The Ascocentrum genus is a relatively small group of about 10 species that hails from the Asian tropics?yet from a collector's point of view, these are extremely important plants. Ascocentrum plants are closely related to Vandas and easily hybridize with these orchids. The resulting Ascocentrum x Vanda cross is known as Ascocenda, or Ascda. The Ascocenda plants offer the very best of both their parents: they are compact monopodial plants that can easily be grown indoors; they have the same outrageously awesome growth habit; and they boast the jewel-like flowers of the Vandas. ?Ascocentrum ampullaceum caon be grown in containers with good drainage or on cork or tree fern rootstock with high humidity. The plants can also planted into pots or baskets, using a very loose, quickly drying, quite thick medium bark with medium granulation. Perlite and charcoal give the substrate breathability, retain some moisture and prevent its acidification. Vein-like Ascocentrum is particularly susceptible to decay or unfolded subsoil, so it should be repotted immediately when the substrate begins to decompose. Repotting is done at the time when new roots begin to appear, the plant will be accepted and rooted ino the shortest possible time.