Rangaeris muscicola is widely distributed, with reported from Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanznia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Rangaeris muscicola also called as The Moss-Growing Rangaeris, Aerangis engleriana, Aerangis falcifolia, Aerangis floribunda, Aerangis mixta, Aerangis muscicola, Aerangis solheidii, Aeranthes muscicola, Angraecum batesii, Angraecum englerianum, Angraecum solheidii, Epidorchis muscicola, Listrostachys engleriana, Listrostachys floribunda, Listrostachys muscicola, Listrostachys solheidii, Mystacidium batesii, Mystacidium muscicolum, is a species of the genus Rangaeris. This species was described by Victor Samuel Summerhayes in 1936.
IDENTIFY RANGAERIS MUSCICOLA ORCHID PLANT
Rangaeris muscicola is widely distributed, with reported from Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanznia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Plants are found in various habitats from evergreen forests to woodlands at 600-2200 m, and may sometimes be found on rocks on hilltops. In Kenya, plants grow mostly as epiphytes in humid forests, usually growing among mosses on well-shaded branches. They are known from the warmer forests in central Kenya, including the Ngong Hills, the area around Nairobu, Nadau Hill near Kitui, Kericho and Mt. Elgon, growing at 1200-2200 m.
It is a small sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte or occasional lithophyte with a short, no more than 6 cm long, stout stem with 5 to 11, linear, folded, stiff, slightly curved, dark green, 6-20 cm long and 0.6-1.2 cm wide leaves held in a fan.
The Moss-Growing Rangaeris blooms in the fall and winter on a 10-30 cm long, to 20 flowered, axillary, racemose inflorescence that arises from the lower leaf axils. The sweetly scented flowers are white but become apricot-colored with age and have a pinkish orange spur.
RANGAERIS MUSCICOLA 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:
Rangaeris muscicola needs a light level of 15000-25000 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 23-26°C, and nights temperature at average 12-13°C, with a diurnal range of 11-13°C.
Humidity:
The Moss-Growing Rangaeris need the humidity of 55-65% for about 2 months in late winter and early spring and again for 2-3 months in summer. Averages increase to 70-75% for the remainder of the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Rangaeris muscicola may be gown mounted, but growth is more vigorous if they are grown in a container. If grown in a container, a coarse mix is necessary.
Watering:
There are two wet/dry cycles during the year, with a dry season in winter and early spring followed by a fairly short, 2 to 3 months wet season in late spring and early summer. This is followed by a rather short somewhat drier season in summer and then by a 3-month wet season in autumn. Cultivated plant should be watered heavily while actively growing, but they must be able to dry rather quickly after watering.
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 21°C, and nights average 11-12°C, with a diurnal range of 9-10°C. Water should be reduced for Rangaeris muscicola during the winter dry season, but plants should not be allowed to remain completely without water for long periods. Occasional early morning mistings between infrequent light waterings should provide sufficient moisture in most growing areas. These plants should be kept drier in winter. Water should be reduced for plants during the secondary dry season in summer, but plants should not be allowed to become as dry as during the more severe winter dry period. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated when water is reduced.
Not accurate at all. Due to 7 years worth of wild and personally cultivated observations, they are the most adaptable orchids in Africa. I have growing in full sun, semi shade and full shade and they all thrive and bloom according to the direct light exposure. Very interesting and adaptable species.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your information! I will check it! How about the temperature when grow it in full sun? Does it need the lower temperature when grow in such conditions?
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