Oeoniella polystachys grows on trees in the hot lowlands of eastern Madagascar and in the Sambirano Valley in the northwestern Madagascar. In nature the species is very strong-growing, and its stems and root system surround the tree trunk and branches on which it perches.
Oeoniella polystachys also called as The Richly-Blooming Oeoniella, Aeonia polystachya, Aeranthes polystachya, Angorchis polystachya, Angraecum kimballianum, Angraecum polystachyum, Beclardia polystachya, Epidendrum polystachys, Epidorchis polystachya, Listrostachys polystachys, Macradenia polystachya, Monixus polystachys, Oeonia polystachya, is a species of the genus Oeoniella. This species was described by Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter in 1918.
IDENTIFY OEONIELLA POLYSTACHYS ORCHID PLANT
Oeoniella polystachys grows on trees in the hot lowlands of eastern Madagascar and in the Sambirano Valley in the northwestern Madagascar. In nature the species is very strong-growing, and its stems and root system surround the tree trunk and branches on which it perches. The plant is usually found on trees whose branches admit filtered sunlight, often on isolated trees in close proximity to the seashore, where there is high humidity and considerable warmth.
It is a monopodial, small to large with erect, branched, rigid, leafy, 7-60 cm, 0.5-0.6 cm wide long stems carrying oblong or ligulate, fleshy, 2.5-5.0 cm long by 1.2 cm wide leaves.
The Richly-Blooming Oeoniella blooms on a lateral, axillary, racemose, arching, 15 to 25 cm long, 7 to 15, fragrant flowered inflorescence with short and rounded floral bracts and the flowers arranged in 2 rows. The lacy, very dainty blossoms may be white to off-white, becoming greenish toward the base of the sepals and petals. They are fragrant during the early evening and last for 3-4 weeks, sometimes even longer.
OEONIELLA POLYSTACHYS 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:
Oeoniella polystachys needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. Moderately bright light should be dappled or diffused, and full, direct, midday sun. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperature:
Summer days temperature at average 30°C, and nights average 23°C, with a diurnal range of 7°C. This orchid grows well in the intermediate house but it would probably grow even better under warm conditions.
Humidity:
The Richly-Blooming Oeoniella need the humidity of near 85% most of the year, dropping to near 80% for 2-3 months in spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Oeoniella polystachys are usually grown mounted on 10 x 30 cm slabs with a small pad of moss at their base. Mounted plants need high humidity and at least one watering a day, however, and during hot, dry weather, they may require several waterings a day.
This plant also grows well in a well-drained 10-15 cm pot filled with a very open, fast-draining medium. Most growers use medium-to-coarse fir bark or shredded tree-fern fiber and add chunky perlite to help keep the medium open and also retain some moisture. Including charcoal in the mix helps hold the medium open and helps prevent souring.
Plants should be repotted immediately if the medium starts to break down. Repotting is best done just as new roots start to grow.
Watering:
Rainfall is very heavy most of the year. Amounts decrease somewhat for a month or so in spring, but the habitat is never truly dry. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but conditions around the roots should never become stale or soggy.
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 switching to a high-phosphate formula in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Growing conditions should be maintained all year. Oeoniella polystachys grown in the dark, short-day conditions common in temperate latitude winters need less water, but they should never dry out completely. Fertilizer should be reduced if water is reduced.
COMMENTS