hello, Ray, I bought one of those in flower last year. at the time of purchase it was in bark. I had it under Phal type light. I watered it when the medium was slightly damp - did not let it dry out completely. it was not happy, so i put it about 12 inches from the window which has southern exposure. it was still not happy. most of the roots either dried or rotted. so now, i have changed the medium to clay pellets, dolomite, and some sphagnum on top with foam peanuts as the bottom layer in the plastic pot. and it is now at a window with western exposure. I am also spraying it with KLN & protekt. the leaves are still firm. one of them is slightly wrinkled. and i lost only one bottom leaf. I am hoping that it will be OK now. I guess I am not much help.
sue

Ray, I had this a few years back... over the course of 3 or 4 years, I tried different light levels and although the plant seemed well, it grew very slowly and never flowered. I finally got tired of it and moved it to a back corner of a shelf and forgot about it. (I found it all dehydrated and dead...)

It was supposedly blooming-sized, and I grew it at different times with phals, oncids, catts... all of which bloomed regularly, so I'm not sure what the deal was.

I haven't gotten my latest one (from Kawamato) to flower but "standard operating procedure" (for what little that's usually worth) says "treat the plant like a vanda and the roots like a phal" - ie, at last Cattleya level light, but don't let the roots dry out totally between waterings.

I'm not sure why, but unfortunately we in the US seem to be limited to this Irene Dobkin grex which isn't a strong performer, though Asconopsis crosses are not so uncommon in SE Asia (so I've read, anyway...)

WOW!! I am glad that it didn't cost too much! It sounds like one that is destined for the garbage! I think I will take it out of the sphagnum moss, put it into a net pot or basket & fill that with charcoal & hang it with my Vandas so it will be watered every day & get super bright light. I'll monitor the roots for signs of drying out or rotting for a couple weeks & adjust as needed. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences!

-Ray-

Asconopsis Irene Dobkin orchids are a bit on the temperamental side.
You somehow have to get them to that magical area between vanda and phalaenopsis conditions, which is probably as crazy as you can get in terms of light and root moisture.

I have one in my greenhouse that is sitting in an area with more light than the phals but slightly less light than the catts and vandas. It is just sitting there and growing leaves oh so slowly. It has never bloomed for me yet.

westoh Z6,

What kind of temperatures is it getting through the year?

I don't have that particular plant any longer (long story about health issues in 2009) but it grew indoors year round with temps 65-80F. I've changed growing routines as I summer most plants outdoors during the summer now, and my other mini-vandaceous' do well using that routine. 65-80F when indoors, anywhere from 55-100F when outdoors.

Bob