide good growing conditions here to most mounted plants and have moved many over to pot culture. In spite of this these Angrecoids remain happily mounted and very forgiving of the occasional weekend that I do not get in here to mist and water. I usually make it up to them with a good dunking later. None have appeared stressed and all are growing well if not vigorously. So far none of these plants have mentioned to me that they have noticed they are not in Africa any longer. I though I heard a shriek from the larger magdalenae when I opened the box and it noticed it was now living in Wisconsin. Understandable since it originated in HI.

I am by no means an expert or even a capable novice yet I find these extraordinary plants to be rather forgiving and very tolerant of a multitude of factors. So far all have been free bloomers for me in spite of my many sins I am sure. I have one reservation, the only 2 not yet to have bloomed are a fastuosa (a very easy bloomer I am told) and a didieri, both mounted and around about as long as the others. The didieri has the coolest roots. They are growing nicely in spite of no flower. I am getting rather impatient with the fastuosa because of the bloom size relative to the plant itself. Both of these were NBS when acquired though and I am impatient.

I read some horror stories about what kind of mistreatment a leonis was subjected to on another forum, and the grower noted it continued to grow and bloom with very little in the way of fussing.

Moral of the story  these are plants that are tolerant in general of a wide variety of conditions  or I am incredibly lucky.

It is all true. They're not that hard. Most of them anyway. And most of them are not that huge. Even many of the huge ones are so slow growing that you'd never mind.

The thicker the roots, the more they appreciate drying out between waterings, assuming the humidity stays fairly high. That's the hardest thing for me about growing Angs. Many do want a drier winter rest where, in the wild, they experience very little rainfall. However during those times of year, they still experience heavy morning dew and the humidity never gets much lower than say 60%, if that low. So the water balance can be a challenge when growing indoors.

Didieri should be mounted. If not, it should be potted in a very free draining mix. Leonis experiences a prolonged dry period, at least the Madagascan variety does. I think most people have the Comoran variety, including me. Mine has never bloomed, but I'm prone to overwatering and I also grew it in s/h for a couple of years. I've since moved it to sphag in a net pot. High light for leonis, and the others you mention.

They are quite slow growers so I would recommend getting as old a plant as you can. If you can pick one out in person, judge by the roots. The root tips will guide you on resting or growing phases with Angs. If the tips are growing, the roots are seeking water and that's what the plant wants. If the root tips are covered with velamen, they and the plant are resting and water should be withheld somewhat. Maybe half the frequency of watering during normal growth periods. Good luck!
-MB

Does susquipedale require a rest period. i ask this question because the ones offered at normans they say does not require a dry rest period. i just want to be sure. this is probably a dumb question hahahah.

sesquipedale does require a rest period. Not a dry rest period as you would a deciduos orchid but a rather large water reduction. Late winter/ early spring

Clara

Late winter early spring for the sesquidepale -right. Holiday bloomers. Not big water demanding monsoon type plants. The water reduction begins September. Cut the h20 in half- go down from there. Roots should be busting out all summer. Someone posted pics in summer. Bump up water for the month of December right before it blooms. Back to reduction in January or after the blooms release. Use a light does of booster till it is near blooming. Then cut it. It puts on the show then rests. Occasional light water and misting. sesquidepale is a large orchid. If potted in plastic, it will take some time to dry out. Mature plant becomes a low maint.. Not picky about light. Catt light is good. Higher is good. 2500-3500 range. Little shading in summer. Picky about fall -winter temps. They like it warm. Picky about repoting- don't do it brother. Handsome plant, awesome fragrant white blooms. Some nice sesquidepale hybrids out there. May be a tad easier than the species. blooms range from white to green in the x's. Clara yours drop a bloom yet? Did ya get 1 or 2 spikes?
Mike

well guys i have to thank you all for the amazing advice! im sorry if i started to sound a little crazy. I tend to micromanage with orchids sometimes hahahah. but i have called cal orchids and i left them a message and then i called again and they said are you sam? and i said yes and then the woman said well i only have two Ang leonis left and then she said i pulled one aside for you and it has a spike! i was so happy and i only have to pay five dollars extra for it.The Sesquipedale is my next orchid venture. i also got to speak with the manager of SBOE's greenhouse and he gave me alot of advice for the leonis and the sesquipedale. I love them!!!!! You can bet your bottom dollar that i will be posting pics for you guys you guys rock!!!!
Samuel
P.S Clara I too would like to know Did it bloom for you?

Samuel Mike, "Fatty" is doing great! Thanks for remembering. Looks like it's going to happen. He is going to be my holiday Baby! Can wait for a sniff! My first x-mas with Fat Boy "Crestwood"! I have 2 spikes. Heavily "Honey -Dewed", a first for Auntie Clara! Spikes are about 8 1/2" long and still coming. I am wondering what is going to pop out of the 2 giant "snakes"! He is slowing down, so it should happen soon. If he shows his buds off for x-mas, I am going to build a night-time window display! I moved him to the back room where it is warm for now.

Anyone care to take a guess on when Fatty willl show the neighbourhood that he is an orchid and not a tropical tree?

