First Time Bloomers (Part 2)

       This is the second group of "First Time Bloomers" to be posted.  As I said earlier, I will post new Angraecoid plants as they bloom for the first time.  On occasions, I may show a comparison of a mature plant to that of a plant in flower for the first time.

Angraecum Memoria George Kennedy is a hybrid that was registered with the RHS in 1981; the originator was D. Nail.  The seed parent is Angcm. eburneum ssp. giryamae while the pollen parent is Angcm. eburneum ssp. comorense.  Each sub-species is a variation of Angcm. eburneum.  One of the traits that stands out is that of the nectary (spur); it resembles that of the pollen parent; close to a half inch longer than the traditional Angcm. eburneum.  Another trait that is dominant in the hybrid is the nonresupinate uppermost lip; about a half inch to three quarters of an inch larger than the seed parent.  This is one of four plants that is grown in 100% red lava rock (medium to coarse sized pcs. allowing for fast drainage and plently of room for the root system to develop).  It receives a range of bright diffused sun light that measures 2500 FC to 4000 FC year round.  The amount of water the plant is given varies depending upon the time of year.  Summer watering is every other day and what ever rain it receives late spring through early fall.  Once temperatures come down into the upper 70s, water is reduced to every three to four days.  Angcm. Memoria George Kennedy doesn't appear to have a dormant period so I fertilize every week throughout the year.  I have observed an extremely fast development in the root system where the roots will begin to grow outside of the pot or basket; be sure to prevent those roots from attaching to anything around the plant.

 Angraecum leonis, this individual plant is the Madagascar variety; the other variety is from the Comoros Islands and can be more than double the size (see the post dated February 25, 2013, Angraecum leonis [Size Identifies]).  Angcm. leonis, no matter the variety usually will show you when there is a lack of water reaching the plant.  When the plant is young, its root system hasn't really reached any length.  Leaves that show a sign of wrinkling is a warning that the plant is under stress for lack of water.  It is imperative that you watch younger plants for this sign.  A strong indication of a healthy root system is the thickness of the leaves; moisture is stored in those leaves where carbohydrates are produced to nourish the plant.  The Madagascar variety usually has leaves that are 2 to 3 times thicker. A trait common due to the lack of rain in the region.  The Comoros variety receives a large amount of rain and will be more than twice the size as mentioned.  As either variety of the plants matures, it will start to produce an aerial root system (in a natural habitat, the root system secures the plant to the branches and limbs and provides more moisture and nutrients).

  Aerangis mystacidii X Aerangis decaryana; registered in November, 2012 by Sarah Waddoups (congrats Sarah), the originator was Klinge Orchids.  The above images were the first blooms from October 2013.  The plant is mounted to a 4 x 6 inch (10x15cm) cork slab.  It receives 1,800 - 2,500 FC of medium light daily.  It is watered every morning in South Florida's 10 month warm season and very often misted late afternoon if temperatures are in the upper 80s or higher.  Watering is cut back to every other day throughout most of December and January.  The plant receives fertilizer every week through the warm season and every two weeks during the two cooler months in Winter. 

 

Angraecum Memoria George Kennedy

     The seed parent of Angraecum eburneum ssp. giryamae and the pollen parent Angraecum comorense produces Angraecum Memoria George Kennedy.  The plant was registered officially in 1981.  In my opinion it is one of the easier Angraecum hybrids to grow.  With that said, why does it seem I have kept my fingers crossed from the day I received my first plants?  These are the first non-miniature Angraecums that I am growing in 100% red lava rock (pieces range in size from 1/2 inch [1.3cm] to 3/4 inch [2cm].  Over the last 6 months, the plants have grown very well with one presently in bloom and the other three starting to spike.

Angcm. Memoria George Kennedy (new root development)

     The image above shows one of the plant's root systems developing at the base of the plant.  The size of the lava rock will give ample drainage, room for air movement and plenty of space for the root system to grow within the pot.  I do have one plant in an 8 inch basket with other non organic material as well as the lava rock and the root system on that plants has already grown out through the slats.  SPECIAL NOTE: I water as often as I can with rain water to wash away the salts that may build up on the coarse lava rock.
     Although both of the parents are a very strong growing epiphytes, mounted plants need plenty of water during the hot months of late spring through early fall.  These mounted plants would need to be watered twice a day.  Being in shallow pots with a somewhat coarse medium, they are watered once every two days for at least 6 months and that watering is cut back to once every three to four days when temperatures do start to drop into the seventies and even the upper sixties.  (read the August 29, 2013 post "LAVA ROCK as a potting medium... PROS and CONS" to see the possible advantages to using the lava rock).

     With the parent Angcm. eburneum ssp. giryamae having a stem that can reach over 3.25 feet (1m) in height and Angcm. comorense barely reaching a height of 12 inches (30cm), Angcm. Memoria George Kennedy should grow to a height between the two.  The four plants that I am presently growing have stems that average about 4 inches (10cm) and are blooming for the first time or getting ready to.  My thinking or hope at any rate is that they won't grow much taller than 18 inches (45cm).

 First sign of developing inflorescence.

Six weeks growth.

First time blooming inflorescence with 6 buds.

     Development of the inflorescence took about 5 months to reach a point where the buds did start to appear.  I am currently keeping track of the other three plants to confirm these timelines.

     As stated earlier, the potted plants as well as the one in a basket are watered every two days from late April into mid October (6 months with daytime temperatures at 80 degrees or above with three of those months in the low to mid 90s).  A balanced fertilizer of 20-20-20 is added to the water once a week.  I have not yet added any time release material to the plants.  Once every 21 to 28 days I treat the plants with a systemic fungicide; slternating every other month between Thyomil and Dithane45.  I spray the entire plant concentrating on the under sides of the leaves and also make sure that the fungicide gets into the pot so that the root system is treated.

     Two of the plants receive a couple of hours of direct morning sunlight and then receive 35% spackled light throughout the remainder of the day as do the other two plants (2000 - 3000 fc).  They are grown in an open arbor and have a constant cross breeze 24/7.  If winter temperatures where to drop below 55 degrees for more than one night, the plants are moved inside or the arbor would be wrapped to protect from the cold. 

Angrarecum Memoria George Kennedy

     Please keep in mind that I grow my orchids in the sub-tropical to tropical climate of South Florida.  This Angraecum will do well in a intermediate to warm growing greenhouse.