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Turquoise Puya

 

Ceratostema rauhii

 

It's normal for it to drop some leaves during shipping. 

 Getting started -- I recommend leaving your plant in its pot for 3 weeks to recover from shipping.  Don't feed it until at least 2 weeks after repotting.  Tips on transplanting it are down below.

Watering -- Keep the soil evenly moist.  Never let it dry out completely, but avoid keeping it constantly saturated too. 

 If your tap water is very high in minerals ("hard water"), consider using rain water or bottled water.

Lighting -- It likes bright, filtered light.  Shade it from strong direct sun, especially the first month.  It doesn't need direct sun to be happy, just bright light.

Climate -- It comes from a mild climate that has cool nights, so it prefers conditions enjoyed by cool- to intermediate-temperature Orchids.  Daytime temperatures below 85 degrees F (29 C) are best, with nights below about 65 F (18 C).  It reportedly can tolerate temperatures near freezing, but it needs protection from frost.

  Over about 50-60% humidity is best, with some air flow.  If it seems to suffer from low humidity indoors, consider using an ultrasonic room humidifier, sold at home improvement stores and some thrift shops.

 Soil -- Use a "chunky" mix.  A typical mix is equal parts of small orchid bark, small or medium perlite, long-fiber sphagnum moss, and either coco fiber, peat moss, or potting soil.  You can mix in some slow-release fertilizer, but don't add lime, since it likes slightly-acid conditions.

 Pot -- You can start it in 4 inch hanging planter.  Some people use pots with slits, like wooden orchid pots.  They're fine - just keep in mind the soil will dry out quicker and will need more frequent watering.

 Transplanting -- Avoid breaking apart the soil ball, which can damage the roots.  If the plant doesn't slide out of the pot easily, you might need to cut the pot away.  To do this, carefully score down the side of the pot with a box cutter blade (you don't need to cut all the way through), then use pointy-tipped scissors to cut through.

 The first 3 months after repotting, make sure the original soil ball stays moist, since it will be prone to drying out quicker than the surrounding soil.

Fertilizing --  While granular fertilizer can work fine, i prefer liquid Hydroponic fertilizer on younger plants, since it's absorbed easier and contains all essential nutrients.  Feed about every 3-4 weeks with diluted fertilizer, about 1/4 to 1/8th strength.  It grows at a moderate pace, so it doesn't need lots of fertilizer.  Again, don't feed until at least a 2 weeks after repotting.

Pests to watch for -- Watch for any pests that may affect your other plants.

 If you have questions, feel free to contact me.

 General info on this plant is here.

Enjoy your plant!

- Jeff

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Turquoise Puya

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