Paraphalaenopsis labukensis question

[K Barrett]

I have a Pphs labukensis that has been lingering for me. Tries to put out a new growth and then just stops. So the GH has the right conditions for a short period of time and then changes..... In researching I see it can be intermediate, but more possibly its a warm grower (???? I guess that's my question) And wants high(er) humidity - like 70-80%? I wondered if I should bring this inside this winter.... I considered bringing the vandas, phals and this one inside becasue I let the GH get very cold, practically unheated, and they don't like that. For example it got down to 52F last night. Ambient was 38-40F.

Anyway, I know there are a couple of Paraphalaenopsis freaks here and wondered how you grew 'em? Any tips? Mine was in a slat basket. one its side with sphagnum moss. Moss has soured and I generally don't do well with moss, so I've moved it to a treefern mount.

(Ha, the more I write the more I convince myself to bring it inside.)

K Barrett

[alpickrel]

Mine grows with my vandas, hanging upside-down from a sideways hanging cedar vanda basket. It has no media around its roots. It has always resented attempts to 'plant' it or tie it to anything. I should think, however, that treefern would be the best choice and moss, would be the worst choice (especially if intermediate or cool night temps are in play)

Mine does not seem to want to attach its roots to anything at all, but it does grow well. Every year it makes a new leaf or two and a foot or two of new root. Every once in a while it leaps off whatever it is supposed to be attached to and has to be hung back up; Just kind of lets go and free falls. I find it laying on the floor or tangled in something hanging below it's former "mount". I have been thinking 'bungee cords' might be called for.

Blooms every spring when the warm/sunny weather returns to my area.

My greenhouse night temps are in the extreme upper 50s/ lower 60s right now. I can't say anything in moss is happy with me for that. I have been edging it up higher as warmer night temps seems to be the key to keeping botrytis off the cattleya flowers so I can get through the holidays with something pretty to sell, despite the cost of BTUs.

When you walk into your tropical greenhouse in the morning and can see your breath that's not good.

[K Barrett]

I hear you! When you walk in a tropical greenhouse and your glasses *don't* fog over that's trouble too. [sigh] I grow too dry. Too cold. Like I say, the heater will get worked on and turned up this weekend. (I'm betting the Raiders won't be worth watching.)

Maybe your Paraphalaenopsis can't read its tag and thinks its a parachute or parasailer.... Hmmm... I think I'll bring in my single leafless as long as I'm thinking of things that don't like medium around its roots.... Dendro(blahblah) funalis (I think... gad the mind is a terrible thing to waste...)

Thanks for your comment!

K

[John Varigos]

Saw these in flower in Borneo where they grow in very hot and humid conditions. Peter Maxwell has grown these successfully - perhaps he would like to comment on his minimum temp and humidity.

John

[P Max]

Kathy, Mine grows well, attached to a cork slab, in medium light, high humidity [seldom less than 90%]. While seldom do these get below 20 Celsius in Borneo, mine grows well in my heated plant house [electric heater cable in concrete floor slab], which sometimes gets down to12C on a frosty night. However, it seldom gets below 15C in my GH on a winter's night here. Fans go

24 hourly. Peter

[Manelli Family]

You can always pick up an inexpensive heater at Wal*Mart until you fix the one not working. I have three $20 heaters spaces around my 16' greenhouse.