Polystachya zambesiaca is found in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These plants often found on rocks or sometimes on stunted trees in exposed locations on or near the tops of hills at lower levels of the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, while at higher elevations they grow in evergreen trees. In the Transvaal region of South Africa, this orchid occurs in mountain woodlands. Habitat elevation has been reported as 900-2000 m.
Polystachya zambesiaca also called as The Zambesi Polystachya, Polystachya hislopii, Polystachya lawrenceana var. hislopii, Polystachya phiriae, is a species of the genus Polystachya. This species was described by Robert Allen Rolfe in 1895.
IDENTIFY POLYSTACHYA ZAMBESIACA ORCHID PLANT
Polystachya zambesiaca is found in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These plants often found on rocks or sometimes on stunted trees in exposed locations on or near the tops of hills at lower levels of the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, while at higher elevations they grow in evergreen trees. In the Transvaal region of South Africa, this orchid occurs in mountain woodlands. Habitat elevation has been reported as 900-2000 m.
It is a miniature sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte or lithophyte with oblong or ovoid, somewhat compressed, often ribbed, 2.5-9 cm long, 0.7-1.2 cm in diameter pseudobulbs carrying 2 to 3 oblong or lanceolate, slightly folded, glaucous green, sometimes purple edged, 3-8 cm long, 0.6-1.4 cm wide leaves.
The Zambesi Polystachya blooms in the spring on a pubescent, 5 to 8 cm long, few to many flowered inflorescence which carries pubescent flowers. Flowers pubescent, emitting sometimes a strong chocolate scent, sepals and petals greenish-yellow, lemon-yellow to buff, drying yellow, lip white with purple veins on the lateral lobes and a brown spot at the base of the column foot.
POLYSTACHYA ZAMBESIACA 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 zambesiaca needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. 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:
Summer days temperature at average 23°C, and nights average 14°C, with a diurnal range of 9°C. Plants should thrive if grown in the cool, moist airflow from an evaporative cooler.
Humidity:
The Zambesi Polystachya need the humidity of 80-85% in summer and early autumn, gradually dropping in autumn to average 60-65% in winter and early spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Polystachya zambesiaca may be grown in relatively small 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 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.
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 heavy in summer and early autumn, with averages falling quickly into a 5 to 6 months dry season that extends from late autumn into early spring. Plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but water should be reduced in autumn 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 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 18-19°C, and nights average 7-8°C, with a diurnal range of 10-11°C. Water should be reduced for Polystachya zambesiaca from late autumn into the following spring, but they should not remain completely without water for long periods. Occasional early-morning mistings between infrequent light waterings should provide sufficient moisture in most growing areas. Water should be increased if pseudobulbs shrivel excessively. Fertilizer should be eliminated until new growth starts and heavier watering is resumed in spring.
COMMENTS