Encyclia stellata - Starry Alanje Encyclia flowers are apple green or greenish-yellow, lip white or cream, becoming yellow, lateral lobes basally...
Encyclia stellata, also called as Starry Alanje Encyclia, Encyclia alanjensis, Encyclia hunteriana, Epidendrum alanjense, Epidendrum stellatum, is a species in the genus Encyclia. This species was described by Rudolf Schlechter in 1914.
DESCRIPTION OF ENCYCLIA STELLATA - STARRY ALANJE ENCYCLIA
Encyclia stellata is native to Costa Rica to Northern Venezuela. It is found growing on trees in lowland dry or seasonally dry forests in Colombia, Costa Rica, Panamá, Venezuela at elevations of 30-150 meters above sea level.
It is a cool to warm growing epiphytic species which reaching to 50 cm in height with clustered, ovoid to subglobose, smooth, shiny greenby pseudobulbs that are enveloped basally by papery sheaths, shredded with age. The leaves are 2, apical, coriaceous, rigid, sharp margined, sulcate midvein, conduplicate below into the base, 14-35 x 0.6-2.2 cm.
Starry Alanje Encyclia blooms in late winter and early spring from the apical, erect inflorescences of up to 25 cm long paniculate raceme with terete, to 10 cm long peduncle and 2-5 cm long, 2-4 flowered lateral branches. The flowers are 3 cm in diameter, sepals and petals apple green or greenish-yellow, lip white or cream, becoming yellow, lateral lobes basally stripped with rose-purple.
ENCYCLIA STELLATA - STARRY ALANJE ENCYCLIA 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:
Encyclia stellata needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. The light should be filtered or diffused and the plants should not be exposed to direct midday sun. Strong air movement should be provided all the time.
Temperature:
In summer, the average day temperature is 24-27 °C, and the night 14-16 °C, with a daily amplitude of 8-10 °C. In winter the average daytime temperatures are 23-25 °C, and 13-15 °C during the night, while the daily amplitude is 8-11 °C.
Humidity:
Starry Alanje Encyclia needs the humidity of 80% in the period of growth, in winter and spring it falls to 60-70%. Too dry air has a negative effect on the development of the plant: its growth is inhibited, and the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out. The higher temperature, the higher the humidity should be, and the higher the humidity, the more often and longer it is necessary to ventilate the room where the plants are contained, otherwise the probability of rotting and various kinds of fungal diseases. Good air movement is essential while the plants are in leaf and growing.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Encyclia stellata grow well mounted on pieces of tree fern or cork, but in summer this requires high humidity and daily watering. In the period of extremely hot and dry weather, fixed plants may require even several watering times a day.
However, since most growers find it too difficult to maintain sufficient moisture with this growing method, these plants are usually grown in pots using an airy, fast-drying substrate that contains substances such as perlite to keep moisture out and charcoal to keep it airy and prevent acidification. Plants should be repotted at the end of winter or early spring, when new root growth begins.
Watering:
The plants should be watered abundantly during active growth, but their roots must dry out quickly after watering. At the end of autumn, the amount of water should be gradually reduced.
Fertilizer:
Starry Alanje Encyclia should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is beneficial from spring to mid-summer, and a phosphorus-rich fertilizer can be used in late summer and autumn. Higher phosphorus content stimulates better flowering in the next season and promotes hardening of new growth before winter.
To avoid the accumulation of mineral deposits during periods of strong fertilization, it is recommended to rinse the containers approximately every month.
Rest period:
Encyclia stellata grown in cool conditions should be kept relatively dry in winter, with occasional fogging between rare waterings. However, those grown in warmer conditions need more water and significant drying up between waterings. However, it must not be allowed keep them dry for a long time. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear and watering begins more abundantly in the spring.
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