Bifrenaria tyrianthina

Base Price: $55.00

Intro:
This beautiful species from Brazil usually blooms during the summer months with up to 3" fragrant flowers that are colored in pink, lilac and deep purple. The flowers are long lasting and the plant is easy to grow. Larger view of Bifrenaria tyrianthina.

Light:
This plant prefers bright light as for cattleyas or stronger. 2000-5000 foot-candles is acceptable

Temperature:
This plant prefers intermediate to warm temperatures with nighttime lows not reaching below 58-60° in the winter and daytime highs in the 70's to mid 80's. Summer temps can be a few degrees warmer.

Humidity:
This plant requires high humidity; 60-80% during the summer growing season.

Water:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. After the growths have developed and hardened off in the fall, this plant needs a rest period of 6-8 weeks starting mid to late November in the Northern hemisphere. Allow the plant to stay dry between waterings, only watering every 2 weeks. Watch the pseudobulbs, and if they appear to shrivel a great deal, water more frequently. In mid January, increase the watering. During the summer months, water heavily and keep the humidity high.

Fertilizer:
We highly recommend 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.

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.

During the rest period, fertilize only every 4th or 5th watering, allow the plants to stay a bit cooler, and somewhat shadier. The flowers emerge if allowed to do so slowly under shadier conditions. The size and the color will be much nicer.

Flowering:
During the spring months after the winter rest period, the flowers will emerge at the base of the plant. The flowers last 2-3 months and very fragrant with a spicy, candy-like fragrance.

Repotting:
Repot this plant only as the mix breaks down and should be done with great care. Repot just after flowering when the new growths are being made. When removing old potting mix, be careful not to break or crack the roots. This will damage the root system and take the plant longer to recover. Simply hold the plant in the new pot with the existing root system and fill in with new material. Bifrenarias like well-drained mix that lasts a long time. Bark mixes are fine as long as drainage is maintained. Repot only once every two years.