MILO BALI ADELAIDE ORCHIDS

INDONESIA

Email: stephen@adelaideorchids.com

 

 

Zygopetalums

Cultural information by Stephen Monkhouse, Adelaide Orchids Australia.

 

Zygopetalum is a genus of about 20 species.  The species are distributed throughout the South American continent, from the cooler parts of southern Brazil to the Isthmus of Panama, also southern Mexico and the West Indies.

GROWING CONDITIONS: Zygopetalum’s although having the appearance of an exotic plant are actually very easy to grow and flower. They require 50 – 70% filtered sunlight throughout the year. In countries where outside climates drop to freezing, indoor culture can be very successful.  Cymbidium growers will find that Zygopetalums are content in a similar condition with the addition of perhaps a little more shade. The growth pattern is also similar in that the plant has green-bulbs (new bulb with leaves) and from this come the new growth shoots and possibly a new flower shoot on more mature plants.

They can also produce back-bulbs that are the old bulbs that have lost its leaves. The flower spike will appear from inside the new growth not the mature bulb as with Cymbidiums. Each flower spike can carry up to 7 blooms. To produce masses of blooms on multiple spikes the plant should be at least 3 years old and actively growing in 5-6” pots. Most Zygopetalums have a delightful perfume that can waft through out your home or greenhouse during the flowering season. Due to our hybridisation, the color range on offer is extensive and the perfume has become delicate and varied. The blooms can now be up to 3” across. 

 

POTTING MEDIUM : The Zygopetalum is a Terrestrial Orchid requiring a well drained potting medium. Most growers use the same medium for Cymbidiums and Zygopetalums. We have been successfully growing with a top grade orchid bark medium for many years now. The grade used will vary on the size of the plant. A smaller grade for young seedlings and a larger grade for more mature plants. Recently we have begun trials on a new growing media which consists of a combination of coco-peat (60%) and perlite (40%). This is proving to produce stronger healthy plants in a quicker time.

 

FERTILISER : To obtain ultimate growth and the best possible flowering, use a regular fertilising program. We use and recommend Scott’s “Peters Range” of fertilisers. This is a premium American fertiliser that we have been using for 30 years now. Our program is simple and we always fertilise at half strength fortnightly.

This is our fertilising program, displaying each Season with the 3 month application program:-    

Season                                                1st Month                    2nd Month                   3rd Month

Summer                                    Hi Nitrogen                  Hi Nitrogen                  Plant Starter

Fall/Autumn                              Blossom Booster          Blossom Booster          Hi Nitrogen

Winter                                      Hi Nitrogen                  Hi Nitrogen                  Plant Starter

Spring                                      Blossom Booster          Blossom Booster          Hi Nitrogen

Fertiliser Content:

NPK                             Nitrogen             Phosphorus                  Potassium

Hi Nitrogen                            27%                            6.5%                           10%

Blossom Booster                    10%                            13.1%                         16.6%

Plant Starter                           10%                            22.7%                         8.3%

 

WATERING

Plants should always be kept moist. If allowed to dry or completely dry out leaves will drop and bulbs can start to shrivel. Water regularly or mist foliage to provide humidity in the morning. Do not allow leaves to stay wet overnight. Air circulation is a very important factor.

 

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