Growing Angraecums in Switzerland

[Lucio]

HI

I live in Bern, Switzerland's Capital City

Here is my Angraecum growing list:
Angr. sesquipedale
Angr. eburneum var. typicum
Angr. bosseri
Angr. giryame
Angr. magdalenae
Angr. longiscott 'OC'
Angr. 'Veitchii' (eburneum x sesquipedale) x eburneum (syn. virens)
Angr. Lemforde White Beauty
Angr. Crestwood Tomorrow Star (2 large plants and a small basic keiki I got form my older plant)

I live in a very modern flat, lots of light also in winter (morning light especially), but in winter I have difficulty keeping humidity high (because of the floor heating system).
Anyway I go mostly for large mature plants. I recently repotted the Lemforde, Veitchii and the 2 Crestwood and despite what it is said about not disturbing an angraecum's roots, mine are doing brilliantly, with nice new roots growing fast.

I will post some pictures later.

I would like to exchange experiences about growing angraecums.

I also have other orchids from Madagascar and a bunch of other orchids.

I am especially trying to find sarcochilus hybrids in Europe. Anyone could help?

[Marci in SoFL]

Hello Lucio, welcome to the forum! I'm looking forward to seeing your photos.

[Lucio]

my first try at posting a pic.....

[Marci in SoFL]

You did it! What a beautifully grown plant. I am always in awe of indoor growers. It takes great dedication.

[Lucio]

Hi Marci, thanks :-) actually I think some orchids love to grow indoors, if you they get enough light. Some they enjoy some very stable parameters (less disturb by strong winds, stable temperature, and so on....). Of course they need some change, sometime to start the flowering process, but I think you can often induce that by a careful use of fertilizers (and some superthirve).
Anyway one has to do with the conditions one has! :-) I have 5 vandas that I grow in vases (I hang them up in on my terrace in summer, I even leave them outside at night when I know that temperature will not fall too much), and I developed a special technique to hang up the vandas inside the vases. But I know that I will never be able to give the vandas the best conditions and if the are doing fine and sometimes flowering, they will never trhive.
In conclusion, we (the orchids and I) have to adapt a bit to each other. By experience, I had to forget some species and I am trying to keep only the ones I know can live well in the conditions I can offer (although sometime I strecht my reasoning a bit, and I try to make the orchid to adapt a bit to waht I can offer), In some way growing orchids is a philosophical metaphora :-)

[jean2]

Angraecum are warm growing and exotic orchids. They vary in size from around 6 inches to 36 inches high and have large leathery leaves spiraling around a central tough stem. Angraecum are epiphytic orchids and grow high up in trees where they receive plenty of light, they should be given the maximum light available which should be diffused to prevent scorching of the leaves which are the food store for the plant. They should be watered at 7 to 10 day intervals and sprayed with clean water daily from late spring through early autumn and every 10 to 14 days at other times of year. They thrive on good humidity so whenever possible you should damp down the greenhouse staging and paths during the hottest months.The plants are moderate feeders and a general purpose plant food can be applied from April to September at 1/4 the pack recommendation, feed these plants every third watering. Flush the pot or basket out once a month with clean water to remove any unused plant food and salts which can build up in the compost and harm the roots. During late August and September you should water with a higher potash feed (again at 1/4 strength and every third watering) which will encourage the new leaves to harden in readiness for the darker winter months. Feeding should cease by late October and no more should be given until the following late winter (Feb/Mar) at which time normal feeding can resume.

[angraecum]

Lucio,

Thanks for posting your pictures. Does the Lemforde White Beauty bloom earlier in the year than magdalenae?