Angraecums

Angraecums
Angraecum leonis

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Angcm. Lemforde White Beauty

     We have a King (Angcm. sesquipedale) and we have a Queen (Angcm. magdalenae).  And what that produces is Angraecum Lemforde White Beauty.  A remarkable hybrid that very much resembles the Queen (although slightly larger).

Angcraecum Lemforde White Beauty

     Two very different Angraecums in size, basic shape and most of all the environments from which they grow.  But their offspring pictured above is one of the most sought after Angraecum hybrids to date. 
     The flower from a sesquipedale can be up to 9 inches across.  The magdalenae will produce a flower about 4 inches across.  The Beauty will average 5 - 6 inches across; so it's picked up a little size from the sesquipedale.  The spur or nectary is about 2 inches longer in the Lemforde White Beauty than it is in the magdalenae; another attribute that it gets from sesquipedale.
     The basic shape of the flower is very similar to magdalenae.  The sepals are broader closer to the pedicel as are the petals.  The lip is not near as long as the sesquipedale but it is much wider resembling the magdalenae.  Another prominent feature that has carried over from sesquipedale is the retraction of the petals (they can retract almost 90 degrees).
     The environments in which the parents of this hybrid come from are two totally different ends of the spectrum.  Angcm. sesquipedale grows on the edge of forests at about 300 feet above sea level on the lower and thicker trunks of trees in a tropical condition.  Growing best in nature in bright shade or a bright diffused light.  Angcm. magdalenae grows at 5,600 - 6,500 feet above sea level as a semi-terrestrial (also considered a lithophyte plant that establishes itself in several inches of leaf debris and dead vegatation that has gathered between large rocks of the mountain they're found on.
     With the sesquipedale growing in a tropical condition, it its well suited for the weather here in South Florida.  It will continue to grow and develop 12 months a year.  Angcm. magdalenae grows at a much higher altitude and has it's growing season cut back 4 - 5 months when it is drier and much cooler.  The plants don't grow as big as the sesquipedale does.  Even in the summer months, temperatures do drop and it is the daytime heated rocks that help the magdalenae.  What I am getting at is the fact that the sesquipedale originating in tropical conditions allows the Lemforde White Beauty to grow so well here in South Florida.  While you may have a every difficult time trying to get an Angcm. magdalenae  to bloom here.  Our sub tropical climate is no comparison to the mountain regions the Queen grows in.
     Angraecum Lemforde White Beauty will grow very similar to Angraecum sesquipedale.  However, you can put the plant in a smaller pot (6" shallow) because it will not grow much higher than 10 -14 inches.  It will also accept a larger amount of brighter light.  My plants here is South Florida get direct sun light until about noon.  After that, they get spackled light the remainder of the day.  In the cooler north part of the country, the plant will do fantastic in a north facing window.  Back off on watering the plant in winter months to about once a week to every 10 days.  When the temps start coming back up, move the plant outdoors under an eave overhang and leave it out there until night time temps start hovering around 50 degrees.  Angraecum Lemforde White Beauty will bloom and look radiant with it's pristine white flowers anywhere from mid May to late July; that really depends on what part of the country its growing in.

     
     

10 comments:

  1. AS popular as the Lemforde White Beauty has become; it is presently a difficult plant to attain. ASk the various growers at the shows. They may be able to point you in the right direction.

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  2. I absolutely love you for making this blog. Finding detailed commentary on Angraecums is difficult. Are you planning on writing up an article on Ang. magdalenae? I'm keeping mine alive and blooming them, but they're not exactly thriving.

    MP

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  3. myshka - thank you! I am currently planning on doing a post on Angcm. magdalenae sometime in mid summer. It is an Angraecum I talk about in my presentation on a regular basis. What is the seasonal climate in your area. That may play a big part in it. I have experimented with magdalenae for over 6 yrs. now and have a lot of notes. So... Stay tuned and feel free to respond.

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  4. I live in northern Mississippi. I currently have four magdalenae and one Lemforde White Beauty. The Lemforde is doing very well, despite a bit of neglect in the last few months. My oldest magdalenae went downhill pretty quickly after going too long with needing to be repotted. I'm still trying to figure out if it's going to keep on trucking after I finally repotted it.

    I keep humidity up between 40-60%. They're in a huge west window. I have a ceiling fan running at all times. My Lemforde just bloomed for the first time and hasn't skipped a beat since I got it three years ago.

    I'm looking forward to your post on magdalenae!

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  5. MYSHKA, I am currently writing the Angcm. magdalenae post now. It will most likely be posted on the blog within the next 1 - 2 weeks. Regarding your plants; adult plants will thrive in the light you are giving it. It should be in a pot at least 6" wide, although 8" should do great. Like most angraecums, magdalenae plants DO NOT like their roots messed with at all. To much interferrence will stop the plant from blooming 2 - 5 years. You should keep the roots moist, not soggy. Fertilize it every 7 days. The plant also likes cooler temps at night (being in the south during the summer can be difficult), unless you keep your AC around 72 degrees. The post will help you when it id complete. Thanks for reading the blog! I will be in Laffeyette, LA December 1st giving two lectures and one is on ANGRAECUMS.

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  6. Hi, Thank you for creating this blog. The Ang. Lemforde White Beatuty is one of the very first orchids I bought and the oldest orchid I have so far. It has been 15 years now. The plant itself is not pretty, but it blooms for me every year. As a matter of fact, two spikes are coming out right now.

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  7. Thankyou so much I live in australia.it helped me

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  8. I have about 60 beauitful cymbridium orchids flower every year.does any one else love them
    Michelle
    Australia

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  9. I bought a Lemforde White Beauty, but I don't know anything about it, or where to put it. I live in Captain Cook, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Elevation is 1350 feet. Does anyone have any information to help me , help this unique plant? Aloha dee

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  10. This is also a very good post which I really enjoyed reading. Beauty

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