Question
Hi, I recently purchased a lovely mini orchid at the Philly Flower Show, but am not seeing any references to it on major sites as far as proper care is concerned...it is Aerangis citrata, has small white phalaeonopsis-type blooms, although the one I bought is budding w/ no open blooms yet. Any advice would be helpful - my first orchid experiment was a sad casualty of overwatering. Also, does black fungus spread between orchids? That's how I lost my last one, want to make it sure it doesn't strike again! Thanks!

Answer
Aerangis citrata certainly is a lovely little orchid. Being a species, it will be a bit challenging to grow since it has rather specific requirements that are found in its native habitat.  It likes a lot of light and moisture and temperatures above 55 degrees.  It has a short rest period when the root tips are all white and showing no green on them, but, even then, misting would be helpful.  You didn't mention how it is grown (pot, basket, or mounted to a slab). I would be sure the mix is fairly open (ie drains well) and then I would mist it as often as possible early in the day, as it likes humidity and lots of air movement.  It is difficult to say about the fungus, but most spread by means of spores.  Since the plant should be grown under quite humid conditions, these are also conditions in which fungi thrive. If you start seeing it, place some listerine on a Q-tip and rub the affected area until you see no more signs of it.