Lockhartia oerstedii is native to Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. This species, the only Lockhartia found in Mexico, grows in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco and Oaxaca...
Lockhartia oerstedii also called as Oersted's Lockhartia, Fernandezia robusta, Fernandezia verrucosa, Lockhartia lamellosa, Lockhartia mirabilis, Lockhartia robusta, Lockhartia verrucosa, is a species of the genus Lockhartia. This species was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1852.
IDENTIFY LOCKHARTIA OERSTEDII
Lockhartia oerstedii is native to Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. This species, the only Lockhartia found in Mexico, grows in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco and Oaxaca. They usually grow in mountain forests at altitudes up to 2700 m, but in Nicaragua they are occasionally found even at an altitude of 650 m. The most common are growing on horizontal branches of oaks in a thick layer of fern roots, old leaves and humus. In Costa Rica, they are found in evergreen forests at heights of 1100-1500 m. In Panama they occur in numerous places in the Chiriquà province at heights of 1220-2130 m.
It is a caespitose, medium sized, cool to hot growing epiphyte, which reaching 10-45 cm in size, with a long zigzag stem carrying imbricate, distichous, equitant, semi triangular, obtuse or acute, 2.5 cm long leaves.
Oersted's Lockhartia has an axillary, pendant, to 3.5 cm long, several flowered inflorescence arising from the upper leaf axils occurring at any time of the year that has cordate-semi-orbicular, apiculate, amplexicaul, glaucous bracts. The lightly fragrant flowers are up to 2 cm long and are the largest and most attractive in this type. They are bright yellow with dark red dots and stripes on the rod and the bottom of the lip. The lateral outer petals sometimes have red colored spots. Some describe the shape of flowers that look like a Mexican dressed in a sombrero.
LOCKHARTIA OERSTEDII 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:
Lockhartia oerstedii needs a light level of 18000-25000 lux. If the shoots and leaves begin to turn yellow from excess light, then the plants need less light. On the other hand, if the plants do not flower, the level of light should be gradually increased. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a plant with moderate thermal requirements. The average temperature of the summer day of the year is 25-26 ° C, night 15 ° C, giving a daily difference of 10 ° C.
Humidity:
Oersted's Lockhartia needs the humidity of 75-80% for most of the year, but for about one month at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring it drops to around 70%.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Due to the habit, Lockhartia oerstedii, especially with long shoots, are grown on rootstocks. Smaller plants can be grown in pots, in any loose, airy substrate.
Watering:
In natural habitat, rainfall is moderate to heavy from late spring to autumn. Then their number rapidly decreases, giving a 4-6 months period of winter drought. The cultivated plants should often be watered during active growth, but the substrate should always be loose and airy.
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:
Lockhartia oerstedii require much less water after stopping the growth of new growths in the autumn, so it should be significantly reduced, but the plants can not dry up completely. Occasional morning fogging on sunny mornings, between rare watering, should provide enough water in most areas, but the amount of water should be slightly increased if the plant wrinkles or shows other signs of drying.
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