Read more of cultivation of Aerangis splendida J.Stewart & la Croix
Culture:
Light:
1000-1800 fc. Plants grow in deep shade. Light should be filtered or diffused, and plants should not be exposed to direct midday sun. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperatures:
Summer days average 77-79F (25-26C), and nights average 60-61F (16C), with a diurnal range of 17-18F (9-10C). The warmest season occurs in spring at the end of the long winter dry season. Spring days average 79-83F (26-28C), nights warm from 49F (9C) to 59F (15C), and the diurnal range falls from 30F (17) to 24F (13C) during the season.
Humidity:
75-85% in summer and early autumn, dropping gradually to near 50% in early spring at the end of the dry season.
Water:
Rainfall in the habitat is heavy in summer and early autumn. Averages then drop rather rapidly into a dry season that extends from midautumn to early spring. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but drainage must be excellent with good aeration around the roots. Conditions around the roots should never become stale or soggy. Water should be gradually reduced in autumn after new growths have matured.
Fertilizer:
1/4-1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. Many growers use a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer, then switch to one high in phosphates in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Winter days average 72-75F (22-24C), and nights average 40-43F (5-6C), with a diurnal range of 30-32F (17-18C). Although plants in the wild obviously survive brief exposures to temperatures below freezing, cultivated plants are probably healthier if not exposed to such extreme conditions. If plants are subjected to cold conditions, they will survive with less damage if they are dry at the time. Rainfall is low for about 6 months, but during approximately 3 of these months some moisture remains available from heavy dew. For about 3 months in late winter and early spring, however, conditions are so dry that even the moisture from dew may be uncommon. Water should be greatly reduced for cultivated plants in winter with fairly regular early morning mistings provided between rather infrequent light waterings in autumn and early winter. In late winter, however, water should be reduced further with only occasional mistings between infrequent waterings. Water should be increased somewhat if leaves shrivel or show other signs of stress. Fertilizer should be eliminated until new growth starts and heavier watering is gradually resumed in spring. I. & E. La Croix (1997) report that these plants maybe reluctant to flower unless given a cool, dry rest in winter.
Growing media:
Because of its pendent leaves, Aerangis splendida usually grows better and its pendent flower spikes and blossoms with extremely long spurs are more easily displayed when plants are mounted on slabs of rough bark. Mounted plants need high humidity and must be watered or misted at least once a day, however, and during hot, dry weather they may require several waterings a day. For those growers that find it difficult to keep mounted plants moist enough, they may also be grown in small 3-5 in. (8-13 cm) hanging pots or baskets using a very coarse, open, fast-draining medium to anchor the plant but allowing the roots to wander outside the container. I. & E. La Croix (1997) report that when grown in pots the roots tend to grow on top of and around the pot rather than in it and that plants grown in containers must be hung up as good ventilation is seems to be essential to prevent black spots from developing on the leaves. Plants should be repotted if the medium starts to break down. Repotting done just as new roots start to grow enables the plant to become reestablished in the shortest possible time. Hillerman and Holst (1986) reported that some Aerangis species seem to slowly dehydrate under normal misting or watering practices when grown on slabs. They indicated that if the leaves start to shrivel or wrinkle or show other signs of stress, the plant usually will recover and grow well if soaked in water for about 20 minutes at least 3 times a week.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
