Aeranthes grandiflora is native to Madagascar and Comoros. It grows epiphytic on trees in humid rainforests from the coast to the central plateau at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level...
Aeranthes grandiflora also called as The Giant-Flowered Aeranthes, Aeranthes brachycentron, Angraecum grandiflorum, is a species of the genus Aeranthes. This species was described by John Lindley in 1824.
IDENTIFY AERANTHES GRANDIFLORA ORCHID PLANT
Aeranthes grandiflora is native to Madagascar and Comoros. It grows epiphytic on trees in humid rainforests from the coast to the central plateau at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level.
It is a small to medium sized, hot growing epiphyte with a very short stem and 5 to 7 distichous, narrowly oblong, coriaceous, unequally bilobed apically, broad leaves.
The Giant-Flowered Aeranthes has bizarre flowers that emerge in the late spring through summer from an axillary, 10 to 120 cm long, pendant spikes with sheaths covering the peduncle, and have 1 to 2, large, fragrant, long-lasting flowers at the apex. The flowers are transparent, green-yellow in color, about 7-9 cm in diameter.
AERANTHES GRANDIFLORA ORCHID PLANT 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:
Aeranthes grandiflora loves the bright sun without access to direct sunlight, so during the hot midday sun on the windows of the southern orientation and the hot evening sun on the western windows, the orchid should be placed behind a curtain (for example, on a table near the window) or into the shade of other plants, otherwise, the plant can get a sunburn.
Temperature:
This kind of orchid refers to a warm temperature regime, and throughout the year the plants are recommended to be kept under the following temperature conditions: Day temperature at 20-30 ° C; Night temperature at 15-20 ° C. For the successful cultivation at home, it is necessary that the night temperature of the contents always be at least 2-3 ° C lower than the daytime temperature.
Humidity:
The Giant-Flowered Aeranthes needs the humidity of 60-65% (ideally 70-80%). Too dry air negatively affects the overall development of the plant - its growth is inhibited, roots begin to dry out, and the leaves become flabby and turn yellow.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Aeranthes grandiflora is usually grow in pots (conventional plastic or clay), preferably in hanging ones, since the peduncles grow very long and keep them in a vertical position is almost impossible. As a substrate, a mixture of bark of coniferous trees with a small fraction of sphagnum moss is best, and charcoal is also used.
This plant reacts negatively to the repotting and can not bloom after 1-2 years, so it is recommended to transplant the plant only when it is really necessary. For example, in cases of severe salinization or compaction of a substrate, too high or low pH, etc. The best time for transplantation is the spring period.
Watering:
Watering this kind of orchids directly depends on the total temperature of the content, the higher it is, the more often and abundant it will be necessary to water. When watering orchids in pots, it is necessary to remember that excess water during watering should flow freely out of the pot, as the stagnation of water both inside the pot and in its pallet can very quickly lead to rotting of the roots and the lower part of the plant. The substrate between the irrigations should dry relatively well, but do not dry out completely, i.e. always be in a slightly moistened, but not wet state.
Fertilizer:
In the period from March to October, this type of orchids is fertilized once every 2-3 weeks in 1/2 or 1/4 of the fertilizer concentration indicated on the package. In addition to the usual root top dressing, it is also recommended to produce a foliar dressing, when a very much diluted fertilizer is sprayed on the outer part of the plant. It is best to feed the orchid, alternating both these methods. The best fertilizer is fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in equal parts, for example, NPK = 3-3-3 or 8-8-8. If you do not have such fertilizer, then at the beginning of the growing season (the appearance of new leaves), feed the orchid fertilizer with a large content of nitrogen, and a little later - fertilizer with a higher content of phosphorus.
Rest period:
Aeranthes grandiflora does not need a period of rest to stimulate flowering. Peduncles of this species are cut off only when they begin to dry up, since the orchid has a tendency to re-flowering on the same peduncle - its tip slightly elongates and a new bud appears. In addition, immediately after flowering, if necessary, the orchid is transplanted and for some time is relatively dry. This is necessary to acclimatize the plant and to prevent rotting of the roots from the transplant.
COMMENTS