Polystachya virginea is found in Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Uganda. It grow in montane forests at elevations of 1670-2800 meters. It is one of the most showy species of Polystachya.
Polystachya virginea also called as The Virginal Polystachya, The Snow-Drop Orchid, Polystachya virginea var. parva, is a species of the genus Polystachya. This species was described by Victor Samuel Summerhayes in 1942.
IDENTIFY POLYSTACHYA VIRGINEA ORCHID PLANT
Polystachya virginea is found in Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Uganda. It grow in montane forests at elevations of 1670-2800 meters. It is one of the most showy species of Polystachya. It is sometimes confused with Polystachya fabriana, but the latter species produces yellow to purplish flowers, entirely ciliate and the lip without a callus.
The Virginal Polystachya is a small to medium sized, 16-40 cm tall, cold growing epiphyte with cylindrical to narrowly conical, 5-13 cm long, 0.7-1.5 cm in diameter pseudobulbs carrying a single apical, lanceolate, obtuse, leathery, 8-26 cm long, 1-3.6 cm wide leaf.
The Snow-Drop Orchid blooms on a terminal, 5 to 10 cm long, racemose, to 10 flowered inflorescence with non-resupinate, long-lasting flowers. The flowers are white, fragrant.
POLYSTACHYA VIRGINEA 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:
Polystachya virginea needs a light level of 18000-25000 fc. Light should be filtered or diffused, and the plants should not be exposed to direct midday sun. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperature:
Throughout the year, days temperature at average 20-22°C, and nights temperature at average 8-10°C, with a diurnal range of 11-12°C.
Humidity:
The Snow-Drop Orchid need the humidity of 70-75% most of the year, dropping to near 60% for a month or so during the winter dry season.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Polystachya virginea usually are grown in relatively small hanging pots or baskets filled with an open, fast-draining medium that retains some moisture after watering. The medium should dry out between waterings, however. The standard fir-bark mixes, generally with medium-sized bark, work well for many growers.
Plants may also be mounted tightly to a tree-fern slab. If mounted, however, high humidity must be maintained and the plants watered at least once daily in summer. Several waterings a day may be necessary for mounted plants during extremely hot, dry weather.
Most Polystachya species appear to grow better when allowed to form large clumps, so they should be divided as little as possible. Repotting, mounting, or dividing should be done only when new root growth is just starting. This allows the plant to become established in the shortest possible time with the least amount of stress.
Watering:
Rainfall in the habitat is light to moderate most of the year with a fairly dry period for about 2 months in winter. Cultivated plants should be watered rather heavily while actively growing, but their roots must be able to dry out fairly quickly after watering. Water should be reduced somewhat in winter after new growth has matured.
Fertilizer:
1/4-1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. You can use a balanced fertilizer throughout the year; but others use a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer, then switch to one high in phosphates in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Growing temperatures should be maintained all year. There is a somewhat drier period for about 2 months in winter, so water should be reduced for Polystachya virginea during this period, but they should not be left completely without water for long periods. Somewhat regular early-morning mistings between occasional light waterings should provide sufficient moisture in most growing areas. Fertilizer should be eliminated until new growth starts and heavier watering is resumed in spring.
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