Coryanthes macrantha aurea x sib

Base Price: $50.00

Intro:
Coryanthes macrantha is native to the Amazon Basin including Brazil, Peru, Venezuela and the Guianas. Sometimes called the ‘bucket orchid’, as the complex lip structure contains a reservoir of nectar to attract pollinators. It is related to Stanhopea. This plant is found growing in association with ants that provide protection and produce formic acid around the root structure. The aurea form is a yellow to green variety that flowered out of some normal colored varieties. We crossed two of the aurea forms together and the expectations are for aurea types. The flowers have a smooth sweet fragrance.
**Click on the highlighted text for direct links to product pages**

Light:
This plant prefers Medium light, from 1500-3000 foot-candles for mature plants. This plant will do well in east windows of the home or under lights. When light levels are high try to increase humidity and keep moist at the roots to prevent burning of foliage.
P.L. Lights systems are a great way to provide artificial light to your orchids. See our P.L. Lights page for more information on this great product we offer.

Temperature:
This is a warm growing plant requiring night temperatures no colder than 60º to do best. Day temps can range from the mid-70’s to low 90’s. Best grown in Phalaenopsis to Cattleya conditions.

Humidity:
50% or higher is ideal. Good humidity is essential as this plant has thin leaves. It is a good idea to mist the plants and wash the leaves occasionally as this will help prevent any problems with spider mites.

Water:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Municipal water with a pH of 7.5 or lower can also be used. Water as the mix approaches dryness but do not allow the mix to become completely dry between watering. In nature this plant does experience a dry period in which the leaves become discolored and may drop. This is normal so during the late fall and winter months, keep the plant somewhat drier at the roots. Resume normal watering when new growth appears.

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 produces flower spikes from the base of the pseudobulbs, arching out and hanging down over the pot. If grown in a basket, they may produce spikes that will grow down through the basket. The flowers are always produced in clusters of two. They are large, approximately 5” in size. Colors are greenish yellow overlaid with mahogany spots. The lip is heavily colored in reddish mahogany. The flowers last approximately one week. In nature a type of male bee is attracted to the flower by the nectar and will climb all over the flowers to scrape off chemicals needed to lure female bees for reproduction. They enter the lip through the large mouth at the top( in pursuit of the nectar that you can actually see dripping into the bucket shaped lip) and force their way out a small opening in the lip that contains the pollen. This sticks to their heads, and the next flower they visit gets pollinated. They are extremely fragrant with a sweet but not overpowering scent. Thes plants can flower several times per year as they mature and develop more bulbs.

Repotting:
This plant should only be grown in New Zealand sphagnum moss. The moss has a natural acidic quality and moisture retentiveness necessary for the growth of this plant. It is best to repot every 18-24 months when new growths emerge but not while flowering. Plastic pots or teak baskets are best.
We offer several different types of potting medium. Here are direct links to what we believe to be some of the best potting mediums available for orchids: Orchids Limited bark mix, New Zealand sphagnum moss, coco husk, coco peat, sponge rock,charcoal, tree fern fiber, osmunda fiber and cork slabs for epiphytic plants.