Renanthera citrina is native to Vietnam. This epiphytic orchid occurs in the northeastern province of Cao Bang near Tra Linh and near Ha Giang.
Renanthera citrina also called as The Lemon Yellow Renanthera (refers to the flowers color), Renanthera sinica, is a species of the genus Renanthera. This species was described by Leonid Vladimirovich Averyanov in 1997.
IDENTIFY RENANTHERA CITRINA
Renanthera citrina is native to Vietnam. This epiphytic orchid occurs in the northeastern province of Cao Bang near Tra Linh and near Ha Giang. In this region they are quite rare plants, but locally large populations can be found at the tops of mountain ridges. They are found in open, dry, mossy, primeval mixed and coniferous forests growing on weathered limestones, at heights of 650-900 m.
It is a small sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte or occasional lithophyte on mossy rock bluffs with a pendulous and ascending, short, woody, 20 cm long stem carrying lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, rigid, leathery, curved, unequally bilobed apically, sessile, articulated, 9-14 cm long and 1.0-1.4 cm wide leaves.
The Lemon Yellow Renanthera blooms in the winter on an erect to inclined, racemose to 2 branched, to 18" (45 cm) long, simultaneously to 25 flowered inflorescence with small triangular floral bracts and odorless flowers. The flowers have bright lemon-yellow color with 1-3 purple-violet spots on the petals and lateral lobes of the lip, spread out, shape a little like a star. Upper sepals are narrow-lanceolate, with blunt top and narrow base. The lateral sepals are lanceolate, with wavy margins and blunt-pointed apex, directed downward at an angle. The petals are lanceolate, directed upward, sometimes slightly curved along the entire length. Three-lobed lip has a spur. Its lateral lobes are wide, and the middle is ovate, concave, directed forward.
RENANTHERA CITRINA 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:
Renanthera citrina needs a light level of 40000-50000 lux. Lighting should be as bright as an orchid can bear without burning leaves, but it will grow better if it is protected from the direct rays of the sun in the midday hours. A constant strong ventilation is necessary.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant, but requiring a cooler resting period. In summer the average day temperature is 29 ° C, night 21 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 8 ° C. In winter, the average day temperatures are 15-18 ° C, and the night 6-9 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 7-9 ° C.
Humidity:
The Lemon Yellow Renanthera needs the humidity of 80-85% for most of the year, only for about one month of winter and then at the end of spring, it drops to 75%.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Renanthera citrina can be grown in shallow containers with good drainage or on tree rootstocks. However, the plants require high humidity, and during hot and dry weather, they should be watered several times a day.
They can also be grown in shallow pots or baskets with a fast drying substrate with excellent drainage and good aeration that allows for quick drying after watering. You can use medium granulation of fir bark or pieces of tree fern fiber with the addition of coarse pearlite and / or chopped sphagnum moss, which simultaneously increases the permeability of the substrate and allows the retention of moisture. The addition of charcoal helps to ensure permeability and prevents soda.
The plants should be repotted immediately if the substrate begins to decompose. It's best to do it when new roots start growing. This will allow the plant to adapt to the new substrate in the shortest possible time.
Watering:
During active growth from late spring to autumn, Renanthera citrina should be kept constantly moist, but the substrate should not be soaked, while around the roots should be ensured excellent aeration. In late autumn, watering should be gradually reduced.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth, the plants should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. In spring to mid-summer you can use fertilizer enriched with nitrogen, then switching to phosphorus-enriched fertilizer in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Renanthera citrina require a cool resting period in winter. They should be allowed to dry a little before the next watering, but it must not be allowed to remain dry for a long period of time. To prevent excessive drying, the plants should be sprinkled fairly early in the morning between watering. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear and spring watering is started more.
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