Clowesia russelliana

Base Price: $0.00

Intro:
Clowesia russeliana is a species native to Mexico. It is a deciduous plant with a growth habit similar to Catasetum. The large 2" green flowers have a nice herbal scent. This plant is easy to grow once its cultural requirements are understood.

Light:
Grow in medium to high light from 1800 - 3500 footcandles. An east or west window is acceptable. This plant can go outside in semi-shady conditions during the summer months.

Temperature:
This plant prefers winter nighttime temps from 55 - 64 degrees F. with daytime highs from 70 - 85 degrees. Summer temps can be a few degrees warmer.

Humidity:
During summer, try to maintain humidity of 50-80%. During the winter months, when the leaves have shed, 40% should be the minimum.

Water:
Use rain, distilled or reverse osmosis water for best results. During active growth and flowering from spring to fall, water frequently, allowing the mix to approach dryness between watering. From late November until mid-March or when new growth starts, keep fairly dry, watering only every couple of weeks. Water just enough to keep the bulbs from shriveling. When new growth starts, resume normal watering.

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. Upon flowering, fertilize every third watering. During winter when the plant is deciduous, do not fertilize at all.

Flowering:
This plant blooms in the later summer to early fall months, with strong, pendulous spikes that have 20-40 flowers. Flowers are light green with dark green veining and have a nice herbal fragrance

Repotting:
Use a medium grade bark mix. Repotting should be done in the spring months as new growths are just emerging. Clowesia russelliana has large pseudobulbs that can be divided once several bulbs have developed and matured. Keep mix dry for the first week after repotting.