A. sikokianum/under lights

[Bonaventure Magrys]

Last summer a variegated sik seedling in a 2 inch pot I had purchased
earlier that spring from Rare Earth Nurseries in Jackson, NJ, went dormant.
I immediately placed the pot in the refridgerator and four months later, in
December, placed it 12 inches below six 4-foot wide spectrum flourescent
bulbs in a grow case which contained mostly orchids, surrounded by
reflective siding. The new shoot was not that impressive, only double the
height of the previous, to 6 inches. It swayed in the breeze from the
muffin fan and really got a very high dose of light - I bloom miniature
Cattleyas in there. The variegation held in nicely and it survived despite
weekly complete drying outs. Last month, after a month of no water, I took
it out and unpotted it to store the dormant tuber in paper wrap. The mix
was loose and friable. It appeared to be at least 1/2 perlite - good idea.
What really suprised me was the the main chestnut sized tuber had 7, count
them, 7, loose pea sized offsets. Go figure.
Bonaventure