Scaphosepalum rapax is endemic to the central areas of Ecuador, and is found in moist mountain forests at an altitude of 450-1200 meters...
Scaphosepalum rapax also called as The Predatory Beast Scaphosepalum, is a species of the genus Scaphosepalum. This species was described by Carlyle August Luer in 1976.
IDENTIFY SCAPHOSEPALUM RAPAX
Scaphosepalum rapax is endemic to the central areas of Ecuador, and is found in moist mountain forests at an altitude of 450-1200 meters.
It is a mini-miniature sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte with erect to suberect, slender ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, subacute, 1.5 cm in length leaf that is cuneate below to the slender petiole.
The Predatory Beast Scaphosepalum blooms on a loose to sub-dense, successively few flowered, 4 cm long, racemose inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with oblique, apiculate, minutely spicate floral bracts. The flowers are 1 cm in diameter.
SCAPHOSEPALUM RAPAX 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:
Scaphosepalum rapax prefers shady or semi-shaded environments (depends on the habit of each specific specimen), with light intensity of 12000-14000 lux. It grows very well under artificial light. The ideal photoperiod is 12-14 hours.
Temperature:
This orchid adapts well to both intermediate-cold and intermediate-hot temperatures. Ideal temperatures would be 22-24 ° C during the day and 16-17 ° C at night. The maximum / minimum tolerable in cultivation are 27 ° C and 13 ° C.
Humidity:
The Predatory Beast Scaphosepalum needs the humidity that must be high enough, 70% minimum (ideal 80-85%).
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
The best way to grow Scaphosepalum rapax is on a moss pad on a raft possibly in the orchard environment. Otherwise the raft can also be placed on a saucer full of constantly wet sphagnum, so the air humidity around the orchid is always high. If you choose this method, you must prevent the raft from touching any water inside the saucer: it must only be resting on the sphagnum.
It is also possible to grow this species in a pot with the sphagnum and perlite substrate (1: 1). In this case, pay attention to the stagnation of water in the pot: the roots of this species do not go very deep, preferring the first 2-3 cm of the substratum. So, if possible, the vase must be shallow, or a low and wide basket is chosen.
It is not advisable to place it outdoors, because there are too many changes in humidity that are not appreciated by this orchid. But in summer, to ensure the lowest night temperatures, you can take it on the balcony for the night, always resting on the wet sphagnum in the saucer. In the morning the orchid should go back inside.
Watering:
Its roots must always be moist, so the watering is carried out 2-4 times a day if it is a bare root specimen, and as soon as the substratum has dried a little if the orchid is cultivated in pot. This way of watering is maintained throughout the year.
Fertilizer:
This species are very sensitive to the mineral substances present in the substrate, and suffer frequent and abundant fertilizations. I personally avoid fertilizing my specimen: the substances present in the moss and in the watering water are enough. Otherwise you can add 1-2 drops of the liquid manure for orchids to half a liter of water and vaporize the plant with this solution. This procedure should be done once a month.
Rest period:
Scaphosepalum rapax do not need a rest period. Such cultivated conditions should maintain throughout the year. The blooms are stimulated by adequate temperatures and sufficiently high humidity.
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