Angraecum eburneum ssp. giryamae

                During the early part of my presentation regarding the Angraecum Alliance, I stress the fact that many of the alliance do not do well in the blooming department if the roots are bothered or disturbed too much.  In other words, they become somewhat dormant when it comes to blooming for as long as and up to five years.  You will see this mentioned in various posts throughout the blog.  This particular post is going to address that probability in depth dealing with an Angraecum eburneum along with the culture demands of this species.

                Angraecum eburneum ssp. giryamae or Angraecum giryamae (the specific species in this post) as it is now classified as well as two other sub-species of Angcm. giryamae hail from various locations such as Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands, the Comoro Islands and East Africa; their origination depending upon the species.  They are all considered sub-tropical to tropical growers and grow in fairly moist areas as epiphytes and occasionally as lithophytes and semi-terrestrial plants.  Exception to this is Angcm. eburneum spp.  xerophilum grows in the semi-arid to arid areas of Southern Madagascar where there is a 3 – 5 month dry or dormant period during the winter months in the Southern Hemisphere (this species is discussed indirectly as one of the parents in the post “Birth of a Shooting Star”).

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Several days after giving the Angraecum presentation to one of the South Florida Orchid Societies, I received an email along with a photograph attached showing an un-named Angraecum that had grown so much that it had pushed itself out of the pot.  The plant appeared to be Angcm. giryamae and was in excellent health.  No sign of stress or any severe batches of fungus.  It had very strong leaves of green with numerous secondary plants and a few kiekies (Images #01 $ #02).

The root system was visible (and there were many), most were 3/16 – 5/16 inches (.4 - .6cm) wide.  There was also a substantial number of new roots with green tips almost 3/4 inches (2cm) long.  It is this root system that shouldn’t be disturbed.  I always explain that when potting or placing certain species of Angraecums in baskets; you should use a container that will not need to be changed later.  Let the plant grow into it!  Angraecum giryamae can reach a height of 4 – 6 feet (1.2 – 1.8m); although a plant in culture will very seldom reach a height of over 4 feet (1.2m).

            The instructions given to the plant owner were followed exactly as given.  She had a 12 inch (30cm) square by 6 inch (15cm) deep cedar basket prepared for the transfer of the plant.   The medium was a mixture of charcoal, perlite, tree fern pieces and coconut chunks that were considered to be medium size.  She very carefully used a small hammer and broke the pot up around the plant’s base root system.  She did not pull any of the broken pot pieces off of the roots.  Whatever fell off at the time of breaking the pot is what was thrown away.  Any of the old medium that was still stuck to the root system was left alone.

Image 03

 

The plant was then placed into the cedar basket and the new medium was placed into the basket around the plant.  Then very carefully working the new medium into the voids in and around the plant.  Once the plant was settled into the basket, it was watered and a systemic fungicide was used to treat the plant.  It was placed in the same area receiving the same amount of light and care has it had previously (Image #03).

             During the summer months, the plant was watered about every three days, fertilized once a week and a systemic fungicide is used about every four weeks.  Patience now has the upper hand; will the plant lie dormant or will it bloom?

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             Late this summer, the plant starting putting out an inflorescence; a very good indication that it would bloom.  Watching it develop and finally seeing the first buds appear gave even a higher degree of hope that the re-potting of the large Angraecum was a success.  As you can see in the following image, the Angraecum giryamae successfully bloomed (Image #04).

             Not every transfer or re-potting of a mature Angraecum will be this successful.  Root systems are used by this genera as any other.  Supply the plant with moisture and stability.  But, the root systems are much more sensitive.  If the roots are disturbed too much, they will become dormant for an unusual amount of time; not blooming and slower growing for several years.  That is why I stress to hobbyists to find out how large the plant will get and then placing that plant into a pot or basket to accommodate the plant as a mature adult.  Keep in mind that the medium must be thoroughly thought about also.  Do not use a mixture of materials that will decompose.  It will cause problems with mold, mildew and funguses that may kill the plant faster than you can treat it.
           
