calanthe

There are about 150 representatives of the Calanthe genus that grow in Asia, Australia and Africa, and only one of them is found in New World! Botanists divide this genus into two ecologically different groups. The members of the first group[ (Eucalanthe)have only reduced pseudoblubs with clusters of large indeciduous foliage. Their robustness prevents them from being very popular with orchids lovers. Eucalanthe orchids are epephytes that vegetate all year round without a break ; they require humous soil, semi-shade, continuous watering and a warm to temperate envirnoment. Calanthe arcuta in the photograph represents this group. The other ecological group (Preptanthe) numbers more species and is more significant with regard to cultivation. Preptanthe orchids form large , annualy deciduous pseudobulbs,and the most widely cultivated and popular species Calanthe vestita is no exception to this rule. There are three periods in the life of a Preptanthe orchid:vegetation ,flowering and rest. Its life cycle is thus quite unique: the flower spike that reaches a leangth of up to 28 in /70 cm grows out of the size of a bare pseudobulb and bears many flowers; their dominant feature is a four-lobed lip. The plants bloom in the fall and in the winter ., always after all the leaves have fallen. That is followerd by a period of rest and a subsequent burgeoning of new shoots . Most Preptanthe orchids are terrestrial species that inhabit humus-filled cracks in limestone rocks, if growing in the wild. Cultivation has some specifics: after fading , store the bulbs until spring in a dry, shady place(under a greenhouse table), and start watering them carefully only after they begin to burgeon. They are grown atypically in ordinary garden soil, after adding a little humus and limestone grit. When the plants reach the peak of their growing period, keep them in semi-shade and provide plentiful watering and fertilization . When misting the plant , keep away from the leaves- misting the foliage is undesireable! As soon as new pseudobulbs are formed and the leaves start turning yellow,cut down on watering .