He is at about 78º F. Moved him to his own "Bertha". He was getting a little twisted on the rack. Samuel, I beleive it was I who posted the root pics. If you should need them, LMK. The big roots are what grows in summer as Mike described. That's the watering cue. They are the diameter of my pinkie finger ! (Spikes too!)

ses's do grow slowly as MB says. Get the size you ultimately want. This guy is an X (sesquepedale x veitchii). He takes after the ses.side of the family. That top new leaf has been growing at a turtle's pace. They are slower than paphs. I've had almost entire fans grow out of a paph since that leaf has started. The roots shoot out like rockets. I swear I hear them creak at night. ;-) The spikes move right along too. Seems like yesterday I discovered them nestled down inside the leaves. Samuel you will have a "Ton of Fun" with your Ang! Congrats!

I love this Plant! Girth is Great!

Clara
"Still in Labour with Fat Boy"
Quick pics:
{{gwi:202771}}

{{gwi:202772}}

Please tell us, Samuel, what culture advice did you get from the SBOE greenhouse manager and/or Lauris at CalOrchids? They might know something we don't, so please provide a report, thanks!
-MB

Well i spoke to a man at SBOE named wayne and i was told he was the manager so i spoke to him and i asked which variety did they sell, the one from the comoros or from madagascar he said he did not know and asked me if there was a genetic difference between the two? i said no i dont beleive. he said thats interesting and that he did not know they were in the comoros and that he thinks the ones they have are from madagascar. so he asked me what is the difference? so i said the rest periods are harsher and longer in madagascar and in the comoros its not that harsh or long. and then i asked what do you do? he told me that they in the winter grow them dry and when they start to show the slightest sign of distress he waters them. so i asked when the leaves look a little wrinkly? he said yeah and then in the summer when they just get a little dry. he advised that many look down-right ugly. he also said that they may even look that way in summer as well just because they are so thirsty. he said i believe that he said that you reduce to about half from regular watering. ill have to call and see if i can speak with him again. they both were very helpful!!!!!!!!!!!

I ultimately bought leonis from cal because they did not have them in stock at SBOE. when i called i left a message and then called again and spoke with a woman(Lauris) and she said oh you must be sam looking for the leonis? i said yes i am!!! so she said that she only had 2 left(Lucky me) i was very dissapointed thinking oh well im out of luck thinking she was gonna say that she already sold them. To my suprise she said that she set one aside just for me and that it even has a spike!!! i started jumping up and down!!!!! i asked can is it too late to order it and it be here this weekend? she said no its not. I said can you hold it for me untill my mom gets back with the credit card(Im only 17 hahaha), she said sure but just order before 2:30. so i called back and she said okay and i asked how big are the spikes and she said not too big maybe 2-3 inches and i has one flower that had already bloomed, Wait it Get better she then noticed another spike emerging from the leaves!!!!! so now you'll have two spikes,and it has 7 leaves. the best part is It was 25.00$!!! hah i called at just the right time huh!!! you all will have to come back and check the posts for my pics this friday Okay you promise. ill be sure to describe the fragrance for you guys although MB youve probably smelled it before!!!!!!!!!
Thank you all!!!! Happy Growing!!!!!!!!!!

Samuel

Good choice, samuel! Your excitement reminds me of me when I was 17!! (actually...who am I kidding...I'm still like that now and I'm nearly 22...so old! haha..yeah, I had a mini-episode of hyper excitedness when I found out a local grower had a plant I wanted...coincidently, also an ang type - aerangis kirkii....jaw droppingly beautiful plant you can check out Mr. B's photos in the gallery)

Anyway, back to leonis, I had one once which sadly rotted partly because I over watered in winter, and partly because it got caught in the stream of my warm air humidifier! I find these tricky to over-winter - I made the mistake of watering mine because it wasn't doing anything, so you'll have to resist! Remember to keep us updated - we're looking forward to pictures!

Clara - those spikes are looking quite exciting!! how tall is your 'fatty' (the plant itself)? I want this one so much if even for it's scientific significance!! I love how the moth that pollinates this is called Xanthopan morganii praedicta, because it's existence was predicted by Darwin based upon only seeing the orchid! The flowers and spurs are truly magnificent and I was lucky enough to see them in our local greenhouse. Maybe you'll have a christmas/new years display!

hey now what im still a little confused about is: since its blooming should i continue watering it. or let it stay dry? or do i continue watering until the flowers are gone

cattleya17: I'm sure you've googled Baker culture notes on Angraecum leonis. There's a bit that says: "In nature, A. leonis blooms in late winter, near the end of the dry season". How this translates into watering a plant in bloom in culture is not so clear to me. I only glanced at the sheet quickly to note the many warnings about over-watering. See what others say, alvin

I love my leonis plant. I wish the leaves weren't shriveled, but otherwise it's a healthy plant. It is a multi growth plant with the largest plant having a leafspan of about 5". The other growths are much smaller. Is this larger fan mature enough to bloom? TIA

Sheila :)

Baker's take a looksie. Good stuff
" Water should be increased if the leaves show signs of stress by becoming wrinkled."

Wrinkled leaves ain't a good sign, Over-under watering
Sheila at 5" ya should be a bloomin'

In theory they should be at rest. If ya grow indoors h20 should be higher than Bakers suggests. 65% humidity is lots. Use Baker's proportionately. Samuel, see where the grower was at, take it from there. Keep water low. Many an orchid blooms when h20 is reduced.
Mike