            [The plant in this post belongs to Patt Lindsey; a hobbyist here in South Florida.  She supplied all of the photographs as well as doing the repotting.  Congrats to you Patt.  A job well done!]

Birth Of A Shooting Star

     This post has been submitted to the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society for publication in the FLOS monthly newsletter.
  
     On August 12, 2010 the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) officially registered Angraecum Shooting Star.  The originators, Hendrick and Quintus Vorster, from HQ Orchids based in South Africa had created a robust plant that had become popular with both professional growers and hobbyists before the plant was even registered.  I was very fortunate and picked one up at a reasonable price fifteen months before the RHS bestowed the registration on this amazing hybrid.  It was simply known as Angraecum florulentum x Angraecum eburneum ssp xerophilum

  Angraecum Shooting Star

     As it turns out, the sub-tropical climate of South Florida is very conducive for Angcm. Shooting Star.  The development of the plant has been nothing short of spectacular.  Whether rain fall has been extremely heavy or the lack of (which we've experienced the last two years), the plant has done very well,  With an increased number of flowers through the last three blooming periods and seven new plants at the basal section of the plant.

     The plant was placed in a 6 inch clay pot with ample drainage holes at the base in a mixture of equal amounts of medium pieces of coconut husks, charcoal, perlite and tree fir.  A small amount of sphagnum moss was added to hold moisture.  During the warmer months of early May through early October, the plant was watered every 3 days.  When temperatures finally start cooling off, watering should be cut back to every 5 - 7 days.  There is a dry period for both sets of parents of the hybrid.  Keep the water flowing in culture and the plant will continue to grow and thrive.  Try not to let water sit on the leaves where they are connected to the stem.

     Fertilizer should be used once every week throughout the entire year.  It is easy to dispense while doing the normal watering of the plant.  A systemic fungicide applied once every four weeks, especially the bottom parts of the leaves (where most fungus will show its ugly head first).  As usual, it is advantageous to keep a handy quart spray bottle with a topical fungicide in case of minor issues.

     As mentioned earlier, there is a dry period for both sets of parents.  Angcm. eburneum ssp. xerophilum comes from the southern end of Madagascar.  It is one of the few Angraecums that grow in that semi-arid region.  It primarily grows as a lithophyte in very bright light.  This being the reason that its rather short for an Angcm. eburneum of any type.  The stem tops off at about 30 - 35cm (12 - 14 inches tall).  Angcm. florulentum, from the Comoro Islands, grows epephytically on tree trunks and in thick scrub at elevations between 600 - 1000 meters, where it drys out during cooler months.  It grows to a height of 35 - 40cm (14 - 16 inches) with the thickness of the stem being 4mm (about a 1/4 inch) which is less than a third of Angcm. eburneum ssp. xerophilum (1.3cm, 9/16ths of an inch).

     The leaves on Angcm. eburneum ssp. xerophilum are 13 - 15cm (5 - 6 inches long) and very thick and leathery; they hold moisture for the drier months.  Those on Angcm. florulentum are not as long (8 - 10cm long, 3 - 4 inches) nor are they as thick.

     Flowers from both parents are very similar in size (5 x 4cm, 2 1/4 x 1 3/4 inches), although the spur on the Angcm. florulentum is about 1 - 2cm longer (about 3/4 inch longer).  Total length of the Angcm. florulentum  spur is 9 - 10cm (about 4 inches).

     What does all of this really mean; if you take a little of this (seed parent - Angcm. florulentum) and mix it with a little of that (pollen parent - Angcm. eburneum ssp. xerophilum) you will get the hybrid Angraecum Shooting Star.  My plant looks to have the sturdiness and hardiness of Angcm. eburneum ssp. xerophilum but the height of Angcm. florulentum.  The flowers appear to be a combination of both, although the spur is longer than both parents, 10 - 13cm (4 - 5 inches long) and the color of those flowers is a very pristine white.  It is a very beautiful addition to my collection.