Aerides houlletiana orchid is native to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in evergreen, semi-deciduous and deciduous dry lowland forests at elevations of sea level to 700 meters in partial shade.
Aerides houlletiana orchid, also called as Houllet's Aerides, is a species of Aerides genus. Several synonyms are know for this species such as: "Aerides falcata var houlletiana [Rchb.f] Veitch"; "Aerides houlletiana var. majus André 1891"; "Aerides picotianum Rchb. f. 1888"; "Aerides platychilum Rolfe 1893".
IDENTIFY AERIDES HOULLETIANA ORCHID
Aerides houlletiana orchid is native to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in evergreen, semi-deciduous and deciduous dry lowland forests at elevations of sea level to 700 meters in partial shade.
The stem is of single nature, elongated without branching. Leaves are slender and leathery that are 2 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches in length. The scape grows from leaf axils, growing many fragrant flowers.
This plant typically blooms in the May to June months with inch and a half to two inch flowers that are thick and waxy in substance. The flowers are borne on dense many-flowered racemes and colored in creamy white, yellow and magenta. There is a wonderful fragrance of Citrus and spice. The flowers last one and a half to two months. The flowers are yellow with reddish-purple colors, three-dimensional and has complex shapes, and therefore it is not easy to see the boundaries between flowers.
GROW AND CARE AERIDES HOULLETIANA ORCHID
Just remember that Aerides houlletiana orchid grow in semi dry lowland forest at elevations of 0 to 700 meters, to get the best environment to grow this species.
Light:
Medium to high with South windows being ideal in winter months (Northern hemisphere) and East windows during summer months. 2,500 to 3,500 foot candles. This plant will also do well out of doors given diffused sunlight as through a birch or pine tree. This plant will also do well under high pressure sodium fixtures.
Humidity and temperature:
Aerides houlletiana species require medium-high temperatures with lowest values preferably over the 20 °C, high humidity, 50% or higher is ideal (the use of humidity trays or room humidifiers is beneficial), and constant ventilation.
Watering:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Municipal water with a pH of 7.5 or lower can also be used. Water as the mix just dries out. When in spike or bloom water as the mix approaches dryness but do not allow the mix to become completely dry between watering. Overwatering can cause several problems such as root rot and infectious bacteria/fungus in the potting medium.
Growing medium:
Plants are best grown hanged in baskets and on mounted. Plants should be grown in media that is well drained such as tree fern fibers (for small plants), several pieces of coarse fir bark, or sphagnum moss.
Fertilizer:
Use 20-10-20 for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.
Repot:
Recommend repotting every year to two years in a clay pot with a medium grade bark mix just after flowering. Keep dry for the first week or so after repotting to allow any damaged roots to heal.
COMMENTS