Haraella retrocala

Base Price: $30.00

Intro:
This is a miniature species from Taiwan. Great for the compact-plant lover. It loves to grow in small pots with a well drained mixture, or on slabs which allows you to present the plant better. Flowers are fragrant and it can bloom 2 to 4 flowers off of one spike.

Light:
This plant does well in low to medium light. Grow 6 to 12 inches under fluorescents, or in an east or south window exposure for best results. Like all orchids, direct sun will burn the plant, so make sure you provide filter if your growing area is bright and hot, especially in the afternoon.

Temperature:
Intermediate to warm. Night-time low temps in the 60's and day-time temps in the 70's to 80's are ideal.

Humidity:
50% or higher is ideal. We suggest high humidity if you are growing on a slab.

Water:
Water as the plant approaches dryness (in plastic or clay pots, this could be every 2 to 3 days). If you are growing on a slab, you can simply mist the plant every morning, or every other morning depending on your humidity situation. You can also mist with fertilizer to feed the plant.

Fertilizer:
We highly recommend using Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water if plants are planted in bark. Be sure to flush the mix with clear water only once per month to prevent fertilizer salt build up. For plants in moss or mounted on slabs feed every third or 4th watering as the moss holds a lot of nutrients.

Or use GrowMore 20-10-20 Ureafree for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using GrowMore with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.

Another fertilizer offered is: GrowMore 6-30-30 (Cymbidium and bloom boosting formula).

Flowering:
This plant can bloom several different times a year. It flowers small yellow flowers with a dark purple center. These flowers have the delightful fragrance of lemons.

Repotting:
Repot as the mix breaks down. In a plastic or clay pot, the mix will need replacing every 12 to 18 months. When growing on a slab, it will only need replacing if the slab begins to rot. Slabs can often last up to 10 years, making this a very economical repot tactic!