Ansellia africana

[Spiffy]

I have a smaller division growing on a sunny south-east facing windowsill here in the UK. Just 6 canes currently although a new one this year that is showing good growth and about halfway to the size of the tallest.

I'm looking forward to seeing it pop some spikes out, but I'm wondering if you have to do anything special in order to encourage it to bloom? I read sometimes that they need to be dehydrated towards the end of summer?

My one is potted in large bark chips, charcoal and a bit of spag. It needs very little watering with this setup, ie just run water through once per week, no soak, even now here in UK 'summer' (RH is about 50%, reckon temp min max on the windowsill is 16 - 25c on a sunny day.)

Thanks for any pointers!

[smweaver]

Hello, Spiffy. I can only tell you what has worked for me here in the Midwest region of the US. From spring through fall, the ansellia goes outdoors and receives direct morning sunlight between 8 AM and noon, followed by dappled sunlight (provided by a pergola) from noon until around 5 PM, followed by direct sunshine again for another 2 to 3 hours (since the plant is no longer protected by the pergola after 5 PM).

I water and fertilize it a lot during the growing season. Fertilizer is provided at about nearly full strength of the recommended dose for MSU fertilizer (MSU standing for a formulation put together by Michigan State University), as I'm assuming that since ansellia is a close relative of cymbidium, it might share the same preference for higher fertilizer concentrations than you would give, say, a phalaenopsis.

In the winter the plant comes back indoors, and I give it as much light as possible. Fertilizer is completely eliminated, and the plant only gets watered very lightly once every 2 to 3 weeks. Night temperatures in my sunroom consistently drop to around 10 - 11 C.

So, lots of sunlight, heat, humidity, water and fertilizer while it's growing, followed by a cool and relatively dry winter rest.

Good luck with your ansellia!

Steve

[Spiffy]

ok thanks for that! Likely I can get away with watering slightly less with it being indoors. She looks pretty happy at the mo so don't think I will change any of my current care. I was thinking I'd up the fertiliser if roots started growing up through the media, but no sign currently.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Spiffy

ok thanks for that! Likely I can get away with watering slightly less with it being indoors. She looks pretty happy at the mo so don't think I will change any of my current care. I was thinking I'd up the fertiliser if roots started growing up through the media, but no sign currently.

I grow several Ansellia africana plants and a bunch of Cymbidiums. I have not noticed that the A. africana are very needy of fertilizer - they grow slowly. They get the same very light fertilizing as everything else, and bloom regularly. Cyms, on the other hand do grow fast, and seem to benefit from more fertilizer. (Same for Catasetinae when they are in rapid growth) Tomatoes grow rapidly and need even more. So... fertilizer is mostly used by the plant when it is building new tissue (growing). Energy it obtains from photosynthesis. For the A. africana, just enjoy looking at those "bird's nest" roots... no need to do anything special for them.

[isurus79]

I really love this clone! Its probably got some of the best color I've seen. You got a great one!

This really is a fun one to grow. I have mine next to my Cattleyas and treated 100% the same!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by smweaver

The flowers, in my opinion, do not have a very nice scent (unless you like the smell of some sort of industrial strength solvent). They are, however, produced in abundance and very colorful.

Excellent display and plant and flowers Steve.

I'll have to remember that very workable description of the scent - as in solvent smell. I have indeed encountered some weird solvent sort of smell with another sort of orchid - C. Jewel Red 'Shinzu' ...... which I had once described having hints of iodine or something ----- but it is probably more like solvent smell. I think something along the lines of 'solvent' is about right too. Will remember that one.