Peristeria elata - Holy Ghost orchid - Dove orchid is found growing on the trunks of trees covered with moss, shaded grassland edges and stone outcrop
Peristeria elata also called as Dove orchid, Holy Ghost orchid, Flower of the Holy Spirit, is a species of the genus Peresteria. This species was described by William Jackson Hooker in 1831.
IDENTIFY PERESTERIA ELATA - HOLY GHOST ORCHID - DOVE ORCHID
Peristeria elata is native to Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panamá,
Venezuela. It is found growing on the trunks of trees covered with moss,
shaded grassland edges and stone outcrops in the very humid mountain forests
at elevations of 100 to 700 meters above sea level.
Holy Ghost orchid is a large sized, warm to hot growing terrestrial or lithophytic orchid with ovoid or conical, up to 12 cm long, elongated pseudobulbs that are enveloped basally by imbricate, papery sheaths with the upper 2 being leaf bearing. The leaves are 3 to 5, up to 1 m long and 15 cm wide, apical, plicate, broadly lanceolate to elliptic, acute or acuminate, gradually narrowing below into the conduplicate short petiolate base.
Dove orchid blooms in summer from the rigidly, erect, to 135 cm long, basal, 10 to 20 flowered inflorescence that arise from the base of the bulb. The flowers are fragrant and cup-shaped with white petals and sepals. The flower lip is white with purple speckles around its margin. The flowers open over a long period with only 4 to 6 flowers being open at any one time.
PERESTERIA ELATA - HOLY GHOST ORCHID - DOVE ORCHID 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:
Peristeria elata needs the light level of 25000-35000 lux. Strong air movement at all times is recommended. Winter is the brightest season in the habitat, so the light level should be increased for cultivated plants if at all possible. Reportedly, the species also does well under a 430 watt high pressure sodium fixture when grown 3 feet from the bulb to the top of the leaves. The plant should never be exposed to direct midday sun.
Temperature:
Holy Ghost orchid needs the days temperature of average 77-82 °F (25-28 °C), and nights average 60-64 °F (15-18 °C), with a diurnal range of 15-20 °F (9-11°C). The warmest days of the year occur in spring. It is important for initiation of spikes to have a difference in temperatures between night and day. This can be achieved in the summer by sprinkling the leaves in the late afternoon or early evening for evaporative cooling.
Humidity:
Dove orchid needs the humidity levels of 80-85% from late spring into autumn, dropping to near 70% during the dry season in late winter and early spring.
Good air circulation is essential for good plant growth, supplying oxygen and carbon dioxide and promoting the quick drying off of leaves thus preventing fungal, bacterial and red spider problems. The air surrounding the plant must be moist. Bad ventilation causes poor growth and immature buds to yellow and drop off.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Peristeria elata are usually grown in pots or baskets filled with a very coarse, open, fast draining medium that allows the roots to dry rapidly after watering. Undersized pots with room for only 1-2 year's growth are recommended because the medium in larger pots remains wet for too long after watering. As a result, roots do not dry fast enough and are eventually lost to root rot. Most growers recommend using coarse-grade fir-bark, but others prefer to use coarse cork-nuggets mixed with large chunks of charcoal.
Repotting 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. If disturbed at the wrong time, the plant stay in a semi-dormant sulk until they finally die.
Watering:
Holy Ghost orchid should be watered often while actively growing, but the roots must always be allowed to dry rapidly. Water should be reduced in autumn after new growths are mature.
The roots require moisture at all times. The pseudobulbs should always be plump, round, and full. If they start shriveling, this is most likely a sign they haven't been watered enough. Overwatering can cause several problems such as root rot and infectious bacteria/fungus in the potting medium.
Fertilizer:
When the plants are actively growing, fertilize the plants with 1/4-1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly. A high-nitrogen fertilizer is beneficial from spring to midsummer, but a fertilizer high in phosphates should be used in late summer and autumn.
To avoid mineral deposits building up during periods of heavy fertilization, it is advisable to rinse the containers approximately every month. Rinsing is especially important where the water is highly mineralized. First, water the plant normally to dissolve the accumulated salts, and after about an hour, rinse the substrate with water equal to twice the volume of the container.
Rest period:
Dove orchid needs a rest in winter. Water should be reduced, but they should not be allowed to remain completely dry for long periods. In their natural habitat, during the winter dry season, the light available to the orchid increases because cloud cover is less and the deciduous trees on which the orchid grows lose their leaves. Increased light helps cure the new growths and induce flowering. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated until water is increased in spring.
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