Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii is native to Australia. They are found in the area from the Hastings River in the north-east of New South Wales to the Conondale Range in the south east of Queensland...
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii also called as Fitzgerald's Sarcochilus, The Ravine Orchid, Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii var. rubicentrum, Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii var. albus, Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii var. aemulus, Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii f. aemulus, Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii f. albus, is a species of the genus Sarcochilus. This species was described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1869.
IDENTIFY SARCOCHILUS FITZGERALDII
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii is native to Australia. They are found in the area from the Hastings River in the north-east of New South Wales to the Conondale Range in the south east of Queensland. They usually grow in humus on rocks or in cracks and crevices of rocks and cliffs. They grow in damp, strongly shady places of dense rain forest, in ravines and ravines on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range. These plants, always found in areas with strong air movement, occur at moderate heights up to 1000 m, but are rarely found above 610 m.
It is a small to medium sized, hot to cool growing lithophytic species with long, somewhat branched, up to 50 cm long stems subtended by old leaf bases and carrying a tuft of 4 to 8, apical, thin-textured, drooping, narrowly oblong-ligulate to ligulate, acute, deep green, 6-20 cm long and 1.0-1.5 cm wide leaves.
The Ravine Orchid blooms on a slender, arching to pendant, 10 to 20 cm long, 4 to 15 flowered inflorescence with successive opening, fragrant flowers occurring in spring. The flowers are 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter. The flakes of both whorls are white, and one-third of them, at the base, are dotted or have spots in the cherry or crimson color. Sometimes these red discolorations extend even further to the petals, and can exceptionally cover the entire inner surface. It is very rare that the petals of both whorls are pale-crimson with a lot of dark red spots. The lip is usually white with a certain amount of yellow spots.
SARCOCHILUS FITZGERALDII 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:
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii needs a light level of 20000-30000 lux. The light should be filtered or dispersed, and the plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight in the afternoon hours. Over-shading reduces the number of flowers. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a plant with moderate thermal requirements. The average temperature of the day in summer is 27 ° C, the average night is 17-18 ° C, which gives a daily amplitude of 9-10 ° C. In winter the average day temperature is 17-19 ° C, at night 7-8 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 10-12 ° C.
Humidity:
The Ravine Orchid needs the humidity of 60-65% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii are best grown in shallow clay pots with good drainage, filled with thick pieces of ground, which allows quick drainage of water and good root aeration. Many different materials can be used, such as gravel, sandstone pieces, pine bark, charcoal, sphagnum moss and leaf compost. Various mixtures are successfully used, depending on the individual cultivation conditions and experience. A mere bark or various combinations of the previously mentioned materials can be used, but it is recommended a mixture of even fine parts to average bark and river gravel with a diameter of approx. 1.0-1.2 cm and addition of 1/2 part peat. Wood charcoal is also often added to ensure the air permeability of the substrate and protection against acidification.
The best results are provided by shallow clay pots or bowls. In addition, it advises that when using pots, be careful that the substrate in the center of the pot is not too wet. This is especially important for adult plants in large pots. This problem can be eliminated by repotting, placing an empty, smaller pot upside down on the bottom. Repotting or dividing plants should be done 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:
In the period from late spring to autumn rainfall is moderate to heavy. Their quantity then decreases, going into a slightly drier period lasting through the winter to the beginning of spring. The cultivated plants should be frequently watered during intensive growth, but the outflow of water must be facilitated and the substrate around the roots should always be loose, with easy access of air. In late autumn, watering should be slightly 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. From spring to mid-summer, you can use fertilizer enriched with nitrogen, then switching to phosphorus-enriched fertilizer in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
In winter, watering of Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii should be limited, but must not be allowed to stay dry for a long time. Frequent morning fogging and rare, economical watering should allow the plant to go through a dry period of rest, while providing it with sufficient humidity. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear and a more abundant spring watering begins. In winter, the maximum possible dose of light should be ensured so as not to burn the leaves.
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