Orchid Care for the month of July |
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| Orchid Care for this month (July).
Greetings and good day. Wish and hope everyone is safe during these unprecedented times of epidemic. We have just crossed Summer solstice (longest day) and trend of longer days is there for this month. A few things to do this month 1) Bangalore is having reasonably good rains this time, Days where it rains, ensure that there is sufficient air movement as persistent dampness would be ideal weather for bacterial and fungal infections. 2) Avoid over watering as water evaporation would be relatively less during rainy season. 3) Onset of rains would increase the humidity and increased humidity would mean more pest and diseases. 4) Start feeding NPK and micronutrients at a full dose. Calcium and Magnesium can be fed alternative weeks 5) Dampness would also invite slugs and snails and keep a close watch on them. Visit the grow area in the night and catch and dispose 6) Most of the deciduous species (Habenaria, Catasetum, Calanthe, Lycaste) are picking up growth and hence water and start feeding them well. more robust roots they put out they would help pickup vegetative growth 7) Most of the Vandas/Aerides would be in spike or about to spike, feed them well to ensure that they have sufficient energy reserves to sustain their blooms 8) Keep a couple of bottles of hydrogen peroxide handy for any quick bandaid treatments for bacterial and surface treatments of Fungal infections 9) Remove dried leaves/sheath during this time as dried material absorbs more water and invite fungal and bacterial infections. Keeping the grow area clean would help 10) Watch out for pests (Caterpillars, thrips, aphids). Preventive spraying of Neem based pesticides would help but best would be to be keep a close watch on a daily basis and act immediately on the out break 11) Days when it rains,. collecting rain water and using them would be the best you can do to your orchids Stay safe and Happy orchidding…its a wonderful day to grow orchids |
Species of the Month |
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 Aerides maculosa Lindl. |
 Aerides maculosa Lindl. |
| Aerides maculosa Distribution: Aerides maculosa is a species endemic to Western Ghats. The epithet “maculosa” means “spotted,” in reference to the colored spots on the tepals. Vandaceous orchid found in every green forests that are woody, stout, bloom in June-August with inflorescence longer than the leaves. Culture: Fairly easy to grow in Bangalore. Grow it in a Vanda basket or a net pot (helmet pot) with bark and fast draining media. Providing higher levels of light throughout the year with partial shading during Feb-May would help, water profusely during growing season and having misters during dry seasons would help Withholding or minimal fertilizer with dry winter rest and exposure to higher lights in winter would help profuse blooms during onset of monsoons Pictures: Rajani Jayapal (TOSKAR Member) Article: Sriram Kumar |
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