Brachy culture

[ehanes7612]

Curious to know what is successful brachy culture that people have expereinced? (temp range, humidity, light levels)..i have quite a few brachys i have attained over the last several months...granted, they are probably still recovering from repotting and deflasking.

 

[Justin]

have you ever seen the website of Dr. Tanaka from Japan? He has extensive articles on growing brachys.

I grow mine under lights. For me, they grow well in multifloral paph light or less with intermediate towards cool conditions and definitely not too wet.

Also, it helps if you can somehow avoid disturbing the roots & use a mix that requires less frequent repotting.

 

[paphioboy]

Most brachys grow better in a more 'inorganic' mix. Usually with a higher percentage of coarse stone-like material like large pumice, limestone, gravel etc. They like medium-high light and high humidity. Strong air movement is a must to prevent rots. Never let other plants drip on them.

 

[ehanes7612]

have you ever seen the website of Dr. Tanaka from Japan? He has extensive articles on growing brachys.

I grow mine under lights. For me, they grow well in multifloral paph light or less with intermediate towards cool conditions and definitely not too wet.

Also, it helps if you can somehow avoid disturbing the roots & use a mix that requires less frequent repotting.

yeah forgot about his site, will do

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

I fully agree about not disturbing the roots. As much as brachy's need good media, they do not appreciate repotting. So make sure your mix is more loaded with spongerock, lava rock, etc than your usual mix.

 

[goldenrose]

I agree with Justin & paphioboy. Watch not to burn the leaves, that's a bit too bright.

 

[Ernie]

All above is good advice. Brachys love semi-hydro if you're into such things.

 

[Rick]

Recently Paphioboy posted some pics of the habitat of P. exul, which included some insitu pics of niveum and leuchochilum (I believe). Any way they looked very exposed to high light, and just growing out of cracks in the limestone at fairly low elevation. This is warm sunny humid, with whatever water not staying at the roots very long.

That supports the strategy to use primarily inorganic media at the roots, and why semi hydro can work well.

 

[paphioboy]

I think it depends on species too. I think concolor likes more moisture since it grows in a more humus-rich environment. Here are some previous posts in paphs growing in situ in Thailand:
http://www.slippertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17455&highlight=tour+thailand
http://www.slippertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18208&highlight=tour+thailand

 

[Bolero]

Brachy's are quite variable. wenshanense/bellatulum and concolor have been found growing naturally in temps as low as 4C (39F). I use a lot of water in summer and keep them on the dry side in winter.

I grow in small bark with some perlite and charcoal added as well.

 

[likespaphs]

i just got a concolor yesterday, but, unfortunately, i didn't see this thread until after i repotted it....

 

[Orchidnut57]

have you ever seen the website of Dr. Tanaka from Japan? He has extensive articles on growing brachys.

I grow mine under lights. For me, they grow well in multifloral paph light or less with intermediate towards cool conditions and definitely not too wet.

Also, it helps if you can somehow avoid disturbing the roots & use a mix that requires less frequent repotting.

FYI...Have you read the book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orleans...she speaks of this Dr. Tanaka...thanks for reminding me of his name
Jim

 

[Howzat]

Joseph should have a good advice on growing Brachi's. I saw his plants in Singapore, mostly the desirable leuchochilum, which he can flower in 2-2.5 years from deflasking.

 

[Joseph]

Joseph should have a good advice on growing Brachi's. I saw his plants in Singapore, mostly the desirable leuchochilum, which he can flower in 2-2.5 years from deflasking.

Hi Brachy Growers,

These are the two links to how I grow my brachys. The links are for deflasking and growing.
I hope you can use and adapt some of them to suit your local conditions.

http://paphyeo.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html

http://paphyeo.blogspot.com/2010/04/deflasking-paph.html

 

[aquacorps]

http://www.ladyslipper.com/brachy.htm