Aerangis modesta is native to Madagascar and to the Comoro Islands. Its grows in eastern, central, northern, and northwestern Madagascar at altitudes from 100 to 1200 meters. Specific mention has been made of Ankafana in south-central Madagascar, Isalo, Montagne d'Ambre in the north, and Bezofo to the east of Maromandia in the northwest.
Aerangis modesta also called as The Modest Aerangis, Aerangis crassipes, Aerangis modesta, Angorchis modesta, Angraecum modestum, Angraecum sanderianum, Rhaphidorhynchus modestus, Rhaphidorhynchus modestus var. sanderianus, is a species of the genus Aerangis. This species was described by Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter in 1914.
IDENTIFY AERANGIS MODESTA ORCHID PLANT
Aerangis modesta is native to Madagascar and to the Comoro Islands. Its grows in eastern, central, northern, and northwestern Madagascar at altitudes from 100 to 1200 meters. Specific mention has been made of Ankafana in south-central Madagascar, Isalo, Montagne d'Ambre in the north, and Bezofo to the east of Maromandia in the northwest.
It is a small sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte with 15 cm or shorter stems carrying obovate, fleshy-coriaceous, bilobed apically leaves.
The Modest Aerangis blooms in the spring to early summer on a to 50 cm long, pendant inflorescence with 6 to 15 well spaced, waxy, fragrant, long-lived flowers, often with the apical flower opening first and being the largest.
AERANGIS MODESTA 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:
Aerangis modesta needs a light level of 10000-20000 lux. Plants require shady conditions and will initiate flower spikes even in extremely low light. However, plants produce better blooms at the light levels indicated. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperature:
Summer days temperature at average 30–31°C, and nights temperature at average 20–21°C, with a diurnal range of 10–11°C.
Humidity:
The Modest Aerangis need the humidity of 75–80% most of the year, dropping to 65–70% for about 4 months in late winter and spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Aerangis modesta usually grows better and its pendent flower spikes are more easily displayed when plants are mounted on slabs of tree-fern or rough bark. Mounted plants need high humidity and must be watered or misted at least once a day, however, and during hot, dry weather they may require several waterings a day.
If leaves start to shrivel or wrinkle or show other signs of stress, however, the plant usually will recover and grow well if soaked in water for about 20 minutes at least 3 times a week.
The plants can also be grown in small 8–13 cm hanging pots or baskets using a very coarse, open, fast draining medium to anchor the plant but allowing the roots to wander outside the container.
Plants should be repotted if the medium starts to break down. Repotting done just as new roots start to grow enables the plant to become reestablished in the shortest possible time.
Watering:
Rainfall is moderate to very heavy from late spring to autumn. Averages then drop rapidly into a five-month dry season that starts in late autumn and lasts until early spring. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but their roots must dry rapidly after watering.
Fertilizer:
1/4–1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. You can use a balanced fertilizer all year, but also can use a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer, then switch to a high-phosphate formula in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Winter days temperature at average 24–26°C, and nights average 13–14°C, with a diurnal range of 11–13°C. Aerangis modesta plants need less water in winter, but they should be watered periodically to prevent excessive drying. Occasional early-morning misting between infrequent light waterings should provide sufficient moisture in most growing areas. Water should be increased somewhat if leaves shrivel or show signs of stress. Fertilizer should be eliminated until new growth starts and heavier watering is resumed in spring.
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