Sarcochilus orchid are native to Australia and New Caledonia. They are most commonly found in gullies, ravines and gorges clinging to hosts that allow for frequent dampening of the root system, whether on rock or wood.
Sarcochilus orchid also called as Butterfly orchids, Fairy Bells, Gunnia, Parasarcochilus, Monanthochilus, is a genus of the Orchidaceae family. This genus was described by Robert Brown in 1810.
IDENTIFY SARCOCHILUS ORCHID PLANT
Sarcochilus orchid are native to Australia and New Caledonia. They are most commonly found in gullies, ravines and gorges clinging to hosts that allow for frequent dampening of the root system, whether on rock or wood.
Butterfly orchids are epiphytic or lithophytic species that have fleshy, smooth roots with a stem with dry leaf bases and a fan of channeled leaves that give rise to a pendant to arching inflorescence with few to many flowers with free sepals and petals.
The colour of the flowers is variable and goes from pure white to white and red. The trilobed, fleshy labellum is saccate and articulate to the apex of the column foot. The large side lobes are erect and curved. The small midlobe is attached to a short spur. Some of these species can form keikis, forming large clumps with age.
Many hybrids have been made in recent years using the four species :Sarcochilus hartmannii, Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii, Sarcochilus ceciliae, Sarcochilus falcatus and also some of the other Sarcochilus species that are less amenable to cultivation. In many instances these hybrids show hybrid vigor and are even easier to grow than their parent species.
SARCOCHILUS 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:
Sarcochilus orchid enjoy breezy, low light (10000-15000 lux) or 70-80% or more shade, humid conditions and do best lower down in a shade house or fernery than other orchids and grow well under the bench with little direct sun during the warmer months. They can be located in a brighter part of the shade-house (15000-30000 lux) or on a higher bench during the cooler months.
The lithophytic species are more tolerant of brighter light and drier conditions. Attention should be paid to their natural origin in terms of their requirements. For example, Sarcochilus hirticalcar grows only in moist rainforest in heavy shade. Sarcochilus fitzgerald grows in dense shade in ravines while Sarcochilus ceciliae grows on rocks in full sun. It is suggested that flowering is improved if light levels are increased when flower spikes first appear.
Temperature:
The species of this genus prefer a cool, humid, shady location and will tolerate minimum temperatures as low as 4-6°C in winter and some even lower temperatures. Protect from frost and avoid excessive heat. Temperatures should not exceed 34°C but they will tolerate temperatures as high as 40°C for short periods provided they are located low in the shade house with very low light. Locating them under the bench in summer will help protect them from heat. They can be grown indoors near an eastern or southern facing window, in a shade-house or glasshouse, providing light, temperature and humidity requirements are met.
Humidity:
Fairy Bells prefer a humid environment up to 80-90% with good air movement. Humidity can be raised by using misters, keeping the shade-house floor moist or standing the pot on a gravel filled tray containing water, but the pot must not sit in the water. Houses cooled with evaporative coolers will have high humidity whereas air conditioning can dry the air. Similarly in winter, some room heaters may lower humidity and plants will need to be placed where adequate humidity can be maintained.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Most Sarcochilus species and their hybrids are best potted in a mixture of 80% pine bark pieces (5-10 mm diameter) and 20% river pebbles or scoria of similar size. Approximately two parts of bark to one of pebbles gives good results. They can also be grown in a 1:1 mix of bark and perlite. Well-drained plastic 'squat' pots are ideal. Sarcochilus ceciliae (and to a lesser extent its hybrids) should be placed high in its pot, it seems to do best if its roots are allowed to wander over the surface of the mix rather than penetrating into the mix.
Butterfly orchids are best repotted during their most active growing season, which commences in March and continues into early winter, when the plants rest until they flower, mostly in mid- to late spring. Avoid repotting in very hot or cold weather.
Watering:
These orchids require plenty of water when in active growth but during winter, when they cease growth, watering once each week is ample. Sarcochilus ceciliae prefers being grown slightly drier than other Sarcochilus.
Care should be taken not to wet the flowers when watering, especially in dull, still weather. Sarcochilus flowers tend to spot very readily due to the growth of Botrytis, which is most prevalent in damp conditions.
Fertilizer:
Regular applications of liquid fertilizers year round at no more than quarter to half the concentration recommended by the manufacturer stimulate growth during summer and autumn. Some groups recommend no fertilizer application in winter in cooler climates. As natives they are sensitive to high levels of fertilizers. A dusting of blood and bone and dolomite is suggested at regular intervals.
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