Myrmecophila galeottiana is native to Mexico and Guatemala. In Mexico, these plants can be found on the plains above the Pacific Ocean and at the foot of the mountains in the states of Guerrero, Jalisco and Michoacán...
Myrmecophila galeottiana also called as Galeotti's Schomburgkia, Bletia lepidissima, Laelia galeottiana, Laelia sawyer, Myrmecophilia chionodora, Myrmecophilia chionodora var kimballiana, Myrmecophilia lepidissima, Myrmecophilia sanderiana, Schomburgkia chionodora, Schomburgkia chionodora var kimballiana, Schomburgkia galeottiana, Schomburgkia galeottiana var chionodora, Schomburgkia galeottiana var kimballiana, Schomburgkia rhionodora var kimballiana, Schomburgkia lepidissimma, Schomburgkia sanderiana, is a species of the genus Myrmecophila. This species was described by Robert Allen Rolfe in 1917.
IDENTIFY MYRMECOPHILA GALEOTTIANA
Myrmecophila galeottiana is native to Mexico and Guatemala. In Mexico, these plants can be found on the plains above the Pacific Ocean and at the foot of the mountains in the states of Guerrero, Jalisco and Michoacán. They usually occupy positions at heights of 25-400 m above sea level, but they were also found at an altitude of 1000 m. They grow high in trees in dense clumps of forests that completely or partially drop leaves, along roads or in other similar places where they have lots of light and air movement.
It is a large sized, hot growing epiphytic plant, which reaching 22-47cm in size, with an elongate, 3 to 5 jointed, terete, 10-30 cm long pseudobulb that gradually tapers towards the narrow apex carrying 2 to 4 thick, leathery, concave beneath, elliptic, obtuse and apiculate apically and gradually narrowing below into the clasping base, 12-17 cm long leaves.
Galeotti's Schomburgkia blooms in the fall on a terminal, erect, paniculate, 1 to 2 meters long, many flowered inflorescence opening in succession. The magnificent flowers open successively, starting from the lower branches of the flower panicle. The flowers have a diameter of 6-7 cm, the inner and outer petals of the perianth have a more or less homogeneous lavender or purple color, the inner petals of the perianth may be slightly darker on the edges. The lip is white or yellowish, white inside. The upward side flakes of the lip and its middle petal are of the same color as the petals of the perianth or darker, purple-purple.
MYRMECOPHILA GALEOTTIANA 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:
Myrmecophila galeottiana needs a light level of 35000-45000 lux. The plants need high light intensity, but in areas with many cloudless days, light should be limited or distracted. In some regions, the plants may need protection from the direct sun at noon. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant The average temperature of summer days is 30 ° C, and the night of 22-23 ° C, with an amplitude of daily variations of 7-8 ° C. The average day temperature in winter is 28-29 ° C, and the average night temperature is 19 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 9-10 ° C.
Humidity:
Galeotti's Schomburgkia needs the humidity of 75-80% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
You can use small pots or baskets can be filled with a very thick, loose, fast-drying substrate that allows the roots to dry quickly after watering. Wood charcoal is often added to make the substrate structure loose. This also prevents acidification of the substrate.
It is recommend the most rare division or repotting of plants, because Myrmecophila galeottiana re-start such treatments for several years. A substrate that is difficult to degrade is best and may consist of elements such as tree fern fiber pieces, large pieces of fir bark or cork pieces.
The plants should grow out of the container for several seasons before repotting. Wait until the ground begins to decompose. When repotting is necessary, it is best to choose the moment when new roots appear, because it is a period of time, when the plant has the best chance of the fastest regeneration.
These plants grow well also mounted on pieces of tree ferns or cork, but in the summer it requires high humidity and daily watering. In the period of extremely hot and dry weather, assembled plants may require even a few waterings during the day.
Watering:
Heavy rainfall occurs in summer and early autumn. Then the sum of monthly rainfall drops sharply until the transition to the dry season lasting from late autumn to spring. The cultivated plants should be watered strongly during the full growth, but the roots must always dry quickly after watering. After growing new growths in the autumn, reduce the intensity of watering so that the plants dry out 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 sustainable fertilizer, but there are those who use low-nitro and high-phosphor fertilizer in late summer, because this composition stimulates flowering in the next season and facilitates the maturity of new growth before the dry winter period.
Rest period:
Although watering of Myrmecophila galeottiana should be limited in winter and spring, they should not remain completely dry for a longer period of time. Periodic morning sprinkling, especially on bright, sunny days, should provide the plants with the water needed to protect them from excessive drying. The amount of water should be slightly increased if the pseudobulbs shrink too much.
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