Epidendrum cristatum is found in a large number of North and South American countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Suriname, Venezuela and Trinidad. It grows on trees in tropical forests, or as a semi-terrestrial orchid in areas exposed to the sun at an altitude of 400-2000 meters...
Epidendrum cristatum also called as The Comb Epidendrum, Epidendrum alexandri, Epidendrum bathyschistum, Epidendrum calliferum, Epidendrum hexadactylum, Epidendrum longovarium, Epidendrum millei, Epidendrum raniferum var hexadactylum, Epidendrum raniferum var. lofgrenii, Epidendrum raniferum var luteum, Epidendrum raniferum var lutescens, Epidendrum raniferum var obtusilobum, Epidendrum rantierium, Epidendrum tigrinum, Epidendrum validum, is a species of the genus Epidendrum. This species was described by Hipólito Ruiz López & José Antonio Pavón Jiménez in 1798.
IDENTIFY EPIDENDRUM CRISTATUM
Epidendrum cristatum is found in a large number of North and South American countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Suriname, Venezuela and Trinidad. It grows on trees in tropical forests, or as a semi-terrestrial orchid in areas exposed to the sun at an altitude of 400-2000 meters.
It is a large sized, hot to cool growing terrestrial or epiphytic reed stem species, which reaching 8m tall, with no pseudobulbs, but 90 cm long, thin stems enveloped basally by tubular, scarious sheaths with alternate, coriaceous, flexible, elliptic-lanceolate, up to 3 cm long by 4 cm wide leaves.
The Comb Epidendrum give rise to 1 to several, terminal, arcuate-pendulous, 60 cm long, racemose inflorescence arising on a mature cane that is subtended by 6 to 7 elongate, triangular-conduplicate, distichous, imbricating, yellow green bracts with many fragrant flowers that open simultaneously in the late winter through the summer. The yellow-green, up to 5 cm in diameter flowers often have purple-brown markings.
EPIDENDRUM CRISTATUM 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:
Epidendrum cristatum needs a light level of 30000-40000 lux. The recommended photoperiod is 12 hours. The direct sun in the morning and in the evening is very tolerable, but from 12h to 15h (in the summer months, even at 4 pm) the direct rays must be shielded.
Temperature:
The ideal temperatures are 22-24 ° C (at most 26) during the day and 16-18 ° C (at least 14) at night throughout the year.
Humidity:
The Comb Epidendrum needs the humidity level of 55% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Epidendrum cristatum, being very large, also develops a very large root system, so the only practical way to grow it is potted. The chosen vases must be possibly narrow and deep, a bit like Cymbidium vases, because the roots tend to develop in depth. Medium-sized pine bark (2-4 cm) is used as a substrate.
Watering:
This orchid gets water as soon as the substratum has dried well but before it has become completely dry. If the plant is left to dry, its growth stops and you can even skip the bloom. Water quality permitting, the best way to water it is in the hot shower, with water at 35-40 ° C. However, in areas where the water is too hard or alkaline, this method should be avoided.
Fertilizer:
It is fertilized every 3 watering with 1/2 of the dose indicated on the bottle of a special liquid fertilizer for orchids. Before fertilizing an orchid it is necessary to wet it to avoid the harmful contact of the fertilizer with the dry roots.
Rest period:
Epidendrum cristatum does not have any winter rest, and during the whole year the watering takes place in the same way. The conditions for flowering are adequate light, temperature changes of 4-6 ° C between day and night and enough water.
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