Restrepia antennifera is native to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In Venezuela, these plants are meet near Merída at an altitude of approx. 2000 m.
Restrepia antennifera also called as The Antennae Carrying Restrepia, Pleurothallis ospinae, Restrepia antennifera subsp. hemsleyana, Restrepia antennifera subsp. klabochorum, Restrepia antennifera var. maculate, Restrepia antennifera var. puntillosa, Restrepia antennifera var. roseola, Restrepia hemsleyana, is a species of the genus Restrepia. This species was described by Carl Sigismund Kunth in 1816.
IDENTIFY RESTREPIA ANTENNIFERA
Restrepia antennifera is native to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In Venezuela, these plants are meet near Merída at an altitude of approx. 2000 m. In Colombia, they are found in both the Eastern Cordillera near the border with Venezuela and in the Western Cordillera near Medellín, and in the vicinity of Pasto, in the south, near the border with Ecuador, at heights of 1700-3500 m, but most often at heights of 2000-2300 m. In Ecuador, they grow near Quito and Cuenca at heights of 2600-3500 m.
It is a small to just medium sized, cool to cold growing, tufted epiphyte, which reaching 12-33 cm in height, with erect, 8-23 cm long stems enveloped basally by 3 to 4 purple spotted, sheathing bracts and carrying a single, apical, erect or erect-spreading, ovate or elliptic, obtuse or rounded, coriaceous, 4-10 cm long and 2-5 cm wide leaf.
The Antennae Carrying Restrepia blooms in the later winter and early spring and again in the late summer and early fall on 1 to 4, axillary, terete, slender, glabrous, 1.2 to 3.2" (3 to 8 cm) long, single flowered inflorescence carrying a large flower. The flowers are slightly cupped, with narrow petals of the inner whorl, which are directed almost straight forward on both sides of the spine, while the petals of the outer whorl are directed forward at a smaller angle above and below the prone. The petals of both whorls are transparent white to pale, yellow-brown and have dark, purple-brown stripes. The lip can be pale green, white, yellowish, pale brown or light purple and can be colored, stained or streaked variously into red, maroon or dark purple. The spine is white at the base, and creamy-brown at the top.
RESTREPIA ANTENNIFERA 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:
Restrepia antennifera needs a light level of 18000-25000 lux. The light should be slightly filtered or scattered, and the plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight in the afternoon hours. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a plant with moderate / cold temperature requirements. Similar throughout the year, average daytime temperatures are 24-26 ° C, average night temperatures 11-13 ° C, with an amplitude of daily variations of 11-14 ° C. If we have a cooling air humidifier, this orchid will grow well close to the cold, humid air outlet.
Humidity:
The Antennae Carrying Restrepia needs the humidity of 70-75% throughout the year, but in high-altitude habitats it may be higher.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Restrepia antennifera grow well in small plastic pots with any relatively small substrate for orchids that drains excess water well. They are grow well also by tightly fixed on rootstocks of tree ferns, cork or on pieces of branches. However, if you are assembling them, a moss pad should be wrapped around the roots. Epiphytic cultivation also requires maintaining high humidity, and daily watering in the summer. In the case of dry and hot periods it may be necessary to water several times a day.
These plants do not tolerate the unfolded substrate and should be repotted as soon as the substrate begins to decompose or grow out of the pots. If repotting is done at the time when new roots begin to appear, the plant will be accepted and rooted in the shortest possible time.
Watering:
Throughout the year, except a 2-3-month drier season in winter, the plants should be watered frequently. Although the roots should dry a little between subsequent waterings, they can never be completely dry. It should also ensure an appropriate condition of the ground around the roots - the substrate can not be soggy or damp.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth, Restrepia antennifera should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. You can use balanced fertilizer throughout the year, or use fertilizer with increased nitrogen content from spring to mid summer, and then in the late summer and autumn, use a fertilizer with a higher content of phosphorus.
Rest period:
In winter, the amount of water can be somewhat reduced, especially if Restrepia antennifera are grown under dark, short days, which occurs at moderate latitudes. However, never let it completely dry up. If watering is limited, fertilization should also be reduced.
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