Cochlioda rosea

Base Price: $60.00

Intro:
Native to the Andean regions of Peru and Ecuador, these compact cool growing plants flower more than once a year with sprays of 10-20 flowers. These have been used extensively in hybridizing odontoglossum intergenerics, producing smaller brightly colored pink or purple colored flowers on branching sprays.

Light:
1500-2500 footcandles is best. The pseudobulbs and foliage acquire a purplish cast when grown in correct light. If the foliage and pseudobulbs appear olive green in color, increase the light intensity for proper growth and flowering.

Temperature:
Cool; 45-55 ° for winter nighttime low with daytime highs in the low 70's. Summer temps may be warmer. It is important to provide good air movement to prevent bacterial rot.

Humidity:
50-70% is ideal. Increase during the hot summer months. This plant benefits from evaporative cooling in greenhouses.

Water:
Rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water only. Water as the plant approaches dryness, but do not allow it to become bone dry for more than a day. Keep moist at all times when in spike or flowering.

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:
These plants produce an abundance of flowers during the spring months, but will flower at other times of year as well depending on the temperatures in your area. The 1 ½" flowers are colored in deep rose, and the side lobes of the lip are white.

Repotting:
This plant prefers an open, well drained mix that retains moisture. We have found that a mix with a combination of 50% sphagnum moss and 50% tree fern fiber to be an excellent medium that will last up to 3 years. They do be in plastic net pots, though clay pots are acceptable with the same mix. Repot in early summer after flowering. Divisions can be made with at least 6 pseudobulbs per division. The pseudobulbs grow in dense clusters. When dividing, use a sharp sterile knife and be sure that are roots on each section of the division.