Eria thao is native to Vietnam and China. In Vietnam, these plants meet in the region near Hué and near Tamdao, May Bac and Mang Canh. In China, it occurs in the southern part of the island of Hainan, where it grows on trees or rocks, in forests at heights of 600-1200 m...
Eria thao also called as Campanulorchis thao, Eria bulbophylloides, Eria thao var. wlodarczykii, is a species of the genus Eria. This species was described by François Gagnepain in 1950.
IDENTIFY ERIA THAO
Eria thao is native to Vietnam and China. In Vietnam, these plants meet in the region near Hué and near Tamdao, May Bac and Mang Canh. In China, it occurs in the southern part of the island of Hainan, where it grows on trees or rocks, in forests at heights of 600-1200 m.
It is a miniature sized, warm to cold growing epiphyte with spaced, subglobose to ovoid, 1.0-1.5 cm in diameter pseudobulbs enveloped by a sheath in youth and carrying a single apical, narrowly elliptic to oblong, coriaceous, petiolate base, 5-10 cm long and 1.5-2.0 cm wide leaf.
This species blooms in the summer and fall on a terminal, erect, red brown tomentose, 3 to 4 cm long, single flowered inflorescence carrying very fragrant, non-resupinate flowers. The flower is yellow, its dorsal petal is directed downwards, and the outward side petals are about 2 cm long. The outer whorls are densely covered with red hair outside. The dorsal petal is elongated to the lanceolate, rigidly directed downwards, has a blunt or rounded apex. The lateral outer petals are triangular to the egg-shaped, blunt-ended, connected at the base, forming a funnel. The inner whorls are elliptical, blunt-ended. They are directed obliquely downward so that they reach between the lateral outer petals and the dorsal petal. The 3-flap lip is slightly elongated central plot. The lamellar disc has 3 bulges, of which the middle is more slender and runs almost to the end of the plot, while the two sides are shorter and thicker.
ERIA THAO 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:
Eria thao needs a light level of 15000-23000 lux. The light should be filtered or dispersed, and the plants should not be exposed to the direct sunlight of the midday sun. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a plant with moderate thermal requirements. In summer, the average day temperature is 26 ° C, at night 20-21 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 5-6 ° C. In winter, the average day temperature is 20-21 ° C, at night 12-14 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 6-8 ° C.
Humidity:
This species needs the humidity of 80-85% for most of the year, with a drop to around 70% in winter.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Eria thao can grow attached to pieces of tree ferns or cork, as long as we can provide them with high humidity, but during the summer hot and clear days may require several waterings during the day.
These plants, however, are usually planted in shallow containers or baskets. Baskets with large openings lined with sphagnum moss are perfect. The substrate should be loose, quickly draining water, but still retaining a certain amount. This species with small pseudobulbs should be treated and grown as small, tightly packed Osmund ferns or tree ferns with the addition of a large amount of components improving drainage. Cut tree fern fibers mixed with about 10% perlite, 10% cut sphagnum moss and 10% charcoal are excellent substrates.
After stabilization, their root ball should be as rarely violated, so you should choose a substrate that decomposes very slowly. The violation of the root ball often stops flowering for several seasons. Pine bark can be used if it contains moisture-retaining additives, but in this case more frequent repotting is required as the substrate breaks down faster. If repotting is necessary, it should be done only when the growth of new roots begins. This will allow the plant to adapt in the shortest possible time.
Watering:
In the period from late spring to autumn rainfall is moderate to heavy. In autumn, their number rapidly decreases and the 4-5 month period of drought begins, which lasts until the beginning of spring. The cultivated plants should often be watered during active growth, but from late autumn should dry between watering.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth, the plants 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, but you can also 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, Eria thao should dry a little between waterings, but should not be dry for a longer period. Morning fogging between occasional light watering should allow the plant to go through a dry period of rest, while providing it with enough moisture. At the end of winter the amount of water increases gradually. Fertilization should be reduced or completely eliminated until more intense watering starts in the spring.
COMMENTS