thanks Everyone
What conditions do they need (temps, light, media...)?
that is a little difficult , the few i have like similar conditions , i have mine in a north window shelf,
not much sun this time of year, and i do have a flor. fixture two 24" grow lux bulbs just t-12's 10 hours a day , never direct sun on these, they could take a little morning sun but you would need to acclimate them to it.
medium humidity 35 55 % , any good orchid mix will do should have a little charcoal and perlite in the mix. water once weekly and 1/4 strength orchid bloom booster plant fertilizer. make sur to use something formulated for orchids/no urea .
if you feed all the time its just easier to keep up with the schedule.
i keep a fan near the shelf and mist a few nights a week slightly wetting the top of the mix and the leaves of the orchid , and run the fan at a pretty good force as to dry them out,its ok to leave the fan running all night of you want I don't leave them wet.
they like a cool down at night to help start the bloom cycle flower, the spraying and fan help with this.
also the ones i have like most house hold conditions , if you can take it they can.
and they like a little rest from say dec to feb or so to start the bloom cycle ( little drier , little less light, and little less fertilizer).
Lowii is blooming a little early this year, and i hope it keeps up this cycle, as the others havent even set buds yet. i'll try s and do some photos of them as ,and if they bloom this year.
These are my conditions , Im sure there are other ways
but this seems to work for my group
I have a great pic of my spicerainum enzan fruit blooming last dec if i can find it ill post on this thread, later.
And thanks for the compliments ive just about decided to do cattleyas and paphs. easiest for me, and let the cp madness take me over HA HA!!
they seem more rewarding without all the waiting for a bloom , but when a orchid blooms you have to look
---------- Post added at 09:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 PM ----------
here is spicerainum x enzan fruit Paphiopedlium,
it probably wont bloom this year but has two very healthy growth points,so hopefully i'll get two blooms next time , it is single flowered meaning one bloom per spike. the lowii is multifloral and can have up to 6 blooms on one spike opened at the same time ,there is another bud there if you look again im sure you'll see it.
this is my old camera so not quite as crisp as the sx 10