Isabelia pulchella is native to Brazil. This miniature epiphytic species is found at moderate heights, in the cold and humid mountainous areas of the south-eastern states of Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, and some report that it also performs in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Papule...
Isabelia pulchella also called as The Beautiful Isabelia, Neolauchea pulchella, Isabelia pulchella f. alba, Isabelia pulchella var. alba, Meiracyllium wetsteinii , is a species of the genus Isabelia. This species was described by C.Van den Berg & M.W.Chase in 2001.
IDENTIFY ISABELIA PULCHELLA
Isabelia pulchella is native to Brazil. This miniature epiphytic species is found at moderate heights, in the cold and humid mountainous areas of the south-eastern states of Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, and some report that it also performs in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Papule.
It is a miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte, which reaching a height of 6-7 cm, with an elongate, creeping, branched rhizome with narrowly ovoid, 0.5-1.2 cm long pseudobulbs enveloped basally by fibrous sheaths and carrying a single, apical, coriaceous, narrowly linear, subterete, 5.0-6.4 cm long leaf.
The Beautiful Isabelia blooms in the late fall on a terminal, 5 cm long, thread-like, erect to arching, single flowered inflorescence that is held amid the leaves. The flowers do not open completely and are 1.5-2.0 cm across the elements of flowers that have a pink-red or lilac color. The lip is usually slightly lighter, and at the base brownish. The dorsal petal is directed forward over the prone and is rather concave. The lip is concave at the base, and the bases of the lateral outer petals connect with the base of the lip and the spine forming a deepened magnification of the nectar.
ISABELIA PULCHELLA 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:
Isabelia pulchella needs a light level of 12000-20000 lux. The light should be filtered or dispersed, 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 thermophilic plant. In summer the average day temperature is 29-31 ° C, night 18-20 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 11-12 ° C. In winter, the average daytime temperatures are 19-20 ° C and the night 9-10 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 10 ° C.
Humidity:
The Beautiful Isabelia needs the humidity of 75-80% in autumn and winter, falling to 65% in late spring and early summer.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Due to the hanging habit, it is easier to grow Isabelia pulchella attached to tree-trunks or cork. However, it is necessary to ensure high humidity, which means that in the summer the plants should be watered at least once a day. In the case of such suspended plants, during the dry and hot periods it may be necessary to water several times a day.
The plants can also be grown in shallow pots or baskets filled with a thick, loose, well-drained substrate that allows the roots to dry quickly after watering. Some breeders recommend using rather tightly packed osmunda fern fibers.
These plants react badly to violations of the root ball and the divided parts are very difficult to recover. Repotting or dividing a plant should only be done if when it is absolutely necessary and only when the growth of new roots begins. This allows plants to acclimatize in a relatively short time and provides them with the least stress.
Watering:
Precipitation is average to abundant throughout the year. Throughout the year, additional moisture also provides a lot of dew. The cultivated plants should be abundantly watered during active growth, but the roots must always dry quickly after watering.
Fertilizer:
The plants should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is beneficial from spring to mid-summer, and a fertilizer richer in phosphorus should be used in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
In winter, the substrate of Isabelia pulchella should be constantly moist and should never be completely dried out. Fertilization should be limited or should be completely eliminated until spring when the temperature rises.
COMMENTS