This is a robust growing orchid plant with thick roots, arching leathery olive green leaves and thick petals burgundy red flowers (this started with grape colored buds and opens with deep violet flowers then flattens into a wine red color in a couple of days). This has a strong floral fragrance like the combination smell of Jasmine and Gardenias. This was a gift from a seller three years ago and this is the first time this flowered from a seedling.
I give this bright but indirect light on the south facing window and in the summer I put this outdoors but I make sure the noonday sun will not burn its leaves. It’s hard to clean the dark spots on its leaves and fertilizer deposits.
This plant loves NY summer days when the temperature average 90-91F (32-33C) but I bring it indoors if there is a heat wave of 100F, and nights average 76-77F (24-25C)=in the winter I try to recreate the warmth it is used to in situ.
The humidity in Manhattan during summers is very high so I compensate in winter by investing in an electric humidifier with an oscillating fan to provide it 80% humidity in the day, dropping to 70-75% at night.
Rainfall in its native habitat varies from heavy to very heavy downpours starting late spring lasting all through autumn, then decrease rapidly into the dry season that lasts for 3-4 months in winter and early spring.
I have this orchid plant watered heavily while actively growing, but I make sure aeration around the roots must be excellent, allowing the roots to dry rapidly after watering. It is in a plastic basket with coconut fiber as its bed then sprinkled with lava rock, charcoal, bark and sponge rock around the roots.
I feed this with Klite fertilizer I got from Ray’s combined with seaweed mix applied weekly when it is actively growing; then I switch to a high-phosphate formula in late summer and autumn.
In its native habitat this plant must experience some kind of winter rest but since my environment is very dry in winter, I just continue my watering regimen all year round.
Rhynchostylis gigantea (red form)
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