Epidendrum schlechterianum is native from Guerrero and Oaxaca in Mexico to the south through Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama to West Indies, Suriname, Brazil and Peru...
Epidendrum schlechterianum also called as Schlechter's Epidendrum, Epidendrum brevicaule, Epidendrum discolor, Epidendrum gonzalez-tamayoi, Epidendrum neodiscolor, Nanodes brevicaule, Nanodes discolor, Nanodes schlechterianum, is a species of the genus Epidendrum. This species was described by Oakes Ames in 1924.
IDENTIFY EPIDENDRUM SCHLECHTERIANUM
Epidendrum schlechterianum is native from Guerrero and Oaxaca in Mexico to the south through Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama to West Indies, Suriname, Brazil and Peru. These plants grow on mossy rocks and trees in clear or dense, damp forests. Although it is generally reported that the plants were harvested from a height from sea level to about 1100 m, it seems that most of the plants were obtained from areas lying below 300 m. However, in Costa Rica most of the specimens were collected near San Jose at heights of approx. 1400-1600 m.
It is a miniature sized, hot growing, epiphytic or occasional lithophytic species, which reaches about 6.4 cm in height, with clustered, leafy, branching stems enveloped by imbricate leaf bases carrying distichous, fleshy-coriaceous, ovate-lanceolate, acute, beaded surface, slightly serrated margin, apically, 1-3 cm long leaves.
Schlechter's Epidendrum blooms in the spring and summer on an apical, single flowered, short inflorescence that has 2 erect flowers. The flowers do not open completely, but are still large in relation to the size of the plant, are about 3 cm in diameter. Sometimes they can be difficult to see, because they have the same fleshy texture and often similar coloring as the leaves. The color of flowers is variable and can be yellow-green, reddish-green, brown-green, green with pink admixture or pale pink-purple.
EPIDENDRUM SCHLECHTERIANUM CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Epidendrum schlechterianum needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. The light should be filtered and dispersed, and the plants should not be exposed directly to the sun in the afternoon hours. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. In summer, when the average temperature is 31-32 ° C , nights 21-22 ° C , a difference of daily 9-10 ° C . In winter, when the average temperature is 26-28 ° C at night 17-18 ° C , a difference of daily 9-11 ° C .
Humidity:
Schlechter's Epidendrum needs the humidity of around 80% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Because they are branched, grow tangled in tufts, and sometimes hanging, Epidendrum schlechterianum are probably much easier to grow if they are attached to pieces of cork or tree fern. You should then maintain high humidity, and in summer the plants should be watered at least once a day. In the case of such suspended plants, during the dry and hot periods it may be necessary to water several times a day.
These plants can also be grown in shallow pots or baskets provided that a permeable and airy substrate is used, which allows the roots to dry quickly after watering.
Repotting or dividing plants should be done when the growth of new roots begins. This allows the plants to acclimatize in a relatively short time and provides them with the least stress.
Watering:
Precipitation is weak to medium throughout the season with a clear dry winter season lasting from 1 to 6 months. The plants in cultivation should be kept in moisture during active growth, with slight drying between waterings.
Fertilizer:
During the period of strong growth, the plants should be fertilized every week with 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. You can use fertilizer with low nitrogen content and high phosphorus content in autumn. It improves flowering in the next season and strengthens new growth before winter.
Every few weeks, the substrate should be rinsed to avoid the formation of mineral deposits, especially when using high doses of fertilizers. Flushing throughout the whole year is important especially where the water is highly mineralized.
Rest period:
In winter, watering for Epidendrum schlechterianum should be reduced, but dryness should not be allowed. Let the plants dry before the next watering, but do not allow the condition when the plants remain dry for a long time. In most cases, such conditions can provide morning fogging combined with very light watering every 2-3 weeks, especially when sunny weather is expected. If we grow plants in winter in colder conditions, it is very important to limit watering even more than it was previously suggested. During this period, the fertilization should be reduced or completely stopped. The light should be kept as high as possible, so as not to burn the leaves.
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