Mexipedium xerophyticum

[John Boy]

Did I mention that I love this forum lately? So many great people, so much to learn, great plants.... And a different perspective! :clap::clap::clap:

Why did it take me so long to get here?

 

[JPMC]

Very good info here. Thanks eveyone! I'm going to have to reconsider what I'm doing for my plant. It's in CHC/perlite/limestone gravel, in a plastic pot with lots of drain holes. I never let it dry out. There is some moss beginning to grow on the surface and yet, it never produces any stolons. Maybe it needs more light now? Currently, it gets intermediate light.

This one definitely needs more light and a bit more fertilizer than a paph. I give it the same light as a cattleya but much more water. I will also say that I was advised to give calcium supplementation, which I do every 4 months with garden lime pellets, but I have not noticed that this treatment made the plant grow better or worse.

 

[John M]

This one definitely needs more light and a bit more fertilizer than a paph. I give it the same light as a cattleya but much more water. I will also say that I was advised to give calcium supplementation, which I do every 4 months with garden lime pellets, but I have not noticed that this treatment made the plant grow better or worse.

I've also concluded recently that I should be feeding more. I've been seeing some micronutrient deficiency issues in a wide variety of plants and concluded that pure R.O. water with a very weak fert solution just once a week or two isn't enough for most. So, independent of my xerophyticum concerns, I've started feeding the same weak solution more frequently. Perhaps that is why this little plant has always lost a leaf as it grows a new one and never sends out stolons. I'll try to remember to comment on this in .....say 6 months. 'Should be interesting to see what happens with these changes.

 

[John Boy]

Good morning everyone,
sorry I wasn’t in for a while. I was so impressed with this little plant right here, that I decided to duplicate this success. I found myself a few pieces of Windy Hill from Sam Tsui, I have ever so slightly played with the compost as suggested by JPMC, by adding a hand full of crushed oyster shells and Vermiculite, and I’ve transplanted a little piece of moss onto surface, just to save some time. I hope that this works, but for starters: Since keeping my other xerophyticums wet as can be, they have been growing like nuts. So, something is working.
This little guy was potted up yesterday:

Enjoy!

 

[SlipperKing]

Do you also have coal and sharp sand in the mix as well John?

 

[NYEric]

That's doing well. I still need to repot mine!

 

[hardy]

Looking good!

 

[goldenrose]

wet as can be, they have been growing like nuts. So, something is working.
This little guy was potted up yesterday:

What is as wet as can be? twice a week watering?
What size is the pot?

 

[NYEric]

:rollhappy: the background looks like my living room!

 

[JPMC]

Good morning everyone,
sorry I wasn’t in for a while. I was so impressed with this little plant right here, that I decided to duplicate this success. I found myself a few pieces of Windy Hill from Sam Tsui, I have ever so slightly played with the compost as suggested by JPMC, by adding a hand full of crushed oyster shells and Vermiculite, and I’ve transplanted a little piece of moss onto surface, just to save some time. I hope that this works, but for starters: Since keeping my other xerophyticums wet as can be, they have been growing like nuts. So, something is working.
This little guy was potted up yesterday:

Enjoy!

The plant looks really healthy and the potting set-up is very close to mine. I hope you have success with it. One more thing, you may want some U-shaped pieces of wire to train the new growths around the pot. I never seem to have enough.

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

Cool! I just planted mine in the same basic way - low, broad pot, with the same basic compost. It seems to be doing well so far. Good luck with yours!

 

[John Boy]

At this point I think it’s about time for a humongous „Thanks so much JPMC!!!“ for all your input!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is my believe that you changed the lives of at least 25-50 xerophyticum plants for the better all around this planet! And just maybe the Borg have assimilated this information also....

 

[Lanmark]

Wow! I have found my new love! :drool:
This is an amazingly wonderful little orchid!

 

[NYEric]

Mine made a few new growths (now 12-14) but they're in the air and I dont think they will bloom if they're not in the media and able to set roots! Must re-pot!!!

 

[likespaphs]

um, do the growths on these die off after blooming like other slippers do?

 

[NYEric]

IDK, I do know the plant is VERY hardy!

 

[JPMC]

um, do the growths on these die off after blooming like other slippers do?

Yes, they do.

 

[cnycharles]

IDK, I do know the plant is VERY hardy!

speaking of, for most of the spring and summer, I had my seedling in a joe pot with the cover on and almost never watered it; (high drain square plastic pot with tall clear dome) and it looks fine though I will repot it as well

 

[John Boy]

Here’s another one of my plants (happily growing in the autumn sunlight), still in my own compost for that species. In this moment in time I believe that the compost (or it’s components) is not the important part/issue with xerophyticum. Important seems to be that it is kept wet, or rather very wet…, hence: the growing moss!

 

[NYEric]

Looking good.