Read more of Cultivation of Podangis dactyloceras (Rchb.f.) Schltr.,
Light:
2000-3000 fc. 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 71-75F (22-24C), and nights average 59-61F (15-16C), with a diurnal range of 12-14F (7-8C). I. & E. La Croix (1997) report that this orchid grows well at intermediate temperatures. If an evaporative cooler is used in the growing area, these plants should thrive if placed in the cool, moist airflow near the outlet during hot, dry summer weather.
Humidity:
80-85% in summer and early autumn. Averages then drop to 70-75% in winter and early spring.
Water:
Ranfall is heavy from spring through summer and into midautumn. Averages then fall with 2- to 3-month drier season in winter. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but their roots must dry fairly quickly after watering. I. & E. La Croix (1997) report that the roots on this species tend to rot if overwatered. Their plant is grown in a pot with fir bark mix which they allow to dry out before watering again.
Fertilizer:
1/4-1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. Many growers prefer to use a balanced fertilizer throughout the year; but others 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 77-81F (25-27C), and nights average 56-59F (13-15C), with a diurnal range of 19-22F (11-12C). The warmest days, coolest nights, and greatest diurnal range occur during the dry season. Rainfall in the region is reduced for 2-3 months in winter, but additional moisture is available from heavy dew and late-night mist. Water should be reduced for cultivated plants in winter, particularly those grown in the dark, short-day conditions common in temperate latitudes. Plants should not remain without water for long periods, however. In most growing areas, somewhat regular early-morning mistings between occasional light waterings should provide sufficient moisture. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated until heavier watering is resumed in spring.
Growing media:
Because of their tendency for root rot if overwatered, these plants are probably more easily managed if mounted on a cork or hardwood slab. Their flowers tend to turn brown if they get wet, however, so many growers prefer to use a shallow, well-drained pot or basket filled with a very coarse, open, fast-draining medium that has excellent drainage, is well aerated, and allows the medium to dry fairly rapidly after watering. Growers generally use medium-sized fir bark or shredded tree-fern fiber and add varying amounts of chunky perlite and/or chopped sphagnum moss in extremely dry climates to keep the medium open and retain some moisture. Including charcoal in the mix also holds the medium open and prevents souring in the pot. Plants should be repotted immediately if the medium starts to break down or whenever the plant outgrows its container. Repotting should be done just as new roots start to grow. This enables the plant to become reestablished in the shortest possible time.
Miscellaneous notes:
Growers report that plants bloom in summer.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
