Paphinia cristata is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Panama, the Caribbean Islands and Venezuela. Although it occurs on a large area, these plants are not often found, and some even consider them to be rare...
Paphinia cristata also called as The Combed Paphinia, Lycaste cristata, Lycaste cristata var modigliana, Lycaste randii, Maxillaria cristata, Paphinia cristata var modigliana, Paphinia cristata var randii, Paphinia modigliana, Paphinia randii, is a species of the genus Paphinia. This species was described by John Lindley in 1843.
IDENTIFY PAPHINIA CRISTATA
Paphinia cristata is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Panama, the Caribbean Islands and Venezuela. Although it occurs on a large area, these plants are not often found, and some even consider them to be rare. In Venezuela, they meet in the northern coastal mountains at an altitude of about 600 m, but slightly more south in the state of Bol'var and in the territory of Amazonas they are somewhat more common. They grow at an altitude of about 200 m in the upper reaches of the Caura River in the westernmost part of the Bol'var state. They were seen on the slopes of Cerro Sarisariama at an altitude of around 500 m, at Cerro Venamo near the border with Guyana, at an altitude of 800 m, and on the Auyntepui slopes at an altitude of just over 1,000 m. In most areas they grow in well sheltered places deep in the forests.
It is a medium sized, warm to hot growing epiphyte, which reaching a height up to 18 cm, with tufted, elongate-ovoid, sulcate, slightly compressed, 2.5-5.0 cm long pseudobulbs carrying 2 apical, membraneous, soft, broadly lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, acute, plicate, 15-25 cm long leaves.
The Combed Paphinia blooms in the autumn to early winter and late spring on a basal, pendant, 10 to 20 cm long, bracteate, 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence arising as a new growth appears and carrying large, showy flowers. The flowers are 8-10 cm in diameter. The dorsal petal is usually directed downwards. Quite the fleshy, pointed tips of both whorls are widely spread, but they form a rather slightly cupped flower than completely flat. The inner whorls have almost the same length as the outer whorls, but are slightly narrower. The flakes in the middle from the side of the base are white or pale yellow and have wisps of transverse spots of red to chocolate brown. The top half of the outer whorls flakes are often completely brown and red, but sometimes they are marked with pale yellow, longitudinal lines. The apical half of the inner whorl flakes is usually completely brown and red, but can be decorated with narrow, pale yellow dotted lines around the edges. The meaty 3-flap lip has up to 2 cm in length. It has a dark chocolate-purple color and white hair at the tip. The semi-cylindrical spine is greenish with a yellowish tip and on the top it has small, ear-like appendages on both sides.
PAPHINIA CRISTATA 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:
Paphinia cristata needs a light level of 12000-18000 lux. The plants need sheltered conditions, with filtered or diffused light and protection from direct sunlight. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. The average day temperature is 28-29 ° C throughout the year, and the average night temperature is 16-19 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 10-13 ° C.
Humidity:
The Combed Paphinia needs the humidity of 85-90% from late spring to autumn, gradually falling to 75-80% during the winter and early spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Paphinia cristata has drooping inflorescences, so it is better to grow it attached to the flakes of tree fern or cork, but in order to ensure high humidity and daily watering during the summer. In the period of extremely hot and dry weather, attached plants may require even several waterings during the day.
They can also be grow in hanging baskets using substrates that rapidly discharge excess water, such as coarse bark, but contain additions of materials that retain a certain amount, such as chopped sphagnum moss or perlite. Wood charcoal is often added to make the substrate structure loose and to prevent acidification of the substrate.
Watering:
Rainfall is moderate to heavy throughout the year. In the period from late spring to autumn, that is in the period of active growth, the plants should be kept relatively moist with little drying between watering. In late autumn, watering is somewhat limited.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth, the plants should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. At the beginning of the year, when the period of intensive growth, you can use nitrogen enriched fertilizer. In contrast, in late summer and autumn fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus are used to stimulate plants to flower.
Rest period:
In winter, watering should be reduced to a certain extent, especially in the case of Paphinia cristata cultivated in darker conditions of a short day typical of higher latitudes, but they should not be completely deprived of water. Fertilization should be limited until spring, when stronger watering resumes.
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