| Positive | Monocromatico | On Jun 11, 2004, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro
Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:This terrestrial orchid has a vast distribution throughout South America, from Venezuela to southern Brazil, usually growing in sunny areas on white sand, or with very little soil.
The erect stem reaches up to 50cm tall, with alternate, succulent leaves. From the top emerges the inflorescence, with an undefined number of small flowers that will keep showing up for a long time. These flowers have a smooth, curved, triangular lip, and the petals are narrower than sepals. The color may vary from white, to green, to yellow, and to pink, with combinations between them, depending on the plant. They are night scented. After the last flower fades, the plant produces new plantlets on the inflorescence stalk that can be detached and planted somewhere else. If you keep this plantlet on the original plant, it will bloom soon, even with an underdeveloped stem.
I have acquired a plant from one of these plantlets, and I planted it on white sand with very little organic matter, and I water it regularly. By the time I got home with it, the leaves and roots were damaged. Now, 9 months later, the plant rooted well and is shooting a new stem.
Plant it on sandy soil, water regularly, keep it in a sunny place, or at least with afternoon sun, and keep it warm. |
