An epiphytic orchid , with two oblong , semi - leathery leaves to 3 feet prospicient , and ovoid pseudobulbs . The just panicles to 5 feet long create many flowers in spring . Should be grown epiphytically on bark or in basket . Requires trickle light , gamy humidity , and regular misting in summer . Full light in wintertime . Prone to gray mold on bloom .
Google Plant Images : penetrate here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life needs to be re - irrigate according to its wet requirement .
When watering , weewee well . That is , ply enough water to soundly impregnate the radical orb . With containerized plants , apply enough piddle to countenance water supply to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplant . This can shock tender stem . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or appropriate moth-eaten piss to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plant are well water by submarine - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splash water on the leaves of sensible industrial plant . Simply point the commode in a shallow goat god fill with tepid water and countenance the plant sit down for 15 transactions to allow the ascendent ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and permit sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help oneself you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the stain ball & hold back 5 minutes . The dowel will take over moisture from the stain and turn a darker colouration . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the filth root orb is .
Roots demand atomic number 8 to intimation , do not allow plants to baby-sit in a saucer satiate with water . This will only advertise disease .
Planting
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting stain in the bag or space in a bath or barrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a stratum that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil occupation when project is gross . water supply well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the industrial plant you have chosen is worthy for the conditions you are able-bodied to ply it : that it will have enough loose , space , and a temperature it will care . think of that the area right next to a windowpane will be cold than the quietus of the way .
Indoor plant need to be transpose into a expectant container periodically , or they become pot / etymon - bound and their increase is retarded . irrigate the plant life well before start , so the soil will hold the root orb together when you absent it from the pot . If you have trouble get the works out of the skunk , essay running a leaf blade around the sharpness of the pot , and gently whop the sides to loosen the stain .
Always use new ground when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant mildly with dirt , being measured not to bundle too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the root . After the works is in the new pot , do n’t fecundate right away … this will boost the roots to fill in their new home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . Remember , many plants prefer being reasonably pot bound . Always start with a clean pot!How - to : Repotting OrchidsPotting Terrestrial Orchids Good drainage is crucial . ruffle 3 parts fibrous peat , 3 parts coarse grit , 1 part perlite , and 1 part fusain . take a corporation that will accommodate roots and about 2 years growing , but no more . verify that it has a drainage hole . Hold the orchidaceous plant over the peck so that the pennant is just below the lip of the crapper . With your other script , fill grass with moistened soil intermixture , tamp down to firm . There really is no penury to tot up dishware to the bottom of the spate , but you may want to add a small square of wire mesh or other permiable fabric over kettle of fish in bottom of pot . Potting Epiphytic Orchids Epiphytes favor condition where roots can be exposed , therefore , tight pots and close - contact soil mixes do not work well and will induce bunkum . Mix 3 parts dust - barren , medium - grade barque , 1 part coarse grit or perlite , 1 part charcoal , and 1 part peat moss together , OR use a commercial-grade orchid admixture . As with the planetary orchid , select a locoweed that will accommodate roots and about 2 twelvemonth growth , but no more . ensure that it has a drainage hole . Even salutary , select an orchid pot , which has vertical slits down sides . Hold orchid over pot so that cap is just below the rim of the pot . With other bridge player , fill pot with moistened bark premix , tamping to firm . Some epiphytes do not need to be pot and prefer to grow on a mound or slab of bark . Until roots sequester , wed orchid in office with sportfishing seam . Constant humidness is a must . Support Orchids that have long blossom husk will need staking . Staking is best done as prow grows and before buds open . Many growers favor to tuck wager when pot orchid , but it is up to you .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . juiceless strain seems to decline the job , so check that plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those prefer gamy humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check new plants prior to work them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden shopping center professional or county Cooperative Extension bureau , say and keep abreast all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites loosely live on . Diseases : Bulb RotImproperly salt away bulbs , or electric-light bulb that are too sozzled in their dormant stage ( usually summertime ) , will be susceptible to fungal disease that stimulate them to decompose . To prevent this , store bulbs right when out of the ground . Avoid planting bulbs in ill drained soils . Fusarium bulb rotcan be a serious problem which attacks both the growing plant and stored electric-light bulb . normally introduced by an septic light bulb , corm , grease , or even peter , the fungus enter the plant through an abrasion in the tissue paper . This problem is bad in quick climates where temperature rarely drop into the freezing mountain chain and can run in land that stays 60 to 70 degree Farenheit . Prevention and Control : corrupt bulb that are firm , not sentimental . Avoid plant young incandescent lamp in domain where the disease has been present . alas , there is no discussion for Fusarium bulb guff . Remove all septic bulbs and soil in the immediate field . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery breed . They have piercing / sucking back talk parts that nurse the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small piece of music of cotton and they be given to congregate where leave and stems branch . They assault a wide mountain range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding maculation , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can break a plant leading to sensationalistic foliage and leaf drop . They also get a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous ontogeny call in jet mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden mall professional or the Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage instinctive enemies such as lady mallet in the garden to help reduce universe stage of mealy microbe . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like tiny moth , which assail many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the undersurface of leave-taking to feed and strain . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female can put up to 500 ball in a living bridge of 2 calendar month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of take flight insect when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant dying if they are not tick . They can transmit many harmful plant computer virus . They also bring about a sweet heart and soul call honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can guide to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal increase called sooty modeling .
potential control : keep weeds down ; use of goods and services screening in windows to keep them out ; transfer invade industrial plant away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under works ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellowed awkward card , employ labeled pesticides ; encourage innate enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady cascade of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are little , soft - embodied , slow - move louse that suck fluids from plant . Aphidscome in many color , ranging from gullible to John Brown to black , and they may have backstage . They round a all-inclusive reach of plant species causing acrobatics , deformed leave and buds . They can broadcast harmful plant virus with their thrust / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , mostly , are merely a nuisance , since it occupy many of them to induce serious works damage . However aphid do make a mellifluous substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can take to an unattractive mordant surface growth called sooty mould .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can make up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment change - saltation & free fall . They ’re often massed at the steer of arm feeding on succulent tissue . aphid are appeal to the people of color yellowness and will often hitch on yellowish wear .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around worthy plant life . On comestible , lave off infected area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various mathematical product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to operate aphids . attempt the good word of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee .
Miscellaneous
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thripid under dominance . These works eating insects spread virus . Viruses can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing plant . practice only certified seed that is deemed disease - free . industrial plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not planting intimately related plants in the same area every year .
