Ascocentrum and Ascocenda Hybrids
Plant Profile and Growing Hints
Ascocentrum Orchids are epiphytic orchids from Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, The Philippines. The bright colors of Ascocentrum make them stand outs. Although only a handful of species have been named, they have been heavily hybridised, especially with the Vanda types.
Typically they have an upright growing habit (monopodial) and the flower stems form this way. The natural environment is attached to trees, and they do like deciduous trees so are subject to strong light in the cooler months of the year.
In cultivation they are usually mounted on bark or similar material, moisture is important as is a degree of humidity. They can also be grown in a slatted orchid basket in a very coarse pine bark where drainage will be suitable.
The watering regime needs to be at least daily, and in warmer months 2 – 3 times a day. Many growers install automatic systems to assist with this.
Mainly sold as indoor plants these are a compact growing species and the hybrids even more so.
Species include:
- Ascocentrum miniatum, a species with plume like orange to burnt orange flowers, very bright.
- Ascocentrum garayi is very similar to A. miniatum and we find it difficult to tell them apart.
- Ascocentrum curvifolium with its bright red flowers,
- Ascocentrum christensonianum with pale purple upright flower spikes,
- Ascocentrum pusillum is a variable species with flowers from a pale lilac to a mid pink.
- Ascocentrum aurantiacum, another that has similar tones to A. miniatum.
We tend to see more Ascocendas, which are related, actually they are intergeneric hybrids between Ascocentrum and Vanda, which are related.
Ascocentrum Orchids for sale
P.O.Box 114 Bowraville NSW 2449 - phone: 02 65644088 fax: 02 65644088
Rare orchid species and select hybrids. African species. Bulbophyllums. Lycastes. Paphiopedilums. Dendrochilums. Gongoras. Aerangis. Stanhopea and much more.
www.darkstarorchids.com.au