Calanthe striata - Striped Calanthe blooms in the winter through spring with bright yellow, large, slightly fleshy flowers with citrus scent...
Calanthe striata also called as Striped Calanthe, Calanthe bicolor, Calanthe citrina, Calanthe discolor f. bicolor, Calanthe kawakamii, Calanthe sieboldii, Limodorum striatum, Limodorum striatum, Spathoglottis unguiculata, is a species of the genus Calanthe. This species was described by Robert Brown ex Kurt Sprengel in 1826.
DESCRIPTION OF CALANTHE STRIATA - STRIPED CALANTHE
Calanthe striata is native to China, Southern Korea, Western Central and Southern Japan to Southwestern Taiwan. This orchid is found growing in lowland and lower montane forests in China Southeast, Japan, Korea, Nansei-shoto, Taiwan at elevations of 1200-1500 meters above sea level.
It is a medium sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial which reaching 30-55 cm in height with elongate, thick rhizome and small pseudobulbs with 5-7 sheaths. The leaves are 2 or 3, well developed at anthesis, not deciduous, broadly elliptic, 20-60 cm long by 7.5-15 cm wide, apex acute or mucronate with petiole-like base of 6-18 cm, usually forming a pseudostem of 4-14 cm long.
Striped Calanthe blooms in the winter through spring from the 6-15 cm long, laxly to subdensely 6-13-flowered rachis on the 40-50 cm long, sparsely puberulent scape with persistent, lanceolate, glabrous, apex acuminate floral bracts. The flowers are 4-6.5 cm in diameter, bright yellow, large, slightly fleshy with citrus scent.
CALANTHE STRIATA - STRIPED CALANTHE CARE
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:
Calanthe striata needs a light level of 15000-20000 lux. The light should be bright but filtered or dispersed, and the plants should never be exposed to the direct sunlight of the midday sun. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
The average temperature of the summer day is 24-30 °C, the night 18-19 °C, giving a daily difference of 7-11 °C. The average temperature of the winter day is 24-27 °C, night 8-11 °C, giving a daily difference of 15-18 °C.
Humidity:
Striped Calanthe needs the humidity of 60-80%. The plant need even moisture and humidity year round. Insufficient humidity cause stunting of plant, accelerate premature falling of buds, dehydrated and shriveled leaves, papery texture of flower edges. You can use a shallow tray of pebbles filled with water to increase humidity around your plants. Be sure the pot does not sit in water as this will rot the roots. Misting can also help in increasing humidity for limited period, but it causes leaf spot diseases if there is not good air circulation.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Calanthe striata require a fertile, perfectly permeable substrate. You can use a mixture of 1 part of fertile clay soil, 1 part of well-fermented manure, 1/2 part of cut osmunda fern and 1/2 part of chopped tree fern fiber or a mixture consisting of 6 parts of fine bark, 1 part of pearlite or pumice, and 3 parts of peat mixed with live moss sphagnum. One part of charcoal can be added to each of the aforementioned mixtures, which improves the airiness of the substrate and prevents it from getting sour.
The plants do not need repotting every year, once every thee years will suffice. When potting, the pseudobulbs must be half buried into the potting media.
Watering:
Striped Calanthe should be abundantly watered during active growth, but excellent drainage and aeration of the substrate must be ensured, which can never be soggy or damp.
Fertilizer:
It is recommended to use 1/2-3/4 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids in the growing season every week. These orchids require high doses of fertilizers. You can use sustainable fertilizer throughout the year, but also can use high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to mid-summer, and then until the end of autumn, high-phosphoric fertilizer.
Rest period:
Calanthe striata doesn't need a rest period. The growing conditions should be maintained throughout the year. Watering can be reduced slightly in winter, especially if the plant is grown in latitudes where there is less light and shorter days. However, these plants should never be dried out. When limiting watering in winter, fertilization should also be reduced, returning to increased watering and fertilizing in spring.
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