Prosthechea brassavolae - Brassavola-Like Prosthechea flowers are fragrant; sepals and petals are green yellowish; lip is white with red-violet apex..
Prosthechea brassavolae, also called as Brassavola-Like Prosthechea, Encyclia brassavolae, Epidendrum brassavolae, Panarica brassavolae, Pseudencyclia brassavolae, is a species in the genus Prosthechea. This species was described by Wesley Ervin Higgins in 1998.
DESCRIPTION OF PROSTHECHEA BRASSAVOLAE - BRASSAVOLA-LIKE PROSTHECHEA
Prosthechea brassavolae is native to Mexico to Central America. It is found growing on large branches and tree trunks in wet pine oak and evergreen forest in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panamá at elevations of 900-2500 meters above sea level.
It is a medium sized, warm to cold growing epiphyte and occasional lithophyte with creeping rhizome and elongate, ovoid, bifoliate pseudobulbs with papery, basal bracts. The leaves are 2, to 20 cm long, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, becoming loosely conduplicate below into the base, dark green above, underside is lighter.
Brassavola-Like Prosthechea blooms in summer and the fall from the apical, erect, to 45 cm long, 3 to 9 flowered, racemose inflorescence that arise on a newly matured pseudobulb subtended by a large brown sheath. The flowers are fragrant, fleshy, to 10 cm in diameter; sepals and petals are green yellowish; lip is white with red-violet apex; disc with 2 white elevated calli; column is dark green with purple patches, tridentate, with a longer tooth, lateral teeth are purple.
PROSTHECHEA BRASSAVOLAE - BRASSAVOLA-LIKE PROSTHECHEA 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:
Prosthechea brassavolae needs a light level of 20000-30000 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:
Brassavola-Like Prosthechea 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:
Prosthechea brassavolae are most often grown in pots or baskets with a very thick, loose and well-drained substrate. There should be plenty of space in the pots to allow the roots to dry quickly after watering. It is recommended to use smaller pots sufficient for only one or two years of growth, because the substrate in larger pots remains wet after watering for too long. Roots that do not dry out quickly enough after watering rot. Most growers recommend medium grain bark, though others prefer medium cork pieces mixed with large lumps of charcoal.
The plants also grow well mounted on tree-fern or cork rootstocks, provided that high humidity is ensured. Fixed plants require high humidity and at least daily watering in summer, and in the case of dry and hot weather, it may be necessary to water several times a day.
Transplanting or splitting is best done when new roots begin to emerge, or immediately after blooming. This allows the plants to acclimate in a relatively short time and provides them with the least stress.
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:
Brassavola-Like Prosthechea 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:
Prosthechea brassavolae needs a dry rest period in winter. Allow the plants to dry a bit before the next watering, but do not let the remaining ones dry for long periods of time. In most cases, light watering every 2-3 weeks and occasional morning misting between waterings are sufficient. Fertilization should be limited or should be abandoned altogether until spring, when stronger watering resumes.
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