Rhynchostylis gigantea (Rhynchostylis gigantea)
Origin and habitat
Rhynchostylis gigantea is reported to be native to Borneo, Myanmar, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hainan in China, and the Philippines, broadly across Southeast Asia to Hainan. It is reported to grow in warm to hot environments.
Characteristics
The flowers are reported to be sweetly fragrant, ranging from white to deep red and also occurring in spotted forms, with slender inflorescences bearing densely arranged flowers. Flowering is reported from autumn to winter.
Light
Indirect light is reported to be suitable, avoiding the more direct-light approach commonly used for Vanda. The reported light range is about 10000–20000, based on few sources. It takes high light.
Watering
Water is reported to be supplied evenly during growth. It is generally recommended to let it dry between waterings.
Humidity and airflow
It is generally reported to need good airflow.
Temperature and dormancy
Rhynchostylis gigantea is warm-growing.
Growing medium and mounting
It is reported to suit wooden basket culture with little or no growing medium, allowing its robust fleshy roots to extend through the basket. It is epiphytic. It is generally reported to prefer being mounted.
Feeding
Fertilizer is reported to be supplied evenly in cultivation.
Identification
It is reported to have a single-lobed lip that can help distinguish it from Vanda, along with slender inflorescences bearing densely arranged flowers.
Photos
Sources
- Wikipedia (en): Rhynchostylis gigantea — CC BY-SA 4.0 · link
- 維基百科：海南钻喙兰 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · link
- Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia: Rhynchostylis gigantea — © Jay Pfahl / IOSPE contributors, facts only · link
- Baker Orchid Species Culture (free sampler): Rhynchostylis gigantea — © Charles O. Baker and Margaret L. Baker (1998), facts only · link
- NHK みんなの趣味の園芸 植物図鑑: Rhynchostylis gigantea — © NHK出版, facts only · link