Орхидея Epidendrum centropetalum
Acquired an orchid Oerstedella centerdenia. Tell, how to care for her, how to propagate. Better to plant in the bark? Thank you in advance.
Tatiana GUBANOVA (e-mail question)
Oerstedella centerdenia (Photo) planting and care
Oerstedella centradenia originally from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama. Grows in the lower tier of mountain evergreen forests at a height 1200-1500 m, more often as an epiphyte. The genus was singled out as an independent 1981 r. from the genus of epidendrum, but after carrying out phylogenetic studies in the modern classification "returned" back, so the correct name for your orchid is Epidendrum centropetalum.
LANDING AND SUBSTRATE
Oerstedella can be grown on cork bark blocks, ensuring regular, almost daily, watering in summer. When planting in a pot, the substrate needs a loose, quickly passing excess water. A mixture of medium-sized pine bark with the addition of moss is suitable. A good time to transplant is the period after flowering ends..
CONTENT
Throughout the year, the orchid requires bright lighting without direct sunlight.. East or West orientation windows are best suited. On the south, you will need shading from the midday sun, and on the north - supplementary lighting with phytolamps.
Oerstedella - orchid of moderately warm content. The temperature range is practically unchanged throughout the year. But the daily difference should be 9-11 degrees: daytime temperature - +22-25 city., night - +13-15 city.
Air humidity high, in summer and early autumn - 80-85%, somewhat lower in winter, to 70%.
WATERING AND FEEDING OF AERSTEDELLA
In natural conditions, in which oerstedella grows, a lot of precipitation falls from late spring to autumn. On the contrary, in winter and early spring conditions are drier. Therefore, in culture, the plant is often watered during growth., but the roots should dry out quickly after watering. At the end of the growing season, from the end of autumn, watering is important to reduce. Water needs separated, room temperature. A blocky plant is immersed in a container of water, leaving minutes for 20, so that the roots are properly saturated with moisture, then returned to a permanent place.
They feed once a 2-3 weeks with specialized fertilizers for orchids, adding nutrient mixture along with watering.
Acquaintance
At home I put a pot of orchids on a rack under the lamps, to admire the bloom, and when she faded, transferred to the balcony. The plant began to branch, a lot of shoots appeared on the stems. When they form their own roots, then suitable for breeding.
Now, in summer, when it's very hot, I water the orchid once a 4-5 days. The roots are saturated with moisture and turn bright green. In winter, the interval between watering is reduced to 10-12 days. Sometimes I bathe the plant under a warm shower.
My conditions are far from ideal for oerstedella. In summer, the temperature during the day can rise to +35 city., or even higher. And the nighttime values are different, too high. Air humidity is low, so there is a humidifier on the balcony. Despite all the "inconsistencies", while we manage to find a common language with the orchid.
Oerstedella is pest resistant. Most often sick due to care errors. Rotting stems, the root system is due to waterlogging, with too much watering. The appearance of burns on the leaves - due to exposure to direct sunlight. Lack of flowering - in low light.
© Author: Natalia PYLINA, orchid collector, r. Volgograd. Photo by the author
