Epigeneium treacherianum is native to Philippines. On the island of Luzon, the plants grow in the provinces of Bataan, Benquet, Kalinga-Apayao, Quezon and Rizal, at an altitude of 600-1100 m...
Epigeneium treacherianum also called as Treacher's Epigeneium, Callista treacheriana, Dendrobium lyonii, Dendrobium treacherianum, Epigeneium lyonii, Katherinea treacheriana, Sarcopodium lyonii, Sarcopodium treacherianum, is a species of the genus Epigeneium. This species was described by Victor Samuel Summerhayes in 1957.
IDENTIFY EPIGENEIUM TREACHERIANUM
Epigeneium treacherianum is native to Philippines. On the island of Luzon, the plants grow in the provinces of Bataan, Benquet, Kalinga-Apayao, Quezon and Rizal, at an altitude of 600-1100 m.
It is a small sized, hot to cool growing epiphyte, which reaching the size of 22-33 cm, with a stout rhizome with crowded, ovoid, 4 to 6 angled, dull brownish green, 5-7 cm long pseudobulbs carrying 2, stiff, oblong-elliptic to narrowly elliptic, retuse, leathery, 17-25 cm long leaves.
Treacher's Epigeneium blooms on a terminal, porrect to pendant, 10 to 15 cm long, 2 to 20 flowered, racemose inflorescence with fragrant, resupinate flowers occurring in the summer. The flowers are strongly open, star-shaped. They are usually about 7.5 cm in diameter, but they can reach up to 12.5 cm. They are purple-red with a chestnut lip.
EPIGENEIUM TREACHERIANUM 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:
Epigeneium treacherianum needs a light level of 18000-25000 lux.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. In summer, the average day temperature is 25-27 ° C, the night 19 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 7-9 ° C. In spring, the average day temperature is 27-29 ° C, and the average night temperature is 17-19 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 10-11 ° C. In winter, the average day temperature is 25-26 ° C, at night 15-16 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 9-11 ° C.
Humidity:
Treacher's Epigeneium needs the humidity of 80-85% in summer and autumn; drops to about 75% in winter and decreases even more, to 68-71%, in the spring, just before the start of the summer rainy season.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Epigeneium treacherianum can be attached to cork flakes or tree ferns, as long as we can provide them with high humidity and watering at least once a day during the summer. However, the plants are usually planted into flat containers or baskets, using a loose, fast-drying substrate. Different amounts of humectant additives, such as perlite or pieces of peat moss, can be mixed with a basic material consisting of small to medium sized pieces of pine bark or tree fern. You can also successfully grow the plants in mesh baskets with 6 mm mesh, lined with coconut fiber. Another popular substrate consists of chopped pieces of tree ferns mixed with about 10% fine charcoal, 10% perlite or pumice, and 10% cut sphagnum moss. Under typical conditions, with a strong air movement, this mixture allows even shedding, because the substrate neither absorbs nor dries completely between watering. Ferns of tree fern are not as quickly decomposed as pieces of pine bark, which means that it is not necessary to overly repot.
When the plant grows out of the basket, it can be completely transferred to a larger one without disturbing the roots. This is important because these plants do not like to be repotted, and can sometimes recover after dividing or repotting for one year. If repotting is necessary, it is best to do it when the new roots are already starting to grow, to allow the plant to root as quickly as possible.
Watering:
In the period from late spring to autumn rainfall is abundant. During active growth, the growing medium should be kept moist.
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. In autumn, fertilizer with reduced nitrogen content and higher phosphorus content is recommended. Higher phosphorus content stimulates better flowering in the next season and promotes hardening of new growth before winter.
Every three or four weeks, the substrate should be flushed to avoid the formation of mineral deposits, especially when high doses of fertilizers are used, then the plants should be watered normally to dissolve the accumulated salts, after about an hour the substrate should be rinsed with water equal to twice the volume of the container. Rinsing throughout the whole year is important especially where the water is highly mineralized.
Rest period:
For four winter months, the amount of water for Epigeneium treacherianum should be reduced to occasional morning fogging combined with poor watering (every 2-3 weeks), especially if you expect a period of bright, sunny weather. Until spring, fertilization should be limited or completely abandoned. Both watering and fertilization should be gradually increased in spring.
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