Aerides lawrenciae orchid is native to the Philippines, in particular, to the islands Mindanao and Leyte in the pluvial forests on the most exposed branches, in way to receive the maximum possible light, at elevations up to 500 meters.
Aerides lawrenciae orchid, also called as Lady Lawrence's Aerides, is a species of Aerides genus. Several synonyms are know for this species such as: "Aerides lawrenciae var amesiana Sander Ex Kraenzl. 1891"; "Aerides lawrenciae var fortichii Ames & Quis. 1935"; "Aerides lawrenciae var punctata Ames & Quis. 1935"; "Aerides lawrenciae var. sandersianum (Rchb.f.) Sander ex Kraenzl. 1892"; "Aerides sanderianum Rchb.f. 1884".
IDENTIFY AERIDES LAWRENCIAE ORCHID
Aerides lawrenciae orchid is native to the Philippines, in particular, to the islands Mindanao and Leyte in the pluvial forests on the most exposed branches, in way to receive the maximum possible light, at elevations up to 500 meters.
The name of the Aerides genus is the combination of the Greek terms “ἀήρ” (aer) = air and “εἶδος” (eidos) = shape, look, with reference to the epiphytic behavior of the plants; the species is honored to Lady Lawrence, wife of the president of the British Royal Horticultural Society at the time of its description.
Aerides lawrenciae is a large to giant sized, hot growing, monopodial epiphyte with with erect stems, semi-pendent in the old plants, up to more than 1 m long, and alternate distichous, linear, coriaceous, curved leaves, with irregularly bilobed apex, up to 30 cm long and 5 cm broad, of intense green colour.
Lateral, racemose inflorescences, drooping, 30-50 cm long, carrying up to more than 30 flowers of about 4 cm of diameter, having white sepals and petals with purple apex and white labellum with purple median lobe, occuring in the fall and early winter.
Oblong, about 2 cm long and 1,2 cm broad dorsal sepal, elliptic lateral, 1,8 cm long and 1,5 cm broad sepals, ovate, about 1,5 cm long and 1 cm broad petals, trilobed labellum forming at the apex a sort of a pointed sac shaped like a spur curved forward, of greenish colour, with erect lateral lobes and median lobe bent upwards over the column.
It reproduces by seed, in vitro, and micropropagation; at an amateur level it may be reproduced by the vegetative restart cutting the stem in such a point that the upper part and the lower one are provided with leaves and numerous aerial roots.
GROW AND CARE AERIDES LAWRENCIAE ORCHID
The plant is listed as endangered in the ICUN Red List of Threatened Species; it is frequently utilized in the hybridizations.
Temperature, light and humidity:
Aerides lawrenciae species require medium-high temperatures with lowest values preferably over the 20 °C, high luminous intensity, also direct sun, for stimulating the blooming, high humidity, 65-80%, and constant ventilation.
Watering:
The waterings must be regular and abundant during the growth period, with frequent nebulisations to the roots, somewhat reduced in winter, avoiding water stagnations at the axil of the new leaves to avoid easy rottenness. Watering and nebulisations are to be done using rainwater, demineralized or by reverse osmosis. If hung the roots must be watered frequently.
Fertilizer:
For the fertilizations, at intervals of 1-2 weeks during the growth period, it is advisable the use of hydro-soluble balanced products, with microelements, at ¼ of the dosage suggested by the producer on the package.
Cultivate - potting:
Plants are best grown hung in baskets or 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, to allow the robust roots to freely elongate, with aerated and particularly draining compost that can be formed by large-sized bark fragments.. Plants are best mounted.
Repot:
The repottings are to be done when strictly necessary, by the vegetative restart, trying to not too much disturb the roots.
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