Helcia sanguinolenta is native to Ecuador. These orchids occur in the provinces of Chimborazo and Bolívar and in the province of Azuay between Cuenca and Pasaje, at an altitude of 1000-1500 m. They grow epiphytically in rather dry, cloudy forests...
Helcia sanguinolenta also called as The Blood-Stained Helcia, Trichopilia sanguinolenta, is a species of the genus Helcia. This species was described by John Lindley in 1845.
IDENTIFY HELCIA SANGUINOLENTA
Helcia sanguinolenta is native to Ecuador. These orchids occur in the provinces of Chimborazo and Bolívar and in the province of Azuay between Cuenca and Pasaje, at an altitude of 1000-1500 m. They grow epiphytically in rather dry, cloudy forests.
It is a small to medium sized, cold to warm growing, caespitose epiphyte, which reaching 18-28 cm in size, with 7.7 cm long ovoid, elongated, pseudobulbs partially enveloped basally by imbricate, acute, scarious sheaths that are tightly packed on a rhizome and a single, elongated, elliptic, coriaceous , 10 to 20 cm long, conduplicate below into the elongate, petiolate base, up to 10-20 cm long leaf that has an undulate margin.
The Blood-Stained Helcia blooms in the winter and spring on a single, occasionally successively 2 flowered, basal, arching to pendant, 9 cm long inflorescence arising on a mature pseudobulb. The flowers are fragrant, with a pronounced texture, are long-lasting and are about 7.5 cm in diameter. The flakes of both whorls are yellowish to straw, with transverse brownish-crimson bands. These bands sometimes combine to form round spots. The flattened white lip has very wavy edges and radially arranged lines visible in the lower part together with interrupted crimson or purple-red lines. The inner whorl flakes and the lateral outer petals are widely spread, with slightly bent edges, and the concave ridge flake is directed forward to form a hood above the prone.
HELCIA SANGUINOLENTA 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:
Helcia sanguinolenta needs a light level of 15000-25000 lux.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. The average temperature of the summer day is 28-29 ° C, the night 17-18 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 11-12 ° C. The average temperature of the winter day is 26-27 ° C, night 16 ° C, giving a daily difference of 10-11 ° C.
Humidity:
The Blood-Stained Helcia needs the humidity of around 75% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Helcia sanguinolenta can be grown on rootstocks or in pots with loose, airy substrate.
Watering:
In natural habitat, rainfall is low to moderate throughout the year. The cultivated plants should often be watered during active growth with a slight drying between watering. In late spring, when new growths reach maturity, the amount of water should be 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.
Rest period:
In winter, the amount of water supplied should be reduced, especially for Helcia sanguinolenta cultivated in the conditions of a short, dark day at moderate latitudes. However, they should not stay dry for a longer period. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growth appears in the spring and more watering is required.
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