Cyrtochilum angustatum is found in southern Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It grows on roadside embankments and humus covered rocky slopes or at the edge of forests at elevations of 2200 to 3400 meters above sea level.
Cyrtochilum angustatum also called as The Narrow Petaled Cyrtochilum, Odontoglossum angustatum, Odontoglossum claviceps, Odontoglossum sodiroi, Odontoglossum spilotanthum, Odontoglossum ulopterum, is a species of the genus Cyrtochilum. This species was described by Stig Dalström in 2001.
IDENTIFY CYRTOCHILUM ANGUSTATUM ORCHID PLANT
Cyrtochilum angustatum is found in southern Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It grows on roadside embankments and humus covered rocky slopes or at the edge of forests at elevations of 2200 to 3400 meters above sea level.
It is a cold growing terrestrial or epiphyte species with egg shaped, slightly laterally compressed, ancipitous, smooth but longitudinally grooved with age, 3-6 cm long pseudobulbs enveloped partially by several, distichous, imbricating, longitudinally folded sheaths with the upper three being leaf bearing and carrying 1 to 2, erect, spreading, acute, lanceolate, narrowing below into the conduplicate, petiolate base leaves.
The Narrow Petaled Cyrtochilum blooms in the late fall on an erect, to 55 cm long, many flowered, several, fractiflex branched inflorescence arising through the axil of an upper leaf bearing sheath of a newly matured pseudobulb and carrying 5 to 6 flowers on each 12.5 to 15 cm long branch. Sepals and petals nearly equal, unguiculate, acuminate, undulated, white with beautiful purple spots on their lower portions. Lip white, or nearly so, shorter than the petals, ovate-lanceolate, the apex acuminate and exceedingly recurved, having at its sides two membranous lamellae, divided into three unequal parts, those in front the larger and projecting forwards like horns or fingers with a blunt callus lying between them. Column not half the length of the lip, and destitute of wings.
CYRTOCHILUM ANGUSTATUM 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:
Cyrtochilum angustatum need a light level of 10000-15000 lux for mature plants, but less for young plants and when temperatures are high (70% shade cloth over summer and more light in winter). Leaves turn reddish blue if receiving too much light and leaf loss will occur if too sun damaged. Dark green leaves indicate insufficient light. A slight bronzing of the leaves and older bulbs indicates the light is good for flowering.
Temperature:
The Narrow Petaled Cyrtochilum should be grown under cold temperature conditions. In summer, the optimum temperature range is between 8°C and 26°C. In winter, it need a minimum nighttime temperature of 4 to 7°C, with daytime temperatures of 10 to 16°C. The diurnal difference between day and night is usually 8 - 10°C. In their natural environment night temperatures can fall to 5°C and although tolerant of low temperatures down to 0°C, they will not tolerate frosts.
Humidity:
This orchid prefer humidity levels between 55-75%; higher levels of 60-80% require good air movement especially in the cooler months. Plants can also tolerate humidity levels down to 40% which can be maintained or increased with morning and evening misting.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Cyrtochilum angustatum are usually grown in pot using small bark (5-10mm) perlite potting mix (5:1) or in sphagnum moss and perlite (70:30) as substrate. Some growers place a layer of sphagnum moss on the top of the pot to reduce evaporation and keep the roots cool. They can also be grown in perlite with a layer of gravel on the top.
These plants should be repotted every year to every 2 years in spring or autumn when new growths are about half mature. They should be grown in small squat pots that allow more frequent watering. The base of the new growth should be planted about 1.5cm into the bark but no deeper. Keep bark barely moist until new roots appear then resume normal watering.
Watering:
The Narrow Petaled Cyrtochilum like abundant water and require frequent watering in warmer months. They must never be allowed to dry out. During summer irrigation will be required every 2 -3 days, however during winter rates may drop to once every 10 – 14 days. Misting daily in very hot weather is recommended. To reduce leaf spotting, avoid watering in the heat of the day or late afternoon in warmer months. Also avoid wetting the leaves and water the pot, not the leaves.
Fertilizer:
This plant require frequent application of half to quarter strength fertilizer all year round but less in winter. Apply fertilizer every 2 weeks when growing actively but monthly when less active. They are not gross feeders and too much fertilizer will harm their roots and turn leaf tips brown. Use of high phosphorus or potassium fertilizers as plants approach flowering can increase flower count and substance.
Rest period:
Cyrtochilum angustatum do not a rest period to stimulate flowering nor in winter. But they need less water in the winter, especially if they grow under the conditions of a dark, short day that occurs in moderate latitudes. You can let the plants dry between the next watering, but you must not let the plants stay dry for a long time. Fertilization should be limited or should be completely abandoned until spring, when stronger watering resumes.
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