Rhynchostele aptera is endemic to Mexico. It is found in oak-pine forests in Sinaloa, Durango, Jalisaco, Michoacan, Guerrerro, Mexico, Moreles, and Oaxaxa at elevations of 2000 to 2800 meters above sea level.
Rhynchostele aptera also called as The Wing-Less Rhynchostele, Amparoa aptera, Cymbiglossum apterum, Lemboglossum apterum, Odontoglossum acuminatum, Odontoglossum apterum, Odontoglossum maxillare, Odontoglossum nebulosum, Oncidium apterum, Oncidium anceps, Oncidium maxillare, Oncidium rossii, is a species of the genus Rhynchostele. This species was described by Miguel Ángel Soto Arenas & Gerardo Adolfo Salazar Chávez in 1993.
IDENTIFY RHYNCHOSTELE APTERA ORCHID PLANT
Rhynchostele aptera is endemic to Mexico. It is found in oak-pine forests in Sinaloa, Durango, Jalisaco, Michoacan, Guerrerro, Mexico, Moreles, and Oaxaxa at elevations of 2000 to 2800 meters above sea level.
It is a small to medium sized, cold to cool growing epiphyte with wrinkled, ovate, laterally compressed, 9 cm long pseudobulbs enveloped basally by long, triangular, papery, leafless sheaths and are topped with a pair of light green, up to 30 cm long, acute, lanceolate, conduplicate below into the base leaves with pronounced veins.
The Wing-Less Rhynchostele can blooms at any time of the year from the basal, 12.5 to 20 cm long, 2 to 5 flowered inflorescence emerge with new the growths carrying up to 5, well spaced, showy flowers. Sepals 4.5 cm long. Petals much wider than the sepals, and like them of an oblong form, waved at the margin, and a little recurved at the end, which is sharply pointed; both sepals and petals are of clear membranous white, clouded by a profusion of spots or blotches of a reddish-brown colour, which extend to nearly half their length. Lip of the same texture and colour as the sepals, only that the brown blotches are broader, and that there is a patch of yellow on the claw; its upper portion is of an ovate form, acute, with the margins very much torn; its fleshy dish is hooded, or gathered into 2 erect plates, with a pair of teeth attached in front. Column very long, destitute of wings.
RHYNCHOSTELE APTERA 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:
Rhynchostele aptera 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 Wing-Less Rhynchostele should be grown under cool to 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 12°C, with daytime temperatures of 10 to 17°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:
Rhynchostele aptera 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 Wing-Less Rhynchostele 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:
Rhynchostele aptera 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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