Zygosepalum is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family. This genus was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1858...
Zygosepalum is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family. This genus was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1858.
IDENTIFY ZYGOSEPALUM ORCHID PLANT
Zygosepalum orchid is native to Southern America. The plant of this genus is characterized by being epiphytes with creeping rhizomes, with clustered or scattered ovoid pseudobulbs with up to four large apical leaves.
Zygosepalum orchid blooms from the end of August to the end of February. The flowering time is about 4 weeks. The inflorescence is a lateral raceme of a few to a single flower with similar sepals and petals, an entire or slightly three lobed lip, with a semicircular crest at the base. The size of flowers is 5-7 cm in diameter. This kind of orchid has a pleasantly pronounced aroma. The column has a beak like anther with four stipitate pollina.
Some accepted species of this genus are: Zygosepalum angustilabium, Zygosepalum ballii, Zygosepalum kegelii, Zygosepalum labiosum, Zygosepalum lindeniae, Zygosepalum marginatum, Zygosepalum revolutum, Zygosepalum tatei.
ZYGOSEPALUM 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:
Zygosepalum belongs to the shade-loving orchids, so for its successful cultivation, the intensity of illumination should be 20000-30000 lux. This plant feel best on relatively bright northern windows, but also the windows of the eastern and western orientation.
Temperature:
They are grown both in moderate and moderately cold temperatures. Summer temperature at 15-30 ° C; Winter temperature at 10-20 ° C. The most suitable temperature for the winter is 16-18 ° C. During the summer heat, the growth of new shoots may slow down. If the temperature is lowered, the orchid will continue its growth further.
Humidity:
Humidity of air should be 50-80%. Orchids of cold temperature do not tolerate temperatures above 30 ° C. If, however, it is impossible to avoid exposure to high temperatures, the humidity of the air must be increased together with the temperature. This will help Zygosepalum better survive the forced heat.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Zygosepalum is grow mainly in pots. As a substrate, a mixture of coniferous bark and peat is best. The best time for transplant is the period immediately after flowering and until the moment when new shoots reach a size of 5 cm and begin to build their own roots. The roots of Zygosepalum grow large, so the plant should be repotted when needed.
Watering:
During the period of new growth, Zygosepalum needs frequent and abundant watering. Between watering the substrate should dry well, but do not dry completely. Excess water during watering should flow freely out of the pot, as the stagnation of water both inside the pot and in its pan can very quickly lead to decay of the roots and the lower part of the plant. Spraying is highly not recommended.
Fertilizer:
During the new growth period, this type of orchids is fertilized every 2 weeks in a concentration of 0.5 ml of fertilizer per 1 liter of water. Fertilize this species is recommended only through the roots.
Rest period:
To stimulate flowering, Zygosepalum needs a clearly defined period of rest. It begins immediately after the maturation of new bulbs, i.e. when new young shoots reach the size of the old, and is that the orchid contains much drier than usual, and does not fertilize. From irrigation in this period should either be abandoned completely, or replace it with a light spray of the substrate. Do this procedure should not be more than once in 3-4 weeks.
The main feature of most representatives of the genus Zygosepalum is that the flower-bud in this species of orchids appears on the still not fully formed bulbous, i.e. during the period of new growth. Often there are even cases when the flower spike appears immediately after the formation of the first leaf. In connection with this feature, the rest period of this species of orchids does not start until the appearance of the peduncle, but before the appearance of new shoots. With their appearance, the rest period ends, and watering the orchids resumes in the usual volume.
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