Angraecum praestans is endemic to Madagascar where it occurs in the provinces of Antsirannana, Mahajanga and Toliara. It is mainly found in dry forest rich in succulents like Euphorbia, Aloe, Pachypodium and Diospyros
Angraecum praestans also called as The Outstanding Angraecum, Perrierangraecum praestans, is a species of the genus Angraecum. This species was described by Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter in 1913.
IDENTIFY ANGRAECUM PRAESTANS ORCHID PLANT
Angraecum praestans is endemic to Madagascar where it occurs in the provinces of Antsirannana, Mahajanga and Toliara. It is mainly found in dry forest rich in succulents like Euphorbia, Aloe, Pachypodium and Diospyros, at altitudes of 0-100 meters, where it either grows as an epiphyte in semi-shade or as a lithophyte. It has adopted the introduced Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) as a favorite host. The majority of records are from the limestone karsts of the west and northwest of the island but there are sporadic records from the sandstone plateau of the southwest.
It is a small to just medium sized, hot growing, monopodial epiphyte with a robust stem carrying leathery, stiff, sickle to falcate shaped, unequally bilobed apically leaves.
The Outstanding Angraecum blooms in the spring through fall on a lax, axillary, 15 to 20 cm long, 8 to 10 flowered inflorescence with deltoid bracts. The flowers are large, greenish white with the sepals and petals greenish yellow, spur pale green.
ANGRAECUM PRAESTANS 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:
Angraecum praestans needs a light level of 20000-30000 lux. Light should be filtered or diffused, and plants should not be exposed to direct midday sun. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperature:
Summer days temperature at average 31-32°C, and nights temperature at average 24°C, with a diurnal range of 7-8°C.
Humidity:
The Outstanding Angraecum need the humidity of 80-85% in summer and early autumn, dropping fairly rapidly in to the winter dry season when averages are 60-65% in winter and early spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Because of the dry environment, Angraecum praestans may be mounted, but because of its size, it is probably more easily managed if grown in a shallow, well-drained container filled with a very coarse, open, fast-draining fir bark mix that is well aerated and allows the medium to dry fairly rapidly after watering. Growers in drier areas may add varying amounts of chunky perlite and/or chopped sphagnum moss to keep the medium open and retain some moisture. Including charcoal in the mix also holds the medium open and prevents souring in the pot.
Plants should be repotted immediately if the medium starts to break down or whenever the plant outgrows its container. Repotting should be done just as new roots start to grow. This enables the plant to become reestablished in the shortest possible time.
Watering:
Rainfall is moderate to heavy from late spring into early autumn. Averages then fall quickly into a dry season that extends from late autumn into the following spring. Plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but drainage must be excellent, and conditions around the roots should never become stale or soggy. Water should be reduced in autumn.
Fertilizer:
1/4-1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. You can use a balanced fertilizer throughout the year; but also can use a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer, then switch to one high in phosphates in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Winter days temperature at average 30-31°C, and nights average 20-21°C, with a diurnal range of 10-11°C. Water should be reduced for Angraecum praestans in winter. In most growing areas occasional early-morning misting between infrequent light waterings should provide the needed dry rest while keeping the plant from becoming too dry. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated until heavier watering is resumed in spring.
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