All the Orchids they are very beautiful plants with great ornamental value. They need some more difficult care to carry out, but it is worth it if done right. In this article we focus on the Anguloa uniflora. It is one of the orchids that are not so common in terms of use and that are perfect to keep at home. They have the difficulty of being able to find them in stores, but once you have it, you will prefer it. Its common name is cradle of venus.
If you want to know more about Anguloa uniflora, this is your post. Here we explain everything about her.
Key features
They are usually plants that are generally long. Possess a pseudobulb that can reach 20 cm in length and sometimes even bigger. They have lanceolate and legacy leaves that are also quite long, reaching almost one meter. They are covered by the fruit when it begins to grow. The individual pseudobulb is composed of a base where we can see up to 4 leaves that form it.
As for its flowers, they can be yellow and red or even have a shade of green and white. This makes it more versatile when combining other indoor plants. Although less frequent, we can also have them outdoors. Its shape is waxy and its sepal is bulb-shaped. If we could compare it to another flower, it looks more like tulip.
Irrigation of the Anguloa uniflora
Since these plants have their natural ecosystem in mountain forests, they are usually used to a fairly high rainfall regime. Its area of distribution is mainly in Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. Since if we bring it to Spain to take care of them, we must take into account the conditions it has in nature to be able to recreate them as much as possible. In this way we can mimic the plant in its new environment without further problems.
The needs of the orchid are quite complicated so you will not be able to find a general guide that can help you with everything. However, we are going to try to make here a kind of summary of the most successful main care that you can give them so that they grow as well as possible.
It is a plant that needs to have enough water, especially during the time when it is growing. In those months you cannot lack water in any way. The winter months are easier as it needs less watering. However, we cannot let the soil dry out completely. It is important to maintain a certain degree of humidity in the colder months so that the roots do not dry out.
When you notice that the pseudobulb is growing again, this is when it is necessary to water more frequently, since it will start to develop it.
Necessary care
This type of plant is known for its high nutrient needs. They are known as cream eaters and need a lot of food. Many people throw in the towel easily with this species because it is very demanding. It is a plant that is exotic and with great beauty, it is normal that the care is stricter if we want to keep it in good condition.
On the other hand, we can also sin to overfeed our plant. If the Anguloa uniflora begins to have the limits of the somewhat burned leaves, is that we are passing with the nutrients that we are giving. The fertilizer must be applied in greater quantity when the spring and summer months arrive. However, in autumn and winter, for more than 8 weeks it is better not to give any type of fertilizer or we'll be supercharging it.
Although not exactly working, the 20-10-20 fertilizer can be interesting, although your needs may vary. Since these plants have grown naturally in a tropical climate and on mountain elevations, they are used to colder climates. The optimal range can be between 13 and 17 degrees for those that have been extracted from higher altitudes and 24-27 for those that are lower.
Regarding lighting, it must be taken into account that in nature they grow in the understory area. That is, they are used to having shade. If we want our home to have similar lighting conditions, we will have to place them in the shade. When fall comes, all deciduous trees shed their leaves, so it is in the colder times that it receives the most sunlight.
Medium to plant the orchid
To better understand the particularities of each species of orchid, it is necessary to do a little research to learn more about care. It is possible that even with these indications the orchids are not well cared for. Thus, it is recommended that all possible information be sought on the origin of the species to guarantee the necessary care. I emphasize this so much because many people throw in the towel when they are faced with caring for a somewhat more demanding plant. The satisfaction of caring for a plant well and growing healthy is quite high.
To replant the Anguloa uniflora it is advisable to use a soil where it can store moisture but without getting waterlogged. This plant needs some humidity and aeration so that water does not accumulate excessively. In nature, this plant is used to having abundant rain and to retain as much moisture as possible since it is found in the shade under the trees. For this reason, to be able to replant it we need a pot where the humidity can be stored but that has good drainage and aeration to avoid the accumulation of water.
In the case in which we are not applying this correctly, we will notice how it becomes infested with mold or another type of fungus. Besides, also we can notice a strong smell that comes from the plant as it is rotting.
I hope that with these tips I can guide you something more in the care of the Anguloa uniflora.