Trichocentrum tigrinum is native to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. This orchid was originally discovered in the Amazon forests, where it occurs on trees growing on the upper Rio Negro basin near the southwestern border with Venezuela...
Trichocentrum tigrinum also called as The Tiger-Like Trichocentrum, Trichocentrum tigrinum var. splendens, is a species of the genus Trichocentrum. This species was described by Jean Jules Linden & Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1869.
IDENTIFY TRICHOCENTRUM TIGRINUM
Trichocentrum tigrinum is native to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. This orchid was originally discovered in the Amazon forests, where it occurs on trees growing on the upper Rio Negro basin near the southwestern border with Venezuela. It also occurs in the Amazonas region in the north of Peru, near Bagua in the upper reaches of Rio Maranem and in the vicinity of La Peca between the rivers Marańton and Utcubamba at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level. These plants were also found in the neighboring region of San Martin. In Bolivia, they are found near Chiquitos and near Velasco located on the Rio Paraguá in the Santa Cruz area.
It is a warm to hot growing, miniature sized, caespitose epiphyte, which reaching 10 cm in height, with elliptic, obtuse, stiffly coriaceous, gradually narrows below into the conduplicate base, 10 cm long and 3.8 cm wide leaves.
The Tiger-Like Trichocentrum blooms in the spring and summer with a basal, tubular, scarious bract on a short to 7.5 cm long, lateral, laxly pendant, 1 to 2 flowered inflorescence with acute, lanceolate bracts and carrying fragrant flowers. The wide open flowers have a length of 5 cm from the end of the middle petal to the tip of the lip. They have a strong texture, are durable and varied in color. The perianth petals are usually yellow-green on the outside, and the inside is brown-yellow or olive. The white, large lip has a center on both sides of light or dark purple or red-purple spots, and in the middle are shiny or dull yellowish appendages. All parts of the flower are slightly narrower at the base.
TRICHOCENTRUM TIGRINUM 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:
Trichocentrum tigrinum needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. It requires moderately bright, but slightly scattered light. 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 30-31 ° C and night 21 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 9-11 ° C. The average winter temperature is between 23-27 ° C and at night 14-16 ° C, giving a diurnal difference of 8-12 ° C.
Humidity:
The Tiger-Like Trichocentrum needs the humidity of about 75% in summer and autumn, falling to 65% in late winter and spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Trichocentrum tigrinum can be grown in small containers with good drainage or mounted on cork pieces or patches of woody ferns. Plants so installed require high humidity, and during hot and dry weather, they should be watered several times a day.
These plants can also be grown in small pots or in hanging baskets filled with airy, fast-drying substrate. It is recommend a substrate consisting of equal parts of chopped sphagnum moss and shredded tree fern fibers. You can also add perlite to the substrate, which loosens the substrate and maintains moisture. The addition of charcoal also improves the permeability of the substrate, and also protects against acidification.
The plants should be repotted immediately when the substrate begins to decompose. If repotting is done at the time when new roots begin to appear, the plant will be accepted and rooted in the shortest possible time.
Watering:
In the period from late spring to autumn rainfall is moderate to heavy. After a season of heavy rains, there is a dry season lasting in the winter for 2-3 months. During intensive growth, the cultivated plants should be watered profusely, but the substrate should not be allowed to spread or become damp. When new growths reach maturity in the autumn, the amount of water should be gradually 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. You can use sustainable fertilizers throughout the year, but can also use fertilizer with an increased nitrogen content from spring to mid-summer, and then in late summer and autumn fertilizer containing an increased content of phosphorus.
Rest period:
In winter, Trichocentrum tigrinum have lower requirements for the amount of water, but the substrate should not completely dry out. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear and a more abundant spring watering begins.
I love this plant. I had one years ago that had a sweet and powerful fragrance of pink bubble gum. More recently I got another one. But this one smells a little foul, nothing like my earlier plant. But this one has better flowers. Funny... my earlier plant was labeled as var. Splendens, purchased from McLelan Orchids, but is wasn't as fine as my current speciment. So, I'll trade flowers for fragrance I guess.
ReplyDeleteGrowing orchids is a hobby, so you should do what you want to satisfy yourself. Good luck and happy growing!
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