Sarcochilus hartmannii care?
Barra
from Australia. At a professional orchid growers place.
Although I had done some reading and had selected orchids just by
looks and size I came home with something completely different. Only
one as prices are high. According to the lady who helped me this was a
good beginners plant for the zone I live in (The Netherlands) and
could be kept on de window sill.
he gave me the following instructions. No direct sunlight. Spraying
every day, soaking for two minutes every week in clean (rain) water
with a half dose of liquid plant fertilizer.
It has four stalks with several buds on each one. Producing small
white flowers somewhere in the next few weeks if I do everything
correct.
I searched the Internet but found no care sheets for it. If someone
could help me on this please do.
I want to make it flower at least once. Also it looks very cramped in
the pot because it hase extensive roots already which probably means I
have to repot sometime. How do I decide when to repot?
Overal I think it is a nice and small plant. I paid 28 Dutch guilders
for it (about US$ 12).
Maarten van Damme
Mick Fournier
John Woolf at Florafest http://www.florafest.com.au/homepage.html is an
authority on Sarcos.
I have tried very hard to grow them in Florida, but it is very difficult in
this hot humid climate.
A few years ago in talks with Lorraine Fagg (premier Sarco breeder/grower of
Australia) she told me that the clay pot should contain large bits of
sandstone and sheep manure... two important elements in her bag of tricks to
grow her famed and cherished sarcochilus orchids. Her solid red "Lorraine"
fitzgeraldii is without compare.
You might also ask George Kenner Sr for some tips. He is quite possibility
the most knowledgeable Sarco grower in the USA. He is at:
http://www.kexplorers.com/
http://www.kexplorers.com/orchids/k_s.html
Mick
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"Barra" <ba...@apexmail.com> wrote in message
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Stephen Kemp
eastern coast. Although it might experience full sun, this is tempered by a
continuous cool moist breeze from updrafts.
It is a fairly hardy orchid but the most important part that causes failure
in Sarcs is the watering. They have 2 main growth periods spring and autumn
but basically grow throughout the year, less so in winter and our hot
summers (in Australia). The pot should be allowed to dry out between
watering and if you follow the instructions given the once I month I would
flush out the pot with water only. Do not allow water to remain in the crown
of any growths or crown rot may eventuate. Time to repot is pretty much the
same for all orchids - when the pot is completely filled. Repot after
flowering if you feel it needs it. The roots like to grow on rather than in
the media and it is not unusual for roots to emerge from the pot. I grow
mine in terra cotta as it tends to reduce overwatering risks. They prefer a
coarse mix.
Graeme Bradburn
well each year. For further information you can go to -
http://www.anos.org.au/information/informationframe.html
You will find it with the other species orchids.
Graeme Bradburn