Brachtia andina is native to Colombia and Ecuador. These plants were encountered in northern Ecuador, where they grew as epiphytes in damp mountain forests, mainly at heights of 1800-2500 m...
Brachtia andina also called as The Andean Brachtia, Brachtia verruculifera, Brassia andina, is a species of the genus Brachtia. This species was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1856.
IDENTIFY BRACHTIA ANDINA
Brachtia andina is native to Colombia and Ecuador. These plants were encountered in northern Ecuador, where they grew as epiphytes in damp mountain forests, mainly at heights of 1800-2500 m. They were also found in the Carchi Province between Tulcan and Maldonado, at an altitude of 2150-2600 m, in the Province of Imbabura in several locations near Apuela at an altitude of 2300-3000 m, in the Province of Napo near Papallacta at an altitude of 2800 m and in the Province of Pichincha in numerous places at heights of 1200-2800 m, but mainly above 2000 m.
It is a small sized, cool to cold growing miniature epiphyte, which reaching 15 cm in height, that has a creeping rhizome with ancipitous, narrowly oblong ovate, 3 cm long and 0.7 cm wide pseudobulbs subtended and enveloped by several, imbricating, leaf-bearing sheaths above and scarious bracts below that carry a single, apical, narrowly oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 13 cm long and 2.0-2.5 cm wide leaf that basally is contracted into a petiole.
The Andean Brachtia blooms in the winter and early spring on a basal from the leaf axils, erect, 20 cm long raceme, equaling the length of the leaf and arising on a mature pseudobulb, with glumaceous, inflated floral sheaths and many long-lasting, fleshy flowers that droop and are two ranked along the inflorescence. The sulfur-yellow flowers are about 1 cm in length and width measured from the tops of diagonally parted side petals. The lance-shaped ridge petal is directed forward over the rod on most of its length, but is slightly twisted at the sharp point. Narrow-lanceolate, pointed lateral outer petal face forward or open diagonally on each side of the lip and the spine. Rather, the triangular petals of the inner whorl are gradually narrow into a sharp top. They are slightly concave and directed forward on both sides and slightly above the spine, but they can be slightly twisted at the apexes. The rectangular lip, a little in the shape of a violin, has a rounded or blunt tip. At the base, it is connected to the backbone and ovary, forming a baggy base. The lip has a wavy or semicircular edge, it is forwarded on most lengths, but it is sharply bent at the apex. The disc on the lip has a pair of fleshy appendages on each side at the base with rare tufts of hair in the middle between the appendices. The rod is short and thick and has a pair of triangular wings at the base.
BRACHTIA ANDINA 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:
Brachtia andina needs a light level of 15000-30000 lux. You need to ensure constant air movement.
Temperature:
It is a plant with moderate thermal requirements. Throughout the year the average day temperature is 23-26 ° C, night 11-12 ° C, giving a daily difference of 11-16 ° C.
Humidity:
The Andean Brachtia needs the humidity of 75-80% for most of the year, falling to 60-65% during 2-3 winter, drier months.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Brachtia andina should be grown on mounted cork or tree ferns. When growing in pots, it is necessary to provide a very loose and airy substrate, but at the same time retain some moisture.
Watering:
In natural habitat, rainfall is moderate to heavy from spring to autumn. Then their number falls quite drastically at the beginning of the winter, dry season, which lasts 2-3 months. The cultivated plants should be often watered during the growing season and should have an excellent drainage.
Fertilizer:
Weekly use of 1/4-1/2 dose of fertilizers during active growth is recommended. You can use a balanced fertilizer throughout the year, or use high nitrogen fertilizer from spring to mid summer, then high phosphoric fertilizer from mid-summer to autumn.
Rest period:
Brachtia andina in winter need less water, but they should never remain dry for a longer period. The amount of water should be increased if the pseudobulbs start to get too wrinkled or show other signs of stress, but excess water can kill the plants, especially if the temperature is low and the light level is low. Fertilization should be eliminated until when new growths appear in the spring and regular watering is undertaken. It is the brightest in the winter and then the plants need as much light as possible, so as not to burn the leaves.